In Panama, Restoring Streets And Reforming Gangs At The Same Time
Former gang member Ricky James (left) and developer K.C. Hardin in Casco Viejo.
Panama, like its Central American neighbors, is struggling with a rise in gangs. A recent census by the country's security forces put the number of criminal organizations operating in Panama now at about 200.
One neighborhood, in the capital's historic district, is taking on its gang problem with a group of strange bedfellows.
First, meet K.C. Hardin.
"I moved to Panama 12 years ago just to surf and do nothing for a couple years, I thought," says Hardin.
Developer K.C. Hardin has rehabbed the neoclassical American Trade Hotel, which had been home to one of Casco Viejo's fiercest gangs.
The still super-tan former New York corporate lawyer not only fell in love with the country, but also with Panama City's old historic neighborhood, known as Casco Viejo.
"I wound up getting myself into real estate development somehow," says Hardin. He's rehabbed some of Casco Viejo's most gorgeous properties, including the neoclassical American Trade Hotel and the Art Deco former Citibank headquarters.
That was no easy feat, considering the hotel was in ruins and had become home to one of Casco Viejo's fiercest gangs.
Which brings us to the other partner in the rehabilitation of the neighborhood: the gang members, like Luis Ricardo James. Everyone calls him Ricky.
"We used to rob tourists here," says James. "That's how we survived."
So did his cousin, Antonio Luis James, who was the leader of the local gang.
Standing just blocks from Hardin's restored hotel, where a room can go for up to $400 a night, James points to a rundown house. His brother, also a gang member, was shot dead there. The dispute was over a stolen necklace.
Both James and his cousin have spent time in prison: Ricky, seven months for a firearms violation; Antonio, three years for what he says was an accessory to murder charge.
Two years ago, with Hardin's help and a local evangelical church, the men and dozens more began a rehabilitation program. They got job training and self-esteem building. A year ago, they opened a fruit stand and a local bar, and now they cater to tourists instead of robbing them.
On a hot and humid recent afternoon, Antonio James gives a tour of Casco Viejo. Along the way we see historic sites, like the colonial-era wall that guarded the city from pirates. We meet neighbors, like a 92-year-old woman who lives in government-subsidized housing and won't be pushed out by rising rents and gentrification. We also stop at what used to be gang hot spots.
James also stops to point out his mom, who's waving furiously at us from the third floor of an old wooden building. He says she's really proud of him and his turnaround. With his earnings from the tour and his fruit stand, James is putting his younger sister through college. She, too, beams at us from across the street as we continue on the tour.
Police crime statistics testify to the revitalization. There's been only one robbery this year.
Hardin and the James cousins hope they can spread that good fortune and their pacification strategies to other parts of the country, and even beyond.
But while Panama is struggling with a growing gang problem and new ties with international criminal organizations, violence here is nowhere near the levels experienced in El Salvador or Honduras, says Ana Selles de Palacio of the Institute of Criminology at Panama University.
Selles says to keep combating gangs so they don't reach critical levels, "it will require resources, technical expertise and political will."
Hardin couldn't agree more. He likes to say you can't have healthy societies without healthy cities. He hopes that redevelopment, without displacing local residents, will be part of that strategy.
"Revitalizing the city core and doing it in an inclusive sustainable way," he says. "I see it as a national priority for a lot of Latin America."
James wants the same. He says he wants a better neighborhood and life for his children.
And, he adds, honest work is better: He's making more money giving tours to tourists than robbing them.
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Transcript
LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:
Panama, like its Central American neighbors, is struggling with rising numbers of people in gangs. A recent census by the country's security forces put the number of criminal organizations operating in Panama now at about 200. One neighborhood in the capital's historic old city is taking on its gang problem. As NPR's Carrie Kahn reports, it involves strange partnerships.
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: First, meet K.C. Hardin.
K.C. HARDIN: I moved to Panama 12 years ago just to surf and do nothing for a couple years, I thought.
KAHN: The still super-tan former New York corporate lawyer not only fell in love with the country, but also with Panama City's old historic neighborhood known as Casco Viejo.
HARDIN: I wound up getting myself into real estate development somehow.
KAHN: He's rehabbed some of the old city's most gorgeous properties, including the neoclassical American Trade Hotel and the art deco former Citibank headquarters. That was no easy feat, considering the hotel was in ruins and had become home to one of the old city's fiercest gangs. Which brings us to the other partner in the rehabilitation of the neighborhood - the gang members.
LUIS RICARDO JAMES: (Foreign language spoken).
KAHN: Meet 24-year-old Luis Ricardo James. Everyone calls him Ricky.
R. JAMES: (Foreign language spoken).
KAHN: We used to rob tourists here. That's how we survived, says Ricky. So did his cousin, Antonio Luis James, who was the leader of the local gang.
R. JAMES: (Foreign language spoken).
KAHN: Standing just blocks from Hardin's restored hotel, where a room can go for up to $400 a night, James points to a rundown house. His brother, also a gang member, was shot dead there. The dispute was over a stolen necklace. Both James's have spent time in prison. Ricky, seven months for a firearms violation. Antonio, three years for what he says was an accessory to murder charge. Two years ago, with Hardin's help and a local evangelical church, the men and dozens more began a rehabilitation program. They got job training and self-esteem building. A year ago they opened a fruit stand, a local bar and now cater to tourists instead of robbing them.
ANTONIO LUIS JAMES: (Foreign language spoken).
KAHN: On this hot and humid afternoon, Antonio James is giving a tour of Casco Viejo. Along the way, we learn about its history. We see sites like the colonial-era wall that guarded the city from pirates. We meet neighbors like a 92-year-old woman who lives in government subsidized housing and won't be pushed out by rising rents and gentrification. We also stop at what used to be gang hotspots.
A. JAMES: (Foreign language spoken).
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: (Foreign language spoken).
KAHN: James also stops to point out his mom, who's waving furiously at us from the third floor of an old wooden building. He says she's really proud of him and his turn-around. With his earnings from the tour and his fruit stand, James is putting his younger sister through college. She too beams at us from across the street as we continue on the tour. Police crime stats testify to the old city's revitalization. There's only been one robbery this year. Hardin and the James cousins hope they can spread that good fortune and pacification strategies to other parts of the country and even beyond. But while Panama is struggling with a growing gang problem and new ties to international crime groups, violence here is nowhere near the levels experienced in El Salvador or Honduras, says Ana Selles de Palacio, of the Institute of Criminology at Panama University.
ANA SELLES DE PALACIO: (Foreign language spoken).
KAHN: But Selles says it will require resources, technical expertise and political will to keep combating gangs so they don't reach critical levels. Developer K.C. Hardin couldn't agree more. He likes to say you can't have healthy societies without healthy cities and he hopes that redevelopment without displacing local residents will be part of that strategy.
HARDIN: Revitalizing the city core and doing it in an inclusive, sustainable way is just - I see it as like, a national priority for a lot of Latin America.
KAHN: Former gang member-turned-tour guide Ricky James wants the same. He says he wants a better neighborhood and life for his children.
R. JAMES: (Foreign language spoken).
KAHN: And he adds, honest work is better. Yes, he says, he's making more money giving tours to tourists than robbing them. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Panama City, Panama. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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