New U.S. ambassador heading for Panama

The  new U.S. Ambassador to Panama, Jonathan Farrar, has been confirmed by Congress and he will take up his post within days.

The previous ambassador, Phyllis Powers, has been confirmed as Ambassador to Nicaragua.

A source at the American Embassy in Panama, says that both ambassadors have initiated the process of transfer to their respective assignments.

Farrar, who served as Chief of Mission of the Interests Section of the United States in Havana, Cuba, is a native of Los Angeles, California, and has a long career in the U.S. foreign service, including , diplomatic missions in Uruguay, Mexico and Belize.

"I had the good fortune during the last three decades of work on important challenges in the hemisphere, including democracy, human rights, law enforcement, trade, investment and environmental protection. All these issues are relevant to our relationship with Panama, "Farrar when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in February.

During the hearing two senators raised alerts about the vulnerability of institutions in Panama.

Robert Menendez, Senator from New Jersey, a Democrat with Cuban roots, spoke of the concerns of civil society by creating a Fifth Panamanian Court Chamber, and possible effects on a potential reelection.

Marco Rubio, Republican junior senator from Florida, I was concerned about the desire of the president, Ricardo Martinelli, not to lose power, according to an article by journalist Andres Oppenheimer entitled: "The two Panama faces ", published by The Miami Herald in January. The article  praised the country's economic growth but spoke of autocracy without separation of powers, corruption, capital flight and economic decline.

Rubio asked Farrar to raise his voice against this kind of excess. "The Senate will not stand watching Presidents in the region in violation of democratic institutions," he said.