Bocas del Toro

I call BULLSHIT on this number…….Cortizo states “$800 Million” in Bocas since 2019! Where???

Would love to see itemized “dollar for dollar” list of where money went…. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/230918/mef-invirtio-800-millones-bocas The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has invested around $800 million in the province of Bocas del Toro from 2019 to date, according to a MEF report last Thursday. At the 59th edition of the …

Canal

Panama recognizes the role climate chnage is having on the Canal.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/230904/panamenos-reconocen-cambio-climatico-afecta The Panama Canal is facing a crisis due to water shortages. The Panamanian recognizes that affectation. The Gismo Services, SA survey, published monthly in La Estrella de Panamá, revealed that 81% of Panamanians agree that climate change is already affecting the operation of the Panama Canal. According to the survey, …

Environmental

Florida has to assess damage after Hurricane hits west coast of the state.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/internacional/america/230831/florida-evalua-danos-paso-idalia-avanza-sudeste-ee-uu My family luckily avoided a hit from this storm as it passed Southern part of the state. But every year fingers are crossed. To all PNO Ex-Pats that might have been affected, heres hoping all get back to normal soon.  Florida began this Thursday, August 31, to assess the …

Crime

EX-PAT and VISITORS: Behave at your own peril.

Right up there with Phillipines and Vietnam and Thailand, ….you do NOT want to get arrested in Panama. Long known for deplorable conditions, they are now sitting at over 50% in overpopulation. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/221121/230526-221120-tumba-vivos-calabozo-penitenciaria The prisoners sleep in makeshift hammocks and mats, due to a lack of beds. ceded “Whoever does not …

Politics

With elections looming, Facebook type fake accounts are being held accountable.

The Electoral Tribunal (TE) processes 747 files of violation of electoral propaganda on the internet and social networks.The files are generated by the Center for Studies and Digital Monitoring of the TE and presented to the Directorate of Electoral Organization for investigation.This week the regulatory body for electoral processes issued …

Weather

Bad weather something to get used to.

The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (Imhpa) announced that from this Monday, May 29 to Wednesday, May 31, Panama will be affected by the first tropical wave of the year. According to Imhpa’s analysis, the tropical wave will generate rain and storms until 11:59 p.m. this Wednesday, May …

Infrastructure

Massive highway project to be done by end of 2023,

The Panama-Arraiján highway expansion project is only a few months away from completion. The project that began with an order to proceed on September 22, 2017, includes a construction of 11 kilometers of highway, with eight lanes on the main trunk, distributed in four towards the capital city and four towards …

Energy/Infrastructure

Intra-country mass transit a talking point for next election.

The campaign in the various political parties started and with this various proposals have begun to emerge from the candidates for the Presidency of the Republic who promise to fulfill their victory in the 2024 presidential elections. One of the proposals that has resurfaced is the construction of the Panama-David …

Economy

The one group of immigrants PANAMA “does” want to come over. Digital Nomads

The rise of remote or remote work, pushed by the covid-19 pandemic, opened the door to digital nomads. So much so that today it is one of the most frequently heard terms when talking about work trends and lifestyles in the world. A digital nomad is a person who uses the …

Energy/Infrastructure

Panama continues to be at the forefront in terms of GREEN alternatives.

Talking about Erco Energía is talking about technology, sustainability and an incredible experience for users of electricity. It is a business group that has a portfolio of solutions that impact the entire energy chain, such as the construction of solar projects, charging infrastructure for electric mobility, and energy storage. In addition, …

Energy/Infrastructure

Panama looking to lead the way on GREEN efforts going forward

On April 28, the National Secretariat of Energy (SNE) will present the draft of the National Green Hydrogen Strategy (2030-2040-2050) for public consultation. This was confirmed by Jorge Rivera Staff, Secretary of Energy of Panama, this Tuesday, during his participation in the Renewable Energy forum, organized by the European Union …

Energy/Infrastructure

As US braces for Hurricane, Gas on rise in Panama also

The National Secretariat of Energy (SNE) reported this Wednesday, April 19, that as of April 22, 95-octane gasoline will increase by 10 hundredths. This announcement is known days before the state subsidy for 95 octane gasoline expires, which will be in force until April 21. On the other hand, the …

Air Travel

Metro Line now open with DIRECT access to Tocumen is big step forward.

Few cities in Latin America have a metro system linked to the airport. The Terminal Aérea station of line 5 that serves terminal 1 of the Benito Juárez airport (MEX) in Mexico City is one of the main examples. Some US cities such as San Francisco (SFO), Boston (BOS), Chicago …

Energy/Infrastructure

Government and Copper mine disagree

The deadline for the Panamanian government and Minera Panama to reach an agreement expired at midnight yesterday. There was no agreement, despite the fact that Minera Panamá, a few days ago, accepted the Government’s proposal. “Minera Panamá understands the general terms proposed by the National Government of Panama, while considering …

Environmental

50 countries come together for Natural Disaster plans.

The number of recorded disasters has increased fivefold – partly due to climate change caused by human activities and the multiplication of extreme weather events – and everything indicates that this trend will continue. Half of the world’s countries do not have early warning systems, and even fewer have regulatory …

"JB"

Bocas de Toro offers HUGE benefits under right leadership. HIDDEN diamond of Panama.

There is something amiss is Bocas del Toro. I call them my “Bocas Brigade”. Being run by in my opinion opportunistic fraudsters that move the goalposts, rife with crime, a dirty shithole, and an airport that is embarrassing. But wrapped around all this shit is some of the most beautiful …

Environmental

24 hrs after battering, CUBA dealing with Hurricane Ian aftermath.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/internacional/america/220928/dia-ian-habana-hay-luz-agua-queda-seguir?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc An entire family collects water from the sea with buckets to clean their precarious home in front of Havana’s boardwalk, heavily impacted by the passage of Hurricane Ian on Tuesday afternoon. “From two o’clock the sea began to pour in. All this was covered (points to the avenue). We …

Canal

International conflicts showing effects on Canal traffic and business

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/economia/220815/canal-panama?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc The Panama Canal, due to its importance for world trade, does not escape the collateral effects of the covid-19 pandemic and the conflict situations in the international environment that are currently taking place.  A decrease in the trade of liquefied natural gas, in the traffic of elaborated merchandise and …

Canal

US and China remain at loggerheads over the commerical power of Canal.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/220803/disputa-china-ee-uu-comercial This is not the first time that Daniel Runde, a senior executive at the Center for International Strategic Studies, has written about the Panama Canal. He did it in 2011 when he analyzed the impact of the road expansion. In 2017 he described the exchange of messages between President Donald Trump …

"JB"
2

Just your everyday grocery run under this Administation.

It’s times like these when you are able to see the WEAK come to light. As in CORTIZO and CARRIZO. And even more reason why the RE-ELECTION of RICARDO MARTINELLI will be one of the biggest “LEGAL” runaway victorioes since REAGAN/MONDALE.  MARTINELLI is a master politician in what a politician …

Energy/Infrastructure

If you feel pain at the pump, look no further than Putin.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/220702/cae-minimos-historicos-transito-gas-traves-ucrania Ukraine’s Gas Transmission System Operator (TSO) reported Friday that gas transit through its system has fallen to a 30-year low. “Through the Ukrainian TSO in June this year, monthly traffic volumes have reached a historical low since 1991: 1.25 billion cubic meters,” the company explained in a statement posted …

Energy/Infrastructure

Carriers for Business, Transportation, and Supply Chain sectors to benefit from fuel CAP.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/220602/transportistas-podran-adquirir-viernes-gasolina-diesel-3-95-galon-congelamiento-precio Carriers in the collective, selective, collegiate and special tourism service sectors will be able to purchase 91 and 95 octane gasoline, in addition to low-sulfur diesel, at a cost of $3.95 per gallon, after the National Government approved the freeze time of its price. According to a statement from …

Canal

Putin’s senseless war affecting GLOBAL supply chain. In particular, PANAMA.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/220519/guerra-ucrania-frena-recuperacion-economica   The war in Ukraine is slowing down the fragile economic recovery that the world had begun after the covid-19 crisis, the UN said on Wednesday, lowering its global growth forecast for this year from 4% to 3.1% and warned that the deterioration may end up being even greater. …

Energy/Infrastructure

Completed plant will add 15 Million Clean Gallons per day.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220418/ampliacion-planta-potabilizadora-chilibre-presenta-94-avance?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc At 94% is the progress presented by the expansion works of the project «Study, Design, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the New Module for the purification of water in the Federico Guardia Conte de Chilibre treatment plant.  The work, which presents an investment of $36,973,504.78, will seek to increase …

Bocas del Toro

Panama once again at crossroads of money V.S environment. 150 hectares of rainforest assigned.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/220411/chiriqui-potencia-zona-maritima-auxiliar The Paridas Islands, located in the Gulf of Chiriquí, have a tourist attraction that attracts thousands of visitors, who arrive from boats or small cruise ships that leave the Pacific of Costa Rica. For several years, this movement of tourists has generated discontent in the western area of ​​the country, …

Canal

How is Ukraine war affecting Panama supply chain?

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/220315/220316-productos-panama-mas-importa-ucrania-verse-afectados-guerra Although in the trade balance the volume of trade between Ukraine and Panama is not as high compared to other countries in the world, there are certain productive sectors that could be affected by the Russian invasion and by the increase in fuel costs that is being generated in …

Environmental

Welcome to the WET season. Navigating Panama is horrible during the rain.

http://elsiglo.com.pa/panama/aguacero-inicia-transicion-estacion-seca-lluviosa-panama/24197695 The rainy season will be brought forward 10 days in Western Chiriquí, central Veraguas, Coclé and western Herrera and Los Santos This Tuesday, April 5, the city of Panama woke up with a downpour, which is part of the transition process from the dry to the rainy season in …

Human Interest

Nasty weather has given time to catch up on e-mails. Op-Eds flowing in.

Anyone who has been away and moved back after a long absence can certainly feel some culture shock, When last here, it literally felt like “escaping” back home due to the Covid travel embargoes that we were dealing with. Then to come back home and have a medical setback, mage …

Economy

As Russia sanctions tighten, Panama sees rise at the pump.

https://elsiglo-com-pa.translate.goog/panama/precio-gasolina-diesel-aumentan-desde-este-viernes/24195767?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc&_x_tr_sch=http The price of gasoline and diesel suffer another increase. This Friday, at 6:00 am the new maximum prices come into effect Increase. The price of gasoline and diesel suffer another increase. This Friday, at 6:00 am The new maximum sale prices of liquid fuel in Panama begin to take effect. In the provinces of …

Canal

“Greedy” Panama steps BACK when World steps UP.

With the EU stopping all natural gas, neighboring nations refusing air and sea traffic, US closing and seizing billions from oligarchs,,,,,,,,,,,,,Panama chooses to hide behind the archaic neutrality treaty. EVEN Switzerland chose a side. Panama is run by it’s own oligarchy and it’s high time people know it. As a …