News

Isthmian Update
Some of the news in Panama
Vast growth in tourism projects Investment in tourism projects continues to grow. This year the figure totals some US$39 million, vastly more than last year when the total was barely US$7 million. The projects are in hotels, restaurants and boarding houses that will be located in the provinces of Panama, Colon, Bocas del Toro and Los Santos. Rehabilitale Rio Hato Owners of small hotels of the interior consider that to rehabilitate the airport of Farallón in Rio Hato is economic and feasible according to the daily newspaper El Siglo. Popular attraction The Panama Canal and the ruins of the city of Old Panama are the most popular tourist attractions according to statistics of the Panamanian Institute of Tourism (IPAT). However, the tourist attraction of Old Panama has been compromised by the development of new buildings and real estate projects close to its structures, says one daily newspaper. The patron body of Old Panama has managed to inject US$10 million into the repair of the ruins. Diamond magnate eyes Panama The company Africa Israel Investment, controlled by the Russian-Israeli diamond magnate, Lev Leviev who also controls the largest Israeli real estate business, is prepared to carry out multi-million- dollar projects in Panama, Joseph Homsany the representative of Inversiones Balboa Bonita, said in an interview with La Estrella de Panama. More traffic signals President Martin Torrijos delivered to the company Tráfico y Transporte S.A. (Telvent) the order to proceed with the project "Centralized Signals Systems in Panama and San Miguelito" involving the installation of 180 traffic signals, the establishment of a Traffic Control Center, as well as placing video cameras at five intersections and pedestrian signals at 66 intersections, 13 of which have systems to be grasped by people with visual disability. Treading the thin line Allies of Taiwan in Central America and the Dominican Republic reaffirmed their political support to that country without rejecting the commercial approaches with China. At a meeting in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, a representantive of Taiwan said that Panama’s President Martin Torrijos excused himself by télephone from attending the summit, but expressed in a letter his will to continue diplomatic relations. To rehabilitate Bridge of the Americas An offer for a total of US$13.5 million for the first phase rehabilitation of the Bridge of The Americas, was received by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), to initiate a project of total maintenance of this structure for 45 years. The consortium Asociación Accidental Puente de Las Américas (Accidental Association Bridge of the Americas), was the only company to present an offer. An Evaluating Commission will be responsible for analyzing the proposal and to decide whether the project will be awarded to the group. Anti terrorist maneuvers A military force of 7,500 troops from 20 countries have been conducting maneuvers by land, sea and air to defend the Panama Canal against a terrorist threat. The exercise, called Allied Forces PANAMAX 2007, "does not signify the imminent existence of a threat to the Canal, "said US South Command officer, Manuel Ortiz "but the international community knows the value of the waterway and its important role in the world market". Justice: Corruption and delays Corruption is perceived to be the main problem facing Panama’s system of justice. According to a survey of the Barometer of America, presented by the Civic Alliance For Justice, the situation is serious. A total of 52.1% of the 1,536 people polled indicated that the problem is corruption in the justice system and 16.7% the delays in the justice system.	David’s Mangroves The Environmental Commision of the National Assembly will carry out an investigation into the condition of the mangrove swamps in the area of Pedregal, David, in Chiriqui. The representative of the town, Ruben Guerra, indicated that recenlty the town council of David approved declaring the coasts of the district as protected areas and transferred them to the administration and care of the National Environmental Authority instead of the Authority of Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP). Noriega may sue Panama state Former Panamanian general Manuel Antonio Noriega is considering a demand against the Panamanian State and the Foreign Ministry of Panama for "acting with negligence" and not impeding his possible extradition to France. Julio Berríos, one of the lawyers of the former dictator, told the Spanish news agency, ACAN-EFE, that "we are analyzing the possibility of presenting the demand on instructions of the former general". To clean up U.S. weapons range The first contract for dry excavation in the enlargement of the Canal was awarded to Constructora Urbana, S.A. (CUSA) for a total of US$41 million. The contract consists of removing 7.4 million cubic feet of of Cerro Paraiso, and cleaning 146 hectares of land in the sector of earth Cartagena where military weapon range material was abandoned by the United States in 1999. Some statistics The enlargement of the Panama Canal will require the removal of the 130 million cubic meters of land in dredging and dry excavation work, revealed the administrator of the Canal, Alberto Aleman Zubieta The works of the French and Americans for the construction of the waterway required removal of 205 million cubic meters of land. The liquid assets of the Panamanian banking center increased by 44%, while the credit accounts receivable improved by 17.3%, between January and June 2007, with relation to the same period of the previous year, it is revealed by the Comptroller’s Office. The deposits in the banking system rose by 22.9% The current income of the government has grown by 15% up to the month of June in comparison to the same period of last year. According to registrations of the Department of Income of the Ministry of Economy and Finances (MEF), it collected US$1,513 million in the first six months of 2007, while for 2006 it received US$1,195.6 million. The balance of the Panamanian public debt was US$10,734 million at the end of July, according to the Department of Public Credit. That total is US$282 million greater than at the end of 2006 and US$1,531 million greater than at September 2004, when Martin Torrijos assumed the presidency. The Wholesale Price Index (IPM) increased by 3.9% during the second quarter of 2007, compared with the first three months of this year, revealed the Comptroller’s Office. The minimum wage should be increased by more than US$1.00 a day and not by US$0.50 as proposed by the government to elevate it from US$284.00 to US$300 says Rolando Gordón, professor of economy of the Panama University.

Rescuers find lost tourist

An American tourist who disappeared for 48 hours in El Valle de Antón, was found alive, but with a fractured leg in an almost inaccessible part of the Cerro Gaital. John Doyle, was spotted by one of the 60 volunteers that took part in the rescue operation. He was a guest at Los Mandarinos hotel.

Doyle who did not have any other serious injuries, was transferred by helicopter to a hospital in the capital.

Bad Bus Business

The National Bank of Panama was quite generous in giving loans to bus operators. During the 2001 and 2002, the BNP disbursed US$25.7 million for the special program of financing for public transport of which only US$9.2 million has been recovered, without interest.

In Dolega, Chiriquí

Book Mark acquires big collection of witchcraft and the psychic arts

The Visitor has received the following dispatch from Mr. Harold de Mun, proprietor of the amazing hinterland book-store at Dolega in Chiriquí on the road from David to Boquete.

The Book Mark, the all-purpose English language bookstore, has just acquired an extensive private collection of occult books, cookbooks, and paraphernalia for those interested in practicing the darker arts, or more likely, those just curious about the strange old lady, in their neighborhood, with the black cat and broomstick.

The collection, which includes hundreds of books on witchcraft, voodoo, santeria, macumba, hexology, numerology, astrology, decks of tarot cards and tarot books, volumes on reincarnation, psychism, crystals and gems, Celtic and Druid studies, is being laboriously catalogued, with the owner's hope of eventually marketing on the internet. At the moment, those interested in specific titles will have to browse through ceiling-high stacks of unusual titles.

In addition to the books are several small figures, carved in both wood and plaster, many framed pictures of various saints, Haitian gods, packaged herbs for spells and enchantments, many candles, bells, candle holders, even a small cauldron to prepare a witches brew.

A great way to prepare for the Halloween season. Stop in the bookshop, on the main road to Boquete, stock up on your favorite fiction and nonfiction, plus a couple of seasonal items, such as Never Strike a Happy Medium or The Naked Witch, or maybe Love Magic (to bring love and harmony into your life with herbs, potions, and incantations).

The Book Mark is open daily from 9 to 5, except Mondays.

The Panama Star to be resurrected

The Panama Star, Panama’s first newspaper, launched by U.S. immigrants in1849 when the isthmus was temporary host to the hopeful travelers to the Californian gold fields, is to be resurrected.

It will be an English language supplement included in the daily "La Estrella" newspaper published by Geomedia whose president is Dr. Ebrahim Asvat. Dr Asvat also has interests in companies in the Colon Free Zone.

The original newspaper later became the "Daily Star", an English language paper with a Spanish supplement "La Estrella de Panama". In 1854 it merged with the Panama Herald to become the "Star and Herald", was bought by the Duque family and operated until 1987when its readership base was disappearing as U.S. canal and military personnel left the country.

Trump seeks to float $220m bond
offer on Panama Stock Exchange

Architectural rendering of the
new Trump Ocean club.

The Trump Ocean Club, International Hotel & Tower Panama plans to raise money on the Panama Stock Exchange, part of which will finance the project. Although the $220 million bond emission is not yet approved, it will be the second largest ever offered on the Panama Exchange, and the largest of the year until now.

Newland International Properties Corp., developer of the project, has invested $36.65 million already. They began construction May 5th.

The bonds will have a nominal value of $10,000 and will mature in 2014. Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2009 according to their propaganda.

If you are interested in the Panama Stock Exchange visit www.panabolsa.com

U.S. “deeply disappointed”
at election of National Assembly president

The new president of Panama’s National Assembly, Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, is wanted in the United States for alleged murder. His election while under this accusation has caused a rift in U.S.-Panama relations as well as provoking a political crisis in Panama. The US government declared that it was "deeply disappointed" through a communiqué emitted by the State Department only hours after Gonzalez was chosen as president of the Parliament.

The federal courts in Washington maintain a case against Gonzalez that exposes him to possibly three prison sentences totaling more than 30 years, if U.S. authorities were to capture, indict and condemn him.

Gonzalez is wanted by the US for the fatal shooting of a US soldier, Zak Hernández, in the closing days of the Noriega regime before the U.S. invasion of Panama.

Hernandez was a passenger in a car travelling down a street in the city when he was fatally shot. Gonzales told a daily newspaper "My election is a decision that is of concern only to the Panamanians".

Panama’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Lewis Navarro agreed. He emphasized that one must respect the internal decisions of Panama.

Opponents of the PRD (Revolutionary Democratic Party) now in power allege that the affair indicates that president Martin Torrijos has lost control of the party by not having avoided that Gonzalez assume that position.

Former Panamanian president Ernesto Perez Balladares, told “La Estrella” that there should be respect of the independence of the organs of State. But he considers that the election of Gonzalez will have its political cost.

Perez Balladares had his visa revoked by the U.S. and he claims that one of the reasons is his decision, while president, not to acceed to U.S. demands to hand over Gonzalez to them to stand trial for the alleged murder.

Paradise for retirees no more

Panama is no longer the number one place where U.S. pensioners would like to retire, according to the American magazine, International Living. After six years of occupying the first position, Panama now has dropped to fourth, because the cost of living has increased.

Bid to save Panama Viejo, Panama’s first capital

By Craig J. Weincek

Panama Viejo, the ruins of the original Colonial city is to be "saved" if a bold and comprehensive plan put forward by the Panama Viejo "Patronato" can be implemented.

According to Julieta Arango, the Executive Director of the Patronato, the main idea is to eliminate any traffic from passing directly through the park that contains the ruins of the original site of Panama’s capital.

If everything goes according to the existing proposal, Avenida Cincuentenario will be closed off at Avenida Ernesto T. Lefevre and diverted around the community also known as Panama Viejo. Instead of a highly congested two-lane road winding among the ruins of the historic site, there will be a four-lane thoroughfare sweeping up along the Jardin de Paz and connecting back to the existing right-of-way at Puente del Rey.

This is a view of how the ruins of Panama Viejo would look like after
the execution of the Master Plan.

This new traffic pattern will allow the World Heritage Site to be turned into a pristine park, spread over 28 hectares, that will allow visitors, both tourists and citizens, interested in history to explore the ruins in a tranquil setting.

"We are simply trying to save Panama Viejo," Ms. Arango explained from behind her desk in the park’s administrative offices adjacent to the modern museum directly next to the busy avenue. She added: "You cannot understand or appreciate the place with 60,000 vehicles passing through the middle of it every day. There is too much traffic, pollution and noise. It is also dangerous for visitors who have to cross the road to enjoy many of the old stone ruins". As we spoke, lines of school children could be seen marching along both sides of the roadway.

Avenida Cincuentenario, which runs along the shoreline in some places, is also said to be collapsing under the weight of heavy traffic following the only route to the south side of the city. Ms. Arango suggests that the wider road would help alleviate congestion and expedite travel, while bypassing the oldest part of Panama.

The Master Plan proposes re-routing Via Cincuentenario, so the
ruins of Panama Viejo would become a tranquil park.

The main concern is that any change in the traffic pattern, especially a much wider road, would mean that some people will have to be displaced and sections of the neighborhood would be disrupted. Even though the exact path of the broader avenue is still under discussion, it is clear that any new right-of-way will have to go through some, if not many, existing homes and businesses.

The old one-story artisan center, which is located in the shadow of the cathedral tower, will also be torn down and relocated to a new facility near the museum and office complex.

According to representatives of the Department of Urban Development, this plan is in the early stages and a feasibility study is underway, with a possible target date of 2009.

Author’s note: For a unique sweeping perspective of Panama City, climb up to the top of the cathedral tower, that still stands since the pirate Henry Morgan raised the town way back in 1671, and look across to the sparkling skyscrapers of today’s modern metropolis and wonder at all the history in between.

Panama Broadcasting Corp. offers more air time for Sunday night program

The Sunday night English program of Panama Broadcasting Corporation, S.A. (93.5 FM) has extended its air time from 6:00 p.m. through to 10:00 p.m. A spokesman of the company told the Visitor: “We are offering a diversity of programming to include a greater audience range”.

At 6:00 p.m. they offer “The Chart Show” with James Sebastian giving an up-to-date look at today’s music. At 7:30 p.m. they have introduced “The Sunday Night News with John and Sandra” in which John Mac and Sandra Snyder take a look back over the last week’s events and offer useful information.

This is followed by “Sunday Night at the Metropolis” at its new time of 8:00 p.m. through to 10:00 p.m. –a couple of hours of music and a bit of chat with Gerry “D”.

In order to accommodate the new programming PBC has put its own production studio at Radio Metropolis, to ensure the quality and programming that is gathering more and more listeners.

US. College to set up tourism internship program in Chiriquí

Los Quetzales Lodge and Spa at Guadalupe Chiriqui is negotiating an internship program for students of the Hospitality and Tourism Management department of the business school of the College of Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A.

The program is being set up by Andrea S. Canberg Ph.D, Internship Coordinator of the department, who also has a property near Boca Chica. She is a specialist in ecoturism and adventure tourism, with oven ten years of experience in leading adventure tours in Costa Rica, Nepal and Colorado and Georgia.

Carlos Alfaro, propietor of Los Quetzales Lodge Spa in Guadalupe
with Andrea Camberg of Charleston, SC.

She told The Visitor: “My passion is whitewater adventures and multi-day excursions. I am interested in conducting research on adventure travel and ecoturism in Panama especially as it relates to conservation and sustainability”.

She added: “My husband, Matthew, and I have recently purchased property near Boca Chica in Panama and look forward to spending holidays there with our two children, Marissa-4 and Luke-2. While on our last visit to Panama we went snorkeling, whitewater rafting, tree trekking, offshore fishing, rainforest hiking, and horseback riding. It was a wonderful trip. Panama is great for outdoor adventure.

Andrea can be contacted at phone: 843-953-8043, fax: 843-953-5697,
e-mail: canberga@cofc.edu

New Hertz branch at Albrook

To meet the needs of increased passenger traffic at Marcos A. Gelabert at Albrook, Hertz has opened a counter. This brings to 12 the number of Hertz branches serving the provinces of Panama, Colon, Chiriquí and Herrera.

More visitors for the Canal

The Miraflores Visitor´s Center is receiving more tourists in comparison with last year.. During July, 48,225 people visited, while last year in the same period there were only 39,716.

Since its opening on March 31 2004, nearly 1.2 million tourists visited the Center. The principal attractions are seeing the locking of the ships a few meters away A theater at the facility shows the workings and the history of the Canal.

Penonome Fair posponed

The Penonome Fair, which was programmed to take place from September 8 to 12 has been postponed due to floods, said a spokeman of the Panamanian Tourist Bureau. The event has been re-scheduled for April next year.

Torres de Las Américas has new Conference Center

A new conference center has opened in Panama city, at Las Torres de las Américas, located in Punta Pacífica. It offers seven salons, that can accommodate up to 500 people, an auditorium with a capacity of 125 and an atrium big enough to take 1500 people comfortably.

The rooms, which were named after interior communities, are: Yaviza, La Palma, Bayano, Almirante, Natá, Palenque and Jaqué, can be rented for social, commercial and corporative events and they represent an alternative to companies or organizations which wish to have their meetings outside hotels or in smaller places than the Atlapa Convention Center.

The salons can be adapted to the needs of the client.

The administrators of Torres de las Americas Conference Center said that the salons can be adapted to the needs of the client. They offer furniture, restaurant service and digital audio-visual equipment. If the client wishes, he can also bring his own equipment, furniture, drinks and food. All areas are strictly non smoking.

For more information contact 302-8927 or ventas@mccp-panama.com

SPORTS

Gold for Saladino at the World Athletics

The Panamanian athlete, Irving Saladino won the gold medal for his long jump at the World Athletics Championship in Osaka, Japan. Saladino defeated his two rivals, the Italian, Andrew Howe and the American, Dwight Phillips with a jump of 8.57 meters. His personal best performance.

Saladino´s medal is the first that Panama has won in the history of the World Athletic Championships and he, like the other medalists also received prize money for $60,000.

SPORTS

Mariano Rivera saves 21 games

Mariano Rivera, the star fielder of the Yankees of New York, saved 21 games this season. Mariano did not have any help from his team at the beginning of the season, but the “Bronx Mules” arrived to the ninth inning with the necessary advantages for the Panamanian pitcher to come out and make the saves. The season will end in September and it is expected that the Yankees will be on the play-offs.

Foreigners can collect new driving licences

October is deadline for new digital licence

All driving licenses in Panama have to be changed to a new digital version. Drivers with an ID card starting with E (foreigners) can now pick up their new digital driving license at the branch of ATTT (Land Transport Authority) in Auto Depot, at the Domingo Díaz Ave. The ATTT expects to issue 10,000 driving licenses to foreigners, in order to replace the Polaroid version that has been used until now. This new driving license will provide more security. The deadline is October 31. After that the transit police may impose fines on those who have not obtained their new license.

To go to Auto Depot, at Domingo Díaz Ave., you pass San Miguelito as if you were going to Tocumen International Airport, continue to Villa Lucre and after two pedestrian bridges you will see the Auto Depot on the right hand. To contact the ATTT at Auto Depot, call 502-0581

$594 million in 2007-2008

Copa Airlines flies high

Massive investments put air transport sector at top of country’s economic growth

According to a study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the air transport sector had the best growth in the Panamanian economy with an increase of 21.3%, compared to the previous year. This is partly because of the big investment that Copa Airlines had made to improve their air fleet and services.

In the past five years, Copa Airlines has invested $700 million to consolidate its network of connections. This year Copa plan to invest $334 millions more and in 2008 the prediction is to invest another $260 millions. The airline acquired its ninth and tenth Brazilian-made Embraer 190 aircraft, increasing its fleet to 35 airplanes. Another two should arrive by December. Besides that, Copa plans to increaseit’s staff by 16.6%, in order to have 3,789 employees. They also announced that the airline would provide a new service by the end of the year to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Copa Airlines at the moment is offering more than 126 flights every day to 40 destinations in 21 countries of North, and South America and the Caribbean; as well as flights to another 120 international destinations through the alliance with Continental Airlines. But this is not all that Copa is doing. Mr. Pedro Heilbron, Executive President of Copa Airlines, just announced that Copa Airlines finally is now an associate member of the SkyTeam global alliance, which operates more than 15,200 daily flights to more than 790 cities in 162 countries around the world. Mr. Heilbron said that the idea is to achieve a better connectivity, which will allow travelers to have access to a better network of flights and more flexibility in fares.

$350 m expansion for Gamboa Resort

Bern Hotels & Resorts will invest $3.5 million in the development of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort with the construction of 60 new rooms, of which 13 will be deluxe king, 38 deluxe queen, seven theme suites, as well as an executive lounge.

De izquierda a derecha: Sr. Thiery Eck, Gerente Generel de Holiday Inn
y Ciudad del Saber; Dr. Rubén Blades, Ministro de Turismo; Ing. Herman
Bern, Presidente de Empresas Bern; Sr. Glenn Champion, Vice presidente
de Empresas Bern

The president of Bern Hotels & Resorts, Herman Bern said that his company is committed to create new job opportunities by taking advantage of the tourist development in Panama. He added: “We are a company that believe Panama is a country that everyday is worth more.”

Gamboa Rainforest Resort, which is located within a natural park, close to the shores of the Chagres river, is planning to increase its occupancy to satisfy the demand of incentive groups and meetings, as well as that of the individual tourist through the new expansion.