Was it worth it?
Many Panamanians, especially those living within a ten-block radius from the capital’s Miramar Hotel, will surely remember George W. Bush’s recent visit to this country as the greatest nightmare in recent history. Hundreds of residents, drivers and pedestrians of the districts of Bella Vista, Calidonia, Avenida Central and parts of the Old Quarter were literally forced to either move to other quarters for a day or two, endure hour-long traffic jams along some of the shortest thoroughfares in the city or miss work all together. Older folks can tell you they had not seen such a massive display of security for a single individual since WWII, as people of all ages were asked to present some kind of identification to move from one corner to the other.

Who knows? Perhaps all of that mayhem is what forced thousands to "glue their eyes" to their TV sets to see what our VIP visitor had to say.

Three hot topics were clearly set forth by Panamanian president Martín Torrijos during a joint press conference (in which only four questions were entertained) held early on Monday, November 7 at "Casa Amarilla" –a venue close to the presidential palace: the resurrection of the free trade negotiations between both countries, the cleaning of the former shooting/ bombings ranges used by the U.S. military during the occupation of the Panama Canal Zone and the Island of San José in Las Perlas archipelago (Panama vehemently insists these sites, some of which are contaminated with WWII chemical weapons, must be cleaned by the U.S. government, while Washington considers this to be a "closed case"); and the current plans to widen and modernize the Panama Canal. Commenting on the stalled bilateral free trade negotiations, Mr. Bush simply answered that "We need to continue working on it, in order to close a deal," after acknowledging the hurdles such an initiative would have to overcome at the U.S. Congress. Regarding the cleaning of the shooting ranges, Mr. Bush expressed that there was a "difference of opinion" in the agendas of both countries. Nevertheless, he did present the possibility such a topic could regain momentum in Washington sometime in the future, stating that "as friends, we can continue talking about this".

Then came the hottest question of all: How would the U.S. view the involvement of mainland China as a source of funds to finance the modernization works at the Canal? Another short answer followed suit: "The modernization of the Panama Canal is necessary...and the entire Hemisphere needs to unite as a single trading block to compete against China".

Some experts believe Bush’s visit to Panama was either part of a nicely orchestrated public relations campaign (to prove the prosperity of a country once invaded by the U.S. military) or a long-awaited break after his failed South American tour and the recent natural disasters and political problems in his homeland. At any rate, Mr. and Mrs. Bush spent an enjoyable time on the Isthmus, visiting the Canal’s Miraflores Locks, the Corozal American Cemetery, and the inauguration of a baseball clinic with famous Panamanian major league players.

Vanessa Márquez: Not a suicide
Guillermo Villalobos, a prosecutor of the Public Ministry, recently announced that the case of Vanessa Márquez, a nineteen-year-old girl of underprivileged extraction who died in a mysterious, much-publicized sex-and-drugs party (in the presence of prominent government figures) in an exclusive neighborhood in Panama City earlier this year, was not a suicide. This was determined by new analysis of the body’s photographs, which do not show any injuries on the victim’s back torso, despite the fact that the corpse was found face down (it was rumored form the beginning that the body had fallen from one of the stories of a hotel). The pictures did show, however, a number of wounds on the hands, possible inflicted in self defense.

A resident of the working-class suburb of Juan Diaz, Vanessa Márquez was last seen alive on the evening of March 4 of this year during a party in the exclusive neighborhood of Punta Paitilla in which a couple of prominent government officials were present. Found the next morning, the body was quickly cremated by relatives before the due process took took its course, which led to suspicions of document tampering at the coroner’s office. The coroner and other officials in this case have been fired. To date, only one arrest has been made as a result of the investigations.

University closed
What started out as a little "post-Halloween" mischief by a small group of students of Universidad de Panamá, ended as an extended Christmas holiday for thousands of pupils of the country’s largest, public higher-learning institution. It all began as a protest against the visit of U.S. president George W. Bush, but the situation soon degenerated into a stick-and-stone riot led by a score or two of mask-wearing individuals. The National Police quickly took control of the situation, and University authorities, tired of the numerous riots that have taken place this year, ordered the closure of the institution, possibly until after the Christmas holidays.

Protests have been part of student life at Universidad de Panama since the days when the first generations of pupils fervently opposed the country’s status as a U.S. protectorate during much of the 20th century. Today, the U.S. troops are gone, but a minority of students continue to protest every once in a while, although lacking a definite agenda. This, continues to anger residents of the greater Panama City area, who are often forced to endure long traffic jams and volatile riot situations for no apparent reason. Students, on their hand, say the recent closure is a "complot" against the University.

The Visitor, Panama’s tourist newspaper, takes this opportunity to greet its readers at three major trade fairs taking place this month: FIT, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Nov. 19-22), ACHAMART, Santiago, Chile (Nov. 24-26) and EITBM, Barcelona, Spain (Nov. 29-Dec. 1).

As you will be able to see in these pages, a lot more happens in Panama than ships passing through its world-famous Canal. So much is happening here that scores of expats and second-home buyers from around the world are moving here to enjoy Panama, with its hundreds of unexplored islands, beaches, jungles, mountains, extreme sports opportunities, a vibrant nightlife and over 600 annual folklore festivals.

Therefore, we invite you to take advantage of the incoming tourist high season (December-April) to discover this, Central America’s "Path less traveled".

Sport Wear Corporation clothes

Panama is rapidly becoming an enticing territory for nature enthusiasts and world-class anglers who in addition to looking for thrilling, and sometimes record-breaking experiences, also seek comfort, quality and fashion. For them, Sports Wear Corporation has opened two specialized boutiques (Outdoors and Columbia Sportswear Company) at select Panama City venues.

The first Outdoors boutique opened at Albrook Mall (ground floor) last year. The store offers a broad range of boots, jackets, sleeping and trousers of the best brands: Columbia, Keen, Caterpillar and Nevados. The boutique’s popularity soon motivated its owners to open three more outlets at Multicentro Mall (second floor) and Multiplaza Pacific (second floor) --both located in Paitilla. A second boutique, Columbia Sportswear Company, also operates at Multiplaza’s second floor, specializing in designer sports gear for men and women.

For more information, call: 302-4825.

The best brands for adventure-loving men and women.

Don’t miss the color and tradition of patron saint festivals taking place throughout Panama this month.

November 25
Patron saint festival of Santa Catalina, Pedasí, province of Los Santos.

Twenty-one-year-old Anna Vaprio is Panama’s "Envoy Extraordynary" in Sanya, China this month. The city will host this year’s Miss World Beauty Pageant.

A Business and International Relations university student, Miss Vaprio enjoys reading, painting, visiting the outdoors and exercising, among other activities.

By Sarah Murray

The queue at Miami International Airport's immigration counter is packed with individuals and families from Central and South America, many of them hoping to start a new life in the US.

But another group of migrants is moving in the other direction – Americans seeking retirement homes in places such as Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Belize and Nicaragua.

Retirement villages and sheltered housing are big business for developers and property companies and the US has a huge retirement village sector, based largely in Florida and other southern states. However, driven by the rising prices of these properties and the soaring cost of healthcare - as well as the hurricanes that recently have ravaged the US south - many American retirees are looking to resettle overseas.

"Argentina and Uruguay are both countries where the prices are still good for Americans, and you can get good value for your money," says Barbara Perriello, who as travel director of Agora Travel runs property investment tours to countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Property taxes and building costs in these countries, are often far lower than those in the US, she says. "In Argentina you can build for about $70 per square foot, and that's high end," she says. "And in Nicaragua and Honduras, it's still about $80 per square foot - so you're looking at much cheaper costs."

Less developed countries are welcoming the newcomers with open arms. With their eyes on a potential source for revenue, governments are busy adjusting their investment and visa rules to create conditions that will encourage a new wave of immigrants.

In places such as Honduras and Panama, "Pensionado" visas allow foreigners to receive sources of income from overseas - such as US pensions or dividends from investments - tax free, while some countries offer local discounts on things such as transport, prescription drugs and medical care to foreign residents over the age of 65.

In Thailand, the tourism authority operates a Long Stay in Thailand programme designed to persuade retirees from countries with cold winters and higher living costs to remain in the country for extended periods.

But for many Americans, the desire to settle in destinations closer to home means that Central America and the Caribbean are of greater appeal than Asia.

According to a survey in June by Pulte Homes - which under its Del Webb brand is a leading US builder of what it calls "active adult communities" for people aged 55 and over - almost half (47 per cent) of the respondents planning to move for their retirement said staying within three hours of their family was an important consideration in deciding where to relocate.

While in the past that has meant places such as North Carolina or Florida, direct flights now operating from cities such as Houston and Miami have reduced flight times to destinations such as Panama, Honduras and Nicaragua to a matter of two or three hours. "People are looking for bargains but that doesn't always take first place," says Lyle Burke, president of Tropical Pathways, which runs property investment tours. "There are people who say they'd love to go to the South Pacific or Europe, but in the end it comes down to being close to grandchildren, so the Caribbean and Central America tend to be the places where you see most people going."

Mr Burke, whose company runs a growing number of property tours to countries such as Panama, Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Caribbean island of Roatan, says most of his clients are people that are about to retire or that are setting themselves up for the future.

Property developers are also starting to respond to the trend. With their eyes firmly fixed on older buyers from Europe and the US, many developers - both from the US and local companies - have been busy building residential communities targeted at this market.

With amenities such as tennis courts or swimming pools, many of these developments are designed to appeal to retirees wanting to stay active. Often developments are built around golf courses or riding stables. And as in similar communities in the US, developments are often self-contained, with medical facilities on site or a heliport for quick transport out in an emergency.

Like retirement villages in the US, such developments create the kind of instant communities that appeal to retirees - yet at substantially lower costs. "People are looking for a more comfortable lifestyle - but their money is going to go a lot further in these places," says Ms Perriello.

More and more expats are moving to Panama's mountains, beach communities and cities.

Panama
With Costa Rican property having risen sharply in price in recent years, the Panamanian goverment is hoping it can take Costa Rica's place as one of the top destinations for US retirees.

It is certainly seems well placed to do so. For a start, much of the infrastructure is American, built during the years when the US administered the Panama Canal. As a result of those years, there is also a cultural familiarity with Americans that makes many feel at home there today. Non-stop flights from Miami to Panama City take three hours and four from Houston, giving US citizens easy access to their families back home.

And, crucially in at a time when violent storms seem to be on the rise, Panama is not in the hurricane zone, unlike a lot of its Central American neighbours. "Panama will get some residual effect in the form of additional rain but it doesn't get the damaging high winds or mud slides," says Mark Kanty, a Canadian based in Panama who manages property tours to the country for Tropical Pathways.

In addition, the Panamanian administration has been working to make its tax and immigration rules favourable to foreign retirees. Its "Pensionado" programme offer discounts on everything from theatre and cinema tickets to public transport, domestic airfares and medical care.

The tax regime is also one drawing attention from retirees looking to settle outside the US. No tax is imposed on imported cars, no property taxes are imposed on new buildings for the first 20 years and all income earned outside Panama is tax-free. "Taxation is a huge benefit that's attracting people," says Mr Kanty. "The property tax is particularly attractive. In good climate areas like Florida and California, property taxes have gone through the roof." Popular destinations include Panama's Caribbean Coast, around towns such as Bocas del Toro, as well as Boquete, a hillside resort town now lined with estate agents offices where the interest of foreigners is creating a mini property boom and prices have been rising fast.

Developers have been quick to move in and capitalise on the rush of interest in these areas, creating the kind of residences that appeal to retirees. Near Boquete, for example, Hacienda Los Molinos is a development of more than 80 lots as an "Active Lifestyle Community" whose facilities include emergency services and 24-hour medical assistance.

Also in Boquete, Sam Taliaferro, a US investor, has developed Valle Escondido, a gated community of about 200 homes built around a nine-hole golf course and including facilities such as a driving range, tennis and racquetball courts, shops, a chapel and a bar and restaurant.

Mr Kanty believes that the high quality of the properties and planned communities being developed in Panama as well as the tax regime and "Pensionado" package will put the country firmly on US retirees' map. "I think it's just beginning," he says. "And it's going to continue to grow in popularity and as people discover that it's not just another Mexico, but that it has some unique qualities."