Long-awaited vacations?
Panamanian law stipulates that, for every year of work, employees are entitled to a paid, 30-day vacation. But what happens when three civil servants, each earning over US$10,000 a month, claim that they haven't taken vacations in 15 years? Such a demand, of course, would mean the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars --over US$400,000 to be exact– something which thousands of less-fortunate Panamanian employees believe is unethical, albeit its legality, especially if the three civil servants are Eduardo Valdéz Escoffery, Dennis Allen and Erasmo Pinilla, the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal. The truth is that very few actually believe the gentlemen's claim to have worked almost two decades without rest. The demands of the three magistrates came as a surprise for most Panamanians, since the gentlemen were considered to be among the most popular officials of the government.

Strike at the border
As of this issue, scores of trailers and trucks on both sides of the Costa Rican border were stranded as part of a strike against a new freight tax imposed by the Costa Rican government. The measure, according to the "Ticos", will help to cover the costs of new security technology at the border. This prompted the main transportation guild in Panama to declare a strike, which is rapidly becoming an expensive affair for hundreds of companies depending on land cargo operations in Central America. As this issue went to the press, Panamanian and Costa Rican authorities were discussing the situation.

La Niña has grown up!
Good news for sun-and-beach afficionados. La Niña, the weather phenomenon caused by low ocean temperatures, which normally represents rainy weather during the dry season (December-April) has been shorter than usual. Sunny, breezy days are back on the Isthmus in February after an extended wet season.

Consumer Protection
The Cabinet will today approve several reforms, including that of the Law No. 29 of 1996, that created the Commission of Free Competition and Consumer Affairs (Clicac). The Commision will now be called the Consumer Protection Competition Defense Authority, and will be able to impose fines of up to US$1-million on companies that carry out monopolistic practices.

Construction up 600%
The overall growth of the economy, the low banking interest rates, the acquisitive capacity of buyers and the modifications introduced to the Law of Incentives that offers exonerations on real estate for 20 years have promoted development of the construction industry in Panama. The president of the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (CAPAC), Javier Cardoze, said that between 2004 and 2005 construction permits in the private sector grew by 60%.

Bay cleaning
The project to clean up the Bay of Panama will start in March when tenders are called for the first phase, to cost US$50-million. The total cost of the project is calculated at US330-million. The director general of the water supply and sewerage entity, IDAAN, Juan José Amado III, indicated that he expects that after Carnival an announcement will be made so that interested companies can view the work to be done and the pricing.

Carnival and Tourism
Minister of Tourism Ruben Blades does not consider Panama´s carnival a tourist attraction (he will be in California during carnival) but Juan Carlos Navarro, mayor of Panama City disagrees. He said that Carnival is a great attraction for both internal and foreign tourism. He said many people from Colombia and Costa Rica attend and also Panamanians living abroad travel here for the event.

Canal Builds barge
The Panama Canal Authority launched the drilling barge Barú, the second vessel built by Panamanian labor in the Industrial Division workshops. The Baru, to be used for improvement work on the navigation channel of the canal, is a semiautomatic barge that cost US$19-million and has four drills that can penetrate to a depth of 30 meters for placing explosive charges.

Prefer Tribal justice
The Magistrate of the district of Las Palmas in Veraguas is upset because the Ngobe Bugle Indians in the region refuse to comply with judicial resolutions. They prefer the justice of their tribal chief in cases of homicide, robbery and payment of alimony.

Omayra Casamá, chief of Ipetí Emberá, present a Canadian visitor with a gift: an authentic Emberá basket.

Representatives from 32 Canadian Native American nations recently visited Panama for a time of fellowship with the Emberá communities of Ipetí and Piriati, in eastern Panama.

Omayra Casamá, chief of the Ipetí community, said the purpose of the visit extended far beyond a simple cultural exchange. "This program, headed by Dr. Katherine Bowing, or the Canadian Cooperation Fund, has helped us carry out a number of environmentally-oriented tasks, such as "Carbon Collection Project," which helps us seek sustainable growth just as we protect our natural environment". A number of Emberá youngsters from our communities are currently being educated in business administration, accounting and agro-forestry in order to face the challenges of this and other projects.

The Canadian visitors were also greeted by members of the Legislative Assembly's Indigenous Affairs Committee and travelled to Ipetí, a three-hour drive from Panama City, where they were declared guests of honor during a special ceremony presided by Mrs. Casama.

The Emberá Native American nation encompasses dozens of tiny communities scattered in the jungles of the Darien province, the Alto Bayano region and the forests of the Panama Canal watershed. Although their lifestyle appears not to have changed very much in the last 500 years, (the men wear loincloths and women go bear-breasted) the Emberá-Wounaan are a very progressive people which is well-aware of the world's current trends. Mrs. Casama is one of their first female chiefs.

Sibila González in action Photo: Rubén Flores Ulloa (rubenphotos@hotmail.com)

The growing expat community will have the chance to learn the exotic art of belly dance during the dry season (March-April) with classes offered by professional dancer Sibila González every Tuesday from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. in David, Chiriquí (V.I. Gym Fitness Center and Chiriquí Mall), and on Saturdays from 11: a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Villa Lucre, a suburb of Panama City (Rover's Gym, Centro Comercial Plaza Villa Lucre). Classes are opened to ladies and girls of all ages.

For more information, call: 774-8716 (David) and 277-3620 (Panama City).

For shows and performances, contact Sibila González at: 6664-7530.