Local Culture

Panama born hotel chain now expanding the tropics to the World.

The hotel chain Selina, which was born in Pedasí by the hand of entrepreneurs and travelers Rafael Museri and Daniel Rudasevski, currently operates 46 locations in Latin America and Europe; and by the end of the year he expects to have more than 60 open. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ http://laestrella.com.pa/economia/marca-hotelera-nacio-panama-famosa-mundo/24121642   Worldwide, different hotel …

Local Culture

No longer just “Balboa”. Panama sets roots in billion dollar craft beer market.

The craft beers are stomping. In 2013 there were at least 4 local breweries dedicated to artisan production, and for this year the number has increased fivefold: there are 20 companies. The local consumer has the decision in their hands, says Ricardo Fernández, co-founder of Casa Bruja and founding partner …

Local Culture

Weekend Festival will showcase convergence of diverse mix of cultures

The Festival of Congos and Devils of Portobelo 2019 will have a special halo. It will be its first celebration after the recognition of the ritual and festive expressions of the conga culture as Cultural Patrimony of Humanity in November 2018, as determined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and …

"JB"

Every time I give Panama credit for Environmental forward thinking…..THEY FUCK IT UP!!!

by James “JB” Bryson Just the other day I posted how a plan to save the necessary and essential mangroves that are generally run right through for the sake of development, La Prensa does an expose on how Panama takes one step forward and 20 steps backwards as they intend …

Journalism

Abrego supporters have no issue attacking journalists.

Activists of the president of the National Assembly, Yanibel Ábrego , were surprised by the digital platform team Clearly when they were about to distribute supposed bags of food in the village of Cirí de Los Sotos, in a mountainous and isolated area two hours from Capira. Mauricio Valenzuela, a …

"JB"
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What will remain as Panama continues to grow? New conversations arise weekly

OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson In America it is called “Imminent Domain“, or in lay terms, when the government is able to emancipate properties that are deemed proving to be an obstacle in development that they feel would be for the greater good of the neighborhoods and cities involved. …

Local Culture

“Carnival” where Culture and Politics form the perfect mix

Candidates to different positions of popular election officially began yesterday the search for the votes for the general elections of May 5, in full Monday of Carnival . Candidates start today the election campaign The presidential ones carnival in Las Tablas, Chitré, the Villa of Los Santos and Penonomé, among …

Human Interest

No surprise here. Beaches reach capacity during Carnival.

Overcrowded were the beaches and rivers of the coast up and down Colón, during the four days of carnivals in these communities. Visitors – national and foreign – visited Cuango, Puerto Lindo, Palenque, Isla Grande, Nombre de Dios, Santa Isabel, Viento Frio, Cacique, Portobelo, Miramar, María Chiquita and Playa Chiquita …

Local Culture

“Boca La Caja” – what you know or may not know about what is right in front of our faces.

OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson When I have friends and family from the US travel into Tocumen, they inevitably ask about the brown, thick, water and ramshackle homes that adorn the coastline. First off, calling it “water” is taking a very generous and liberal stance on H2O. As it …

"JB"

On brink of criminal judgment, Martinelli obtains signatures for mayoral run.

OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson Say what you will of former President Ricardo Martinelli, but the guy has a set of balls on him. Whereas I am equally jaded into Panamanian politics as I was in my own country back in the states, I truly feel that the entirety …

Local Culture

Miss Panama 2018 takes stance on bias shown to indigenous women

Miss Panama 2018 , Rosa Montezuma , spoke on discrimination against indigenous women in an event held on Friday, August 10 by the Organization of American States (OAS) , at its headquarters in Washington. The Panamanian miss was one of the exponents in the segment of the rights of indigenous women in the Inter-American Forum on Indigenous Peoples …

Local Culture

Zulay Rodrigues- Deputy for PRD speaks on Religion and Choosing of Gender

Tuesday, at around 2:00 p.m. and with the threat of heavy rain, Zulay Rodríguez Lu arrived at the newsroom of La Estrella de Panamá, dressed in a blue miniskirt and bluish gray blazer, revealing a slender body, then of having lowered more than 20 pounds, as he confessed. He attended the …

Economy

Urban development requiring $20 billion until 2035

The Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning (Miviot) published in the Official Gazette the Urban Development Plan for the Pacific and Atlantic Metropolitan Areas (Panama-Colón), which suggests a state investment of $ 20 billion in infrastructure to face the growth urban until the year 2035. Juan Manuel Vásquez , Vice …

Health

Words of caution to the trappings of Panama for newcomers; the Sex comes with consequences

by James “JB” Bryson When we first settled here, and I say “we” as I was lock step with my wife at all times, it is hard to deny the utterly open and transparent sex industry that prevails in Panama. Lovely women abound, all seemingly attractive to unwitting American men. …

Human Interest

While Venezuela implodes, Maduro likes to dance.

Nicolás Maduro, who has already presumed his salsa skills with a Caracas rhythm, poses before public television during his campaign for re-election to the Presidency of Venezuela, trying out the bolero that dances and sings in front of the crowds that applaud him and they scream for help. As soon …

Human Interest

Drama swirling around possible return of Martinelli.

by James “JB” Bryson I find the story surrounding the possible return of President Martinelli quite fascinating. It plays out like a Shakespearean play right before your eyes. All of the vitriol and self righteous rhetoric coming from Varela, whom all know to be a shill of Martinelli for many, …

Human Interest

Arbitration rejected, as SUNTRACS continues past 28 days

The strike in the construction sector – paralyzed for 28 days – will continue until the 2018 and 2021 collective agreement between the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) and the Single Trade Union of Construction Workers is signed directly. and Similar (Suntracs ). + info Suntracs will define today in …

Economy

Parque Porras set for SUNTRACS assembly ahead of arbitration meeting

The construction workers affiliated to the Suntracs begin to arrive at the Porras Park for the General Assembly in the debate about the continuity or not of the strike that today has 27 days. The assembly is scheduled to start at 10:00 in the morning and according to the leaders …

Entertainment

Panamanian composer at forefront of Social change.

Danilo Pérez, a Panamanian musician and teacher, will be one of the persons in charge of inaugurating the Trama event , with the conference ” Social change through music “, on May 15, at 7:00 p.m. This activity, with one of the largest national exponents of the music, is free …

Church

Pope ponders his time to say “Farewell”

Pope Francis said Tuesday May 15 that he has been thinking about when it would be time to “say goodbye” to his flock. The pontiff made this reflection during his homily this Tuesday. The Holy See did not disclose the full text. Just as Saint Paul thought at the time …

Human Interest

First Panamanian music library to open doors; Youth Music School enlivens the classical arts

It has become medicine and remedy for the soul. Music has benefits that range from the physical aspect of the human being to the social sphere, because through it, as an educational tool, changes can be achieved in a society. In this sense, aware of the value of musical development in …

Local Culture

Growing Rastafari faith emerging in Panama

In the twenties the Reverend Barbadian Charles Goodridge found in the City of Columbus, ‘The Holy Piby’ or bible of the black man, sacred text for the Rastafarian movement. The Rastafarian ideas are based, in their political plan, on the postulates of the black leader Marcus Garvey, which had an …

Local Culture
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“Lord of Miracles” procession melds Christianity and “Witches”.

In 1709, in a remote village of Veraguas, the most famous case of witchcraft on the Isthmus took place, and although the witches (os), the elves, as well as other creatures have not completely abandoned the imaginary of all their inhabitants, today The Table – where the event occurred – …

Bocas del Toro

Agreement reached in Bocas.

After 20 hours of paralysis and closure of streets, the living forces of the province of Bocas del Toro and workers of the banana plantations reached an agreement with the government, which occurred at dawn on May 11 in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro . + info Stoppage of production in …

Economy

Subsidy approved for the SUNTRACS strikers

The Single Trade Union of Construction and Similar Workers ( Suntracs ) continued this Friday, May 4 with the granting of the strike subsidy to the workers who started this measure since April 18. + info $ 9 million, disbursement that Suntracs must assume in two weeks of strike Varela …

Labor

Feeling effects of Strikes

by James “JB” Bryson   I can’t speak for all of course, but we have been feeling the effects of the recent strikes and protests that have been taking place for the past week. Reminding me of the time the wife and I were in NYC during the “Occupy Wall …

Local Culture

Deaf population of Panama still facing big challenges

In Panama, through Law 53 of November 30, 1951, the Panamanian Institute of Special Enabling (IPHE) was created, with the objective of empowering young people with mental retardation, deafness and blindness in the School of Special Education, the School National of the Deaf and the School of the Blind, respectively. …

Local Culture

March on Labor Day

A group of people marches, the morning of this Tuesday, May 1, from the Porras Park to the Plaza 5 de Mayo, to commemorate the Day of the Worker. + info Suntracs agrees to maintain strike in the construction sector Prior to the march, a mass was held in the …

Local Culture

Almost 4300 people diagnosed with HPV between 2016 and 2017

This virus causes more than one type of cancer, according to the authorities. In Panama, since 2016 the vaccine has been applied to male children DISEASE Take care of the human papilloma (HPV), because a man infected with this virus can infect his sexual partner even when he has no visible …

Local Culture

Turmoil in Venezuela and Colombia lead to boon in Panama tourism

China, Canada, the United States and Europe are the target of the tourist campaign of Panama after traditional markets such as Colombia and Venezuela register a fall due to internal economic and political factors. Last January and February, some 484,006 people arrived in the Central American country, a destination for …