Bocas del Toro

18 months on sidelines, and Bocas still a MESS.

An unprecedented crisis is experienced by the Municipality of Changuinola, in Bocas del Toro, as a result of the fact that the municipality has been closed for 26 days in protest because the eight representatives of the Democratic Revolutionary Party refuse to ratify the treasurer appointed by the mayor Yesica Romero . …

Environmental

River pollution remains threat to the Panama coastline.

Anyone flying into Tocumen from anywhere can see the brown and gray water that make up the “bay” that is supposed to be so vital to Panama tourism. The fact is outside of areas like Bocas and Contadora, the real beauty of Panama is missed by the massive failure of …

Human Interest

Some “Good” news. Essentially Humane Society of Panama getting results.

We would see cats all around our condo when last in Panama. Our housekeeper took in one, and we would of course have liked to help more. I am anxious to see what the area looks like after such a long leave of absence, but this news seems promising. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/220217/fundacion-manchitas-afirma-han-recibido-aporte-economico-gobierno-central …

Health

Information for Ex-Pats considering return to PANAMA. COVID stats

https://www.prensa.com/sociedad/data-studio-casos-de-coronavirus-covid-19-en-panama/   Visit link to listen to update.   The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported that 1,203 new cases have been reported this Sunday, for a total of 742,854 infections by covid-19 in the country. 12 deaths are recorded in the last 24 hours for a cumulative of 7,950 deaths …

"JB"

RED FROG: continues to illegally sell properties owned by Tres Cruces de Oro

JAMES BRYSON DID NOT WRITE THIS ARTICLE; this is merely an ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF “LA CRITICA” https://www.critica.com.pa/nacional/denuncia-red-frog-sigue-vendiendo-fincas-propiedad-de-tres-cruces-de-oro-606475     La Crítica 6/22/2021   The Tres Cruces de Oro group, a subsidiary of Six Diamonds Resorts International, denounced the fact that the Red Frog Beach group continues to sell lots and …

Air Travel

TWO steps FORWARD, THREE steps BACK. Covid proving to be elusive as travel spikes prove world is not out of the woods.

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&pto=aue&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=es&sp=nmt4&u=http://elsiglo.com.pa/internacional/segunda-pandemia-vuelve-hundir-demanda-aerea-70/24169140&usg=ALkJrhhLWtpQ3uqzZgzNgj7QguFkVMRvgA International flights were the most affected, with a drop of 87.8% compared to that registered in October last year Total demand for air travel fell 70.6% in October compared to the same month last year, a sign of how “desperately slow” the sector’s recovery is going to be due …

Human Interest

Keep an eye on this SHIT ex-pats. Panama continues to be cozy with the wrong people.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/politica/201208/nicolas-maduro-reune-delegacion-prd-panama The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduo, met with a delegation from the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) of Panama. At the meeting, which was held at the Miraflores Palace, seat of the Venezuelan Presidency, the PRD secretary, Pedro Miguel González; the Secretary of International Relations, Héctor Alemán; the Secretary for Community …

"JB"

ANATI delivers TITLES to “well deserved” in Veraguas. So why haven’t EX-PATS got theirs in 12 years from developers?????

He has his TITLE…….where is YOURS EX-PATS??? OP ED: by “JB”– In a sign of good charity and humanity, ANATI, the final word on land ownership in Panama has awarded legal title of property to 70 families in need, and a Health Center in Veraguas. Good news indeed. So why …

"JB"

Meet the newest patsies in the never ending quagmire that is BDT.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/201205/bocas-toro-10-nuevos-corregimientos-ejecutivo-sanciona-ley-impulsada-benicio-robinson The President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizar, sanctioned Law 172 of October 19, 2020, which created 10 new townships in the province of Bocas del Toro. Law 172, signed on October 19 by Cortizo and the Minister of Government, was promulgated in the Official Gazette. The new rule began to …

Crime

Martinelli brood still in the clink. Where’s Varela and Porcell?

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/201206/hijos-expresidente-martinelli-cumplen-cinco-meses-presos-guatemala The brothers Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, sons of former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), completed five months of arrest in Guatemala this Sunday, waiting to be extradited to the United States, where they are wanted for money laundering. . The children of the former Panamanian president …

Health

Frontline nurses in ER march to protest lack of support from Nito.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/201125/enfermeras-marchan-presidencia-pedirle-cortizo-les-atienda-peticiones Today, November 25, a group of nurses carries out a symbolic march, representing the 6,500 in the country, to demand that the President of the Republic Laurentino Cortizo attend to them because they have not yet found an answer to their request that they do comply with the law …

Health

As reported last week, Panama plans for 5.5 million doses of vaccine early 2021.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/201125/panama-adquirira-5-5-millones The first doses are expected to arrive before March 2021, the rest would be between March and June. It is required to apply the vaccine to 70% of the population in order to contain the new coronavirus in the country. While the World Health Organization (WHO) asks to intensify the …

Human Interest

GUATEMALA: The shit is hitting the fan.

https://www.prensa.com/mundo/manifestantes-incendian-sede-del-congreso-de-guatemala/ A group of people who participated, this Saturday, November 21, in a demonstration on the premises of the Guatemalan Congress broke some windows of the building and set fire without the police stationed in the place intervening. The protest was held to demand the resignation of the President of …

Health

Covid is un-relenting. Every step forward sees spikes globally.

The number of new cases of Covid-19 in Panama, in the last hours, was 1,112, reported the Ministry of Health (Minsa) in the epidemiological report of this Wednesday, November 18. With this figure, the country accumulates 149, 833 confirmed cases since the pandemic reached the country last March. Of this total, 129,755 recovered patients are …

Editorial Contribution
1

PSG tip for ExPats: NOV 2020

BEWARE:  Panamá’s days of NOT PAYING TAXES are LONG GONE!!!Hello Reader’s!   Welcome to the first of what we hope will become a regular part of PNO.   Panasolutions Group will begin writing and contributing to PNO and it’s readers with helpful tips to help avoid some of the regular …

Editorial Contribution

Nito reinforces “freedom of expression”. We shall see.

Nito want’s freedom of the press and “free expression”. Then let PNO freely express that his CABINET is LOADED with people on the TAKE. See VP and Minister. Nito claimed they would be expelled if proven. Look closer Nito, get eyes checked. Hope they all had a nice weekend……….#worstsecretinpanama. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/201022/aumentan-acciones-judiciales-medios …

Economy

Panama City crawling back to life as restaurants are up and operating.

With dividers and panels up…..dining sees an uptick in the city. https://www.prensa.com/impresa/economia/80-de-los-restaurantes-estan-operando-ventas-suben-10/ Four weeks after the restart of operations after being closed for more than 7 months, the Association of Restaurants and Related Products of Panama, reports that 80% of the stores are operating. Domingo de Obaldia, president of the …

Editorial Contribution
3

EX-PATS LIVES MATTER

…..APPARENTLY TO EVERYONE BUT “EX-PATS”. SHIT, GET OFF THE POT, or at the very least STOP the GODDAMN WHINING without CONVICTION. OP ED: Steven via All of PNO.com FINAL EDITORIAL: STEVEN- FBO/ PanamaNowOnline Good afternoon PANAMANOWONLINE visitors and readers. I am extremely happy to say that as I am writing this my …

Human Interest

As does rest of world, Panama facing hearing the voices of growing LGBT community on marriage rights.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/201005/cidh-enciende-debate-matrimonio The debate on the right to equal marriage ignited in Panama after the hearing held last Friday at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) requested by the Fundación Iguales. At the hearing, the IACHR condemned that Panamanian legislation is discriminatory in the sense of not having adjusted it …

Agriculture

Panama to open Protected parks today.

Para: Josito https://www.prensa.com/sociedad/estas-son-las-14-areas-protegidas-que-abriran-al-publico-a-partir-de-este-lunes/ The Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) reported that as part of the restart of activities in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic , a total of 14 terrestrial protected areas will open to the public starting this Monday, October 5. The Ministry of Health (Minsa) published on Friday in the Official Gazette the decree by …

"JB"

HOME SWEET HOME: Life after Ex-Pat Quarantine

OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson For my many Ex-Pat friends and acquaintances, I can tell you stepping back foot on American soil after NOT being permitted to has been surreal. The feeling of landing into Miami International Airport last week pumped a huge blast of oxygen into my lungs. …

"JB"
1

Updated PNO business referral. PANASOLUTIONS GROUP LATAM

OP ED: James “JB” Bryson– Amazing what some “away time ” can accomplish for anyone during this time of Covid. For many Ex-Pats that have been stuck here in what is supposed to be our “paradise”, we are chomping at the bit to go home. Jose “Josito” Zapata will be …

Human Interest

UN rightly and openly condemns “Dictator” Maduro of Human Rights crimes.

https://www.prensa.com/mundo/mision-de-la-onu-vincula-a-maduro-y-al-gobierno-venezolano-con-crimenes-de-lesa-humanidad/ Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the most important ministers of his government are linked to possible “crimes against humanity,” said a UN mission on Wednesday when presenting a report that seeks the systematic use of torture and extrajudicial executions in that country. “The Mission found reasonable grounds to believe that the Venezuelan authorities and …

Health

Hospitals showing signs of progress as Panama rapidly approaches full open borders.

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/mortalidad-de-pacientes-en-uci-disminuye-a-un-30/ After six months of the pandemic, doctors in Panama’s intensive care units have managed to reduce the mortality of patients with the Covid-19 disease who are admitted to intensive care units (ICU) by 30% . Julio Sandoval, advisor to the Ministry of Health (Minsa) on the subject of ICUs, assured that mortality went from 50% in …

Economy

Something to look at for Ex-Pat owners of income properties.

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/reforma-a-la-ley-sobre-arrendamientos-se-mantiene-en-consulta/ The Ministry of Housing and Land Management (Miviot) consults with various sectors to make changes to Law 93 of October 4, 1973, which dictates measures on leases in the country. The draft of a change proposal, which the Miviot sent to some unions on September 8, has raised criticism among …

Human Interest

Enough depressing shit…..Panamanians helping Panamanians. Enjoy

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/vivir/un-bocado-de-esperanza/ Cocinando y Donando (Cocydon ) is a social gastronomy initiative that was born in 2016, when Luis Fernando Norato cooked 12 dishes in the kitchen of his apartment to distribute them to people who were homeless. Some time later, this gesture of solidarity became a gastronomic movement made up of …

"JB"

Meditation— I’m doing it, you should to.

OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson– I can tell you that my wife would come unglued if I continued to blog or post about negative shit, and not post this article. She has “personally” re -Tweeted it and shared it with her cache of friends already. “Happy wife, Happy life” …

Health

End of August shows some positive signs of Covid decline…..but not out of woods.

In recent days the impact of the new coronavirus has decreased and the figures for August project that they will be lower compared to July, which was the month where the virus hit the country the hardest. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health (Minsa) until yesterday’s report, Tuesday, August 25, …

"JB"

Ex-Pat Struggles during COVID. One Opinion

by James “JB” Bryson So as we are approaching 5 MONTHS of essentially home imprisonment, the term EX PAT takes on a bit of a different meaning. After 12 YEARS, and being an AMERICAN citizen, being an EX PAT has always translated to a good thing. Being away from the …

Human Interest

US plans for the Martinelli brothers.

https://www.prensa.com/judiciales/guatemala-los-hermanos-martinelli-linares-estan-en-una-audiencia-para-conocer-los-motivos-de-su-extradicion-a-estados-unidos/ Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares , detained last Monday in Guatemala, were taken to a court on duty this Tuesday, to begin the process of their eventual extradition to the United States, where they are required for an alleged conspiracy to launder money. + info Guatemala captures two children of …