President George W. Bush has named William Alan Eaton new U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Panama. After ratification by the Senate, Eaton will replace the Hon. Linda Watt, one of the most outspoken U.S. diplomatic representatives to Panama.

A veteran of the US foreign service, Eaton has served as Executive Director of the Office of European Affairs of the Department of State, and in diplomatic missions in the former Soviet Union, Guayana, Italy and Turkey.

The United States was the first country to establish diplomatic ties with the fledging Republic of Panama, on November 6, 1903, three days after the Isthmus declared its independence from Colombia. For almost a century, both countries enjoyed a special relationship as a consequence of the construction and administration of the Panama Canal by the U.S. government. After the transfer of the waterway from U.S. to Panamanian hands in 1999, both countries have based their relationship on cultural and business affairs.

United Nature offers:

Aerial views of reforested grazing lands in Darién.

A "green" heart and a visionary mind are the only requirements to obtain a legal Panamanian residence status. United Nature, a solid Panamanian reforestation company, offers this possibility under Panama’s Law 24 of 1992, which yields attractive benefits to investors in the country’s reforestation industry.

Panamanian legislation, more specifically "Law 24 of 1992", specifies that with a minimum investment of US$40,000, foreigners investing in reforestation activities in Panama will receive, among other things, an immigrant visa status (which grants eligibility to apply for Panamanian citizenship in five years) in addition to attractive tax exemptions. This, however, requires a special license issued by ANAM (Panama’s National Environmental Authority) –a process that could take at least a couple of months.

United Nature, however, makes the process easier through the purchase of reforested lots in the province of Darién, in eastern Panama. For US$41,000, investors are entitled to a scientifically-grown and maintained 1.3-hectare teak plantation, a private corporation and all the benefits offered by Law 24. The program is a perfectly legal operation (with the establishment of the corporation, investors automatically receive a reforestation license) Additional requirements include a valid police record authenticated in the investors’ country of origin and commercial references. The investment yields approximately 10% return in approximately 10 years

United Nature reforest lands in Canglón and Quebrada Honda in Darién.

Managed by a team of engineers and forestry experts, United Nature runs over 3,000 hectares of reforested lands near the rural communities of Canglón and Quebrada Honda. What started as a private project in the mid-1990’s, is now an ambitious enterprise that, in addition to reforesting large extensions of grazing lands, administers and protects the remaining primary tropical forests of the area.

For more information, call (507) 223-1953, send an e-mail to: serviceteam@unitednature.com or visit the page: www.unitednature.com

By: Milagro Vallecillos

Mr. Lucio García Mancilla, President of Hoteles Decameron (left) and his excellency Martín Torrijos, President of Panama, are seen here during the ground breaking ceremony.

His Excellency Martín Torrijos, President of Panama was the guest of honor of the recent breaking ground ceremony of the third phase of the Decameron Beach Resort, located in Playa Blanca, in the province of Coclé. Presiding over the ceremony was Lucio García Mancilla, President of Hoteles Decameron.

With 600 bedrooms already in use, the Decameron is by far the largest hotel complex in Panama, but the 240 bedrooms included in the third phase are bound to make it one of the largest in Latin America, with a grand total of 840 rooms.

Built with a US$5 million investment, the new phase will create 200 permanent jobs at the end of the construction.

"The complex we are launching today represents the final phase of a concession granted to us six years ago. During this time, we have invested over US$70 million and have received almost two million guests", said Mr. Mancilla.

In his speech, President Torrijos underlined the tremendous economic benefits the hotel has brought, not only to Coclé, but also to the entire country as well.

"There is no doubt that many residents of the Playa Blanca region will have better opportunities with the jobs created during and after the construction of this new hotel", he said.

The Decameron receives more than 500,000 guests a year.

Future Projects
Jorge Loaiza, Marketing Manager of Hoteles Decameron in Panama, took the opportunity to confirm the upcoming construction of a boutique hotel in Panama City’s Old Quarter, exactly where the old headquarters of the Club Union (the country’s club for the well-to-do) presently stand. The facility will feature 84 suites facing the Bay of Panama, and will maintain the area’s old-Spanish architecture. Although everything is ready for the project’s ground breaking ceremony, the final blueprints are yet to be approved by the government of Panama.

It was also revealed that the chain has plans to build two additional beach complexes in the Perlas Islands, on the Pacific, and in the province of Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean.

In addition to the Decameron Costa Blanca Resort, Hoteles Decameron also built and manages the trendy Decapolis Hotel, in the exclusive Panama City neighborhood of Punta Paitilla.

Mr. Pedro Sarasqueta, promoter of Altos del María, a gated, country-style residential project in the western sector of the province of Panama, recently announced the launching of its highest phase: Escuderia Italio, the properties of which offer incredible vistas of the Continental Divide and the Pacific Ocean. Due to its altitude (over 3,000 feet above sea level) temperatures are quite chilly by Panamanian standards: around 61 F at nights.

One of the most ambitious projects of its kind in Latin America, Altos del María was launched in 1999 by Grupo Melo, the same company that developed the Cerro Azul mountain resort community in the Panama City area.

Located in the mountains of Sorá, a 90-minute drive from the capital, Altos del María is a series of parcels ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 square meters in the midst of waterfalls, nature trails, manicured lawns and gardens. Due its proximity to Campana National Park, the entire area thrives with wildlife: butterflies, over 200 species of birds and small mammals abound.

Owners can choose to build custom-made houses or choose from a number of house models available.

In addition to the peace and tranquility offered by the project, one of the main features of Altos del María is its proximity to excellent recreational facilities. The area is only 20 minutes away from the country’s most popular stretch of Pacific beaches and resorts. Property owners need not travel to Panama City for supplies, as modern supermarkets, department stores and many other services can be found in the city of La Chorrera and nearby towns. A road, currently negotiable by 4WDs, links Altos del María with the popular mountain resort community of El Valle de Antón, in the province of Coclé –15 minutes away.

Mr. Sarasqueta motivates potential buyers to hurry, as there are only 300 parcels left. The 700-plus residents of Altos del María make up a thriving community of North Americans, Europeans and Latinos from Central and South America. You can contact Mr. Sarasqueta at : (507) 671-2628 or by E-mail: psarasqueta@grupomelo.com