A CLOSE SHAVE IN PANAMA FOR PORT'S CAMPIRANO, RICO, BEDC'S SALINAS

By Juan Montoya

Two Port of Brownsville executive officers and a a vice president of the Brownsville Economic Development Corporation narrowly escaped a botched robbery attempt by a gun-wielding gunman who waylaid their taxi as they were masking their way from the Panama City Airport to their hotel after arriving from Colombia.

The assault reportedly took place this Monday after Eduardo Campirano, Brownsville Navigation District's Port Director and CEO, German Rico, Director of Business Development for the port, and Gilbert Salinas, the BEDC's Vice President for Marketing, Communications, Public Affairs landed in Panama City.

The trio had just returned from Colombia after a seven-day tour of Central and South America to drum up business for the port. According to Manuel Ortiz, the port's public information officer, the trip was cut short only one day when the trio decided to return to Brownsville.

According to a brief press release issued by the port, "The Port of Brownsville recently took part in a trip to Central and South America with the goal of attracting business, and thus jobs to our area. Over the course of the trip there was an incident that required the attention of law enforcement."

Although the statement did not identify the port's "two employees" we have been able to ascertain that it involved Campirano and Rico. Sources tell us that the incident went something like this:

One of the port employees (Rico?) had left on Aug. 14 and was joined by the other (Campirano?) on Aug. 18. It is unknown whether Salinas was already there with Rico when Campirano joined them on Aug. 18.
However, all three were returning to Panama as part of their trip to attract business as the opportunities fueled by the enlargement of the Panama canal opens the way for more Chinese goods to make their way to the Port of Brownsville.

On their return to Panama, the taxi the three were riding was waylaid by another vehicle and forced to the side of the road. A gunman then broke the window of the cab with his handgun and was apparently attempting to stage a robbery when, through the quick thinking and daring of the taxi driver, were able to make a speedy getaway and seek help from police.

We were unable to contact either of the port employees and were also unable to get a statement for Salinas on his experience or on whether other BEDC employees were involved in the incident or in the trip.

However, a member of the board of directors for the port said that sometimes in the effort to attract business for the port, some risks have to be taken.

"We have been seeking ways to bring more jobs to the area," said Martin Arambula. "Unfortunately, there is only so much you can do when you're in a foreign country. These guys were very lucky and we're happy they made it back safely. sometimes it's the price you have to pay."