News

Copa in Sky Team
Copa Airlines announced its afiliation to the global alliance Sky Team, operating more than 15,200 daily flights to more than 790 cities in more than 162 countries. The new associates of Copa Airlines in Sky Team are: Aeroflot, AeroMéxico, Air France, KLM, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air and Northwest. Passengers of Copa will be able to accumulate OnePass miles on any flight of any airline belonging to Sky Team.

Cheaper electricity
An electric interconnection between Colombia and Panama, is scheduled to be operating by December 2010. It is not only intended to bring cheaper energy to this country, but to redistribute energy from Colombia to the six Central American countries.

Coffee Crop fears
The coffee crop in Panama is at risk because of the lack of harvesters, who are mostly Indians. Growers fear the high demand for labor in the neighboring country of Costa Rica; as well as the Opportunities Network program, that requires the beneficiaries to maintain their children in school.

Plantain glut
The newspaper "Critica" reported that more than a hundred thousand plantains a week are being lost by the producers of the district of Barú, Chiriqui, because of the saturation of the domestic markets and the low prices they get for their products.

Ship registry grows
The number of ships registered in Panama has grown by 39% so far this year, according to the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP). Many of the ships that have entered the Panamanian registration have changed from the registries such as Malta, Singapore and St. Vincent.

Playa Blanca purchase
The company Fursy S.A, was awarded 54 hectares of land at Playa Blanca, Cocle province, property of the University of Panama in a public bid for over US$5 million. Two companies participated - BWH Administradora de Proyectos S.A. and Fursy S.A., with the latter making the highest offer of US$5,123,000.

investigation into the quality of these and also the brands Purissima, Premium, San Benedeto, Purificada, El Machetazo and Los Alpes. Of the 142 brands sold here, 58 are produced locally.

Devaluation of US Dollar
The cause behind the increase in the price of the barrel of crude oil is the devaluation of the US dollar, said John Bennett, former president of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives. He said: "This is an inflationary phenomenon. It is more than a supply and demand problem. The dollar is being devalued".

Colon Free Zone prospers
Re-exports from the Colon Free Zone during the first semester of 2007 increased to US$3,849,145,493. Venezuela was the biggest buyer, with US$805,907,512; Colombia bought US$573,838,978 followed by Panama US$313,813,951; Guatemala US$200,867,129 and Costa Rica US$200,040,487. Colombia, formerly the main buyer of the Colon Free Zone, sill maintains restrictions on some products.

Energy reform urged
The lack of investments to take advantage of water-generated energy was pointed out by Gabriel Diez, of the Union of Industrialists of Panama (SIP). The industrialist indicated that 10 years have already passed since privatization and the law needs to be revised, Diez said "more generating and distribution companies are needed in the electricity market to improve the offer".

Cell phone radiation
The placement of instruments to measure electric field intensity at different points in Panama were carried out by technicians of the National Authority of Public Utilities (ASEP) to determine the levels of radiation present in areas close to the systems of cellular telephone, FM radio and television antennas to compare them with the permissible limits.

Canal Zone workers’ claim
Former workers of the US military bases and other US federal dependences in the old Panama Canal Zone presented to the US Congress claims for more than US$1,200 million, it was reported by Jorge Bennett, the official spokesman of these former Canal employees.

Balloon pollution

Environmentalists complained that in the ceremony to launch the work of enlargement of the Panama Canal, the 33,000 balloons released into the air, have polluted the ground and the sea. They consider, also, that the detonation of the explosives affected the adjoining wooded zones and marine species.

Pilots migrate
Attracted by the high salaries and benefits offered by the airlines in countries such as India, China and the Arab Emirates, more than 70 Panamanian pilots who worked for local airlines, have gone to these nations in recent months. The main reason is the money. In Panama a pilot earns around US$3,000 a month.

Bidding on locks
Sixty companies from 18 countries participated in the press conference on the process of pre qualification for the tender to design and construct the new locks on the Panama Canal. The firms are from Asia, Europe, North, Central and South America. The contract is estimated to be worth US$3,500 million. The representatives of the companies attended an inspection of the four areas where the new locks will be built on the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the Canal.

Water quality questioned
After the Gorgas Memorial Institute stated that high levels of bacteria had been found in some specimens of bottled water, the Cerveceria Nacional denied that there is bacteria in their Frizz and Brisa bottled water. However, the Ombudsman, Ricardo Vargas, ordered an

Navarro presidential candidate
At the national board of directors meeting of the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) the Mayor of Panama City, Juan Carlos Navarro, officially announced his candidacy as first undersecretary of the party and also for the Presidency of the Republic.

Hydro plant in Gualaca
The foundation stone was laid for the construction of the Hydroelectric project of Gualaca. The newspaper "El Siglo" reported that in other sectors of the province of Chiriqui, environmentalists have been opposed to hydroelectric projects.

Casinos come clean
To combat accusation’s of money laundering, Panama’s casinos and slot machine locations which moved US$485 million between January and July this year, announced that they will be connected directly to a system to be installed by the Unit of Financial Analysis (UAF) to monitor cash movement.

Delta’s new flights to Central America

Delta Air Lines will continue its successful international expansion from New York´s John F. Kennedy International Airport with five new nonstop flights to Central America and the Caribbean. The new flights are scheduled to begin between December 13, 2007 and February 2008, and mark Delta´s largest expansion into the region from New York.

The new nonstop routes include New York-JFK to:
Panama City, Panama, effective December 13, 2007.
Guatemala City, Guatemala, effective December 14, 2007.
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, effective December 20, 2007
Liberia, Costa Rica, effective February 16, 2008.
San Jose, Costa Rica, effective February 15, 2008.

Panama Schedule,
Using a Boeing 737-800, the itinerary will be as follows, (total capacity is 150 seats -16 in Business Class).

DL #343 JFK to Panama: departure: 8:45 a.m. arrival: 1:55 p.m.

DL #342 Panama to JFK: departure: 2:55 p.m. arrival: 8:00 p.m.

"New York-JFK is Delta´s leading international gateway, and these new flights will serve almost five million Latin Americans who have made the Big Apple their second home", said Glen Hauenstein, executive vice president and chief of Network and Revenue Management of Delta.

Delta´s new nonstop service between JFK and Central America and the Caribbean is the latest in a series of new routes that have boosted Delta to operate the most departures to the most destinations from New York-JFK. Recent expansion has included new nonstop service from New York-JFK to London-Gatwick; Accra , Ghana; and Mumbai, India.

“Car talk” to air on Radio Metropolis

Starting in October, the Sunday night radio roundup of the Panama Broadcasting Corporation on Radio Metropolis (93.5 FM) from 6:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. will include "Car Talk". The program is a great favorite throughout the USA and Canada. "Click" and "Clack" the Tappet Brothers entertain with a razor sharp sense of humor and take on listeners’ car problems, and actually know the answers!

Cookery classes

The following is the schedule of classes at the Three Sisters cookery school at El Valle www.threesisters.biz. or boacon1@cwpanama.com, 983.6016

Sept 22
Chinese Cuisine, spicy and mild, at The Three Sisters in El Valle from 10 a.m. reviews history, ingredients and real time production. Learn to prepare some of the best Chinese food in Panama $50

Oct 6
Mexican Foodways features one of the most diverse cuisines in the world greatly affecting the Panamian menu. $50 at The Three Sisters in El Valle at 9:30 am with lots of grazing.

Oct 13
The flavors of Italy include pizza on the Barbie and the
techniques needed for classic sauces. $50 at The Three Sisters in El Valle with lots of tasting at 9:30.

Oct 20
Holiday Hors d’ Oeuvres for the perfect party at The Three Sisters in El Valle at 9:30 $70. We’ll make them, cook them and eat them.

Oct 27
Christmas Desserts tarts, puff pastry, mousses, and pastry creams $75 at The Three Sisters in El Valle.

Nov 3
Soufflés, Crepes and Beignets at The Three Sisters in El Valle only $50 to impress and astound your guests.

Government may create new system of visas

By Marijulia Pujol Lloyd

THE LENGTH OF TIME visitors are allowed to stay in Panama has been cut drastically by a new legislation approved on May 22, 2007. Now, some Panamanian government officials want that legislation to be abolished to create a series of new visas that will better reflect the reality of the visitors who come to this country.

As the law stands, visitors may stay for 30 days and can obtain an extension for 60 days. Previously they were allowed to stay for 90 days with an extension of a further 90 days.

One of the most common complaints about the new law is the lengthy and complicated process visitors have to go through to obtain an extension.

The deputy director of the Immigration Office, Maritza de Mendez denied that the process is cumbersome and expensive. On the contrary, she claimed the tourist, only has to go to the Immigration Status Office, pay a $1.00 and leave all his details and fingerprints, demonstrate that he has the means to support himself while in Panama, fill a form and sign a registry and in two days he will have an answer to his request.

The new regulations limiting the length of time a tourists can stay in Panama caused confusion because of terminology. There is actually no such thing as a tourist visa. There are visas and tourist cards. Visas have to be obtained at Panamanian consulates abroad. Tourist cards can be obtained from airlines or even upon entry on payment of $5.00

Citizens from some countries need neither visas nor tourist cards but naturally have their passports stamped with a date of arrival which they need to have extended after 30 days.

According to Méndez, "the true tourist does not have any problems, because 90 days are sufficient to see the country. Most tourists cannot afford to stay even for this length of time, let alone longer. If the person has other interests, he should adapt himself to the Panamanian laws. The problem starts when foreigners come to Panama as tourists, when in reality they are coming to do business".

"If that is the case, they must come clean and tell us the truth. We shall try to accommodate them, but they will have to pay Panamanian taxes and obey the laws of the country", added Méndez.

Rubén Blades, Minister of Tourism and Director of the Panamanian Tourist Board, said that "the tourist visa is a myth and is in reality a tourist card. This is a situation that requires order. We are having weekly meetings with the Director of Immigration, to clarify the situation regarding the visas, because the immigration laws are antiquated and inadequate . Those who stay for five months or more, are not tourists. Therefore this situation should be regulated. These foreigners are not paying taxes and are utilizing all our services".

He added: "I do not have anything to do with real estate. My business is tourism. If a person wants to stay for a long time in Panama he or she should apply for a resident visa. The visa system should be revised and the reasons people are quoting for longer stays should be verified."

The first vice-president of the Republic, Samuel Lewis Navarro, talking about the tourist visa, said "we are waiting for the start of the next session in the National Assembly to put forward new immigration law reforms, not only regarding the extension of the tourists visa, but also to make sure that Panama is considered a country that welcomes tourists. We expect to achieve a positive resolution to this problem".

The president of the Association of Real Estate Agents (ACOBIR), Iván Carlucci said that "in principle he does not oppose these changes with the reduction of the time limit for tourist but the the main problem is that the process for obtaining the extension is long, cumbersome, complicated and frustrating".

"Many foreigners come to Panama with the idea of acquiring a property and the 60 days extension of stay is not long enough to purchase a house and this is affecting the real estate market in a negative way.

Severo Sousa, president of the National Council of Private Enterprises (CONEP) pointed out that the visas extensions should be flexible, the process to obtain them quick and simple, so that it will not interfere with the development of tourism or commerce. Until now, the only sector that has been affected is real estate.

The president of the Panamanian Association of Hotels, Jorge Loaiza, stated that hotels have not been directly affected by the new regulations, because usually the tourist does not stay for longer than 30 days. He added that the new immigration measures were a mistake and more than likely they will be modified or completely eliminated over the next few months.

Nobody knows for certain when the immigration law is going to be modified, but in the meantime the debates continues and the only winners are the lawyers.

SPORTS

Carlos Lee gets $100 million to play for the Houston Astros

THE BATSMAN FROM COCLE, Carlos Lee, signed a contract for $100 million to play for the Houston Astros. The contract is for six years. The baseball player, known as “El Caballo” is famous for his strength at batting that has allowed him to surpass the 100 runs.

Lee in 2004 hit 99 runs and batted 305 for the White Sox of Chicago, but in 2005 he got the 114 runs and in 2006 116 runs. This year fifteen days before the season is finished , the baseball player already has 105 runs and an average of 295.

“Free Trade” agreement with U.S. jeopardized by election of Pedro Miguel Gonzalez

The crisis over the election of Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, wanted in the U.S. for the alleged killing of a U.S. soldier in 1989 during the last phase of the Noriega dictatorship, as president of the Panama National Assembly has continued to make headlines.

US Commerce Secretary, Carlos Gutierrez, accompanied by a delegation of 12 American political figures visiting Panama to promote the Comercial Promotion (Free Trade) agreement awaiting ratification by Congress, spoke of a “complication” in this process which was widely assumed to refer to Pedro Miguel González.

The president of the Finance Committee of the US Senate, Democrat Chat Rangel, told The Miami Herald that the election of Gonzalez as president of the Assembly in Panama could cause objections to the ratification. He added that the State Department and the Department of Commerce have still not said anything on the subject, but the ratification was still in the balance.

In Panama, where Gonzalez was aquitted of the charge of killing the U.S. soldier, there has been a wave of protest over the apparent U.S. pressure.

The secretary general of the National Confederation of Independent Union Unity (Conusi), Gabriel Castillo, expressed disagreement with the pressure being applied by the US for Gonzalez to resign, saying the institutions of the country are being disrespected.

Even the Catholic Church got in to the act. “Panama is a sovereign country and has to take its own position”, said the archbishop of Panama, José Dimas Cedeño.

New golf course for Vista Mar

Vista Mar Resort opened nine holes of its new golf course on September 1 with a social tournament, in which 60 of the best golfers of Panama took part. The other nine holes will be completed during the second semester of 2008.

The course has a modern drainage system, which will allow the golf course to be playable within about 20 minutes after heavy rain. A feature of the course is that the same grass is used throughout the greens, fairways and rough. The designer, J. Michael Pollet took advantage of the rolling hills of the site to create an interesting and challenging course.

From left to right Michelle Shahani, Victor Shahani of the Shahani Group
Vista Mar Resort, representatives of Mercedes Benz and special guests.

The 72 par course will measure over 7000 yards. The first nine holes have more than 40 sand bunkers.

Vista Mar will offer its residents amenities such as tennis courts, beach club with restaurant, a club house with spa, golf shop, coffee shop, ecological pathways and a meditation garden. The project comprises houses and condominiums and is located between Lagomar and San Carlos, an hour away from the city of Panama.

A mural for the U.S. Embassy “Jesus lizard on the banana channel”

A MURAL CALLED “Jesus lizard on the banana channel” by the Chicago Artist, Mark Nelson, was purchased by the U.S. State Department, to decorate their new embassy in Panama.

The work which measures six feet high by 18 feet wide, was painted on an unprimed linen canvas applying washes of acrylic paint like a giant watercolor and was installed on the second floor of a balcony, overlooking the open center of the embassy, which will eventually become a dining space.

Nelson, formerly a resident of the Panama Canal Zone for nearly 20 yeas, said that he created this mural last year, based on boyhood memories of fishing with his father and two brothers in the inlets located in an area of the canal nicknamed the banana channel. As they sat waiting for the fish to bite, small lizards known as Jesus lizards, because they could literary walk across the water, would dart back and forth.

Childhood memories are recreated in this mural.

The painting was chosen by the curators Claire D'Alba and Virginia Shore of the State Department´s Art in Embassies Program when they came across it on the Internet.

Mark began his career in the Panama Canal Zone. He studied at the University of Panama and the University of Chicago. His work is heavily influenced by his memories of the Panamanian rain forest, especially around the canal area.

Nelson has a great desire to return to Panama in 2008 and exhibit his work in a place accessible to everyone.

Gala opening of Sushi Itto Nº2

From left to right, Chef Manuel Morales, the owner, Vivian Abad
and José Luis Araiza.

THE SECOND BRANCH of the popular restaurant Sushi Itto was inaugurated recently at the Multiplaza Mall, in Punta Pacifica. The elegant new restaurant has a capacity for 55 people and opens from Monday to Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on weekends until 11:00 p.m.

The specialties of the house include Sushiitto Panama Roll and of course the delicious Sashimi thick cut of yellow tail. The bar has a great variety of beers, liqueurs, cocktails and the traditional sake.

For reservations call 302-3704.90 words

Wyndham Grand Hotel chain buys the Veneto

THE WYNDHAM GRAND HOTEL GROUP, a U.S.A: chain, has purchased Veneto Hotel in Panama City and have announced plans to make it into one of the most luxurious hotels in the country. Wyndham group is planning to spend several million dollars in a major makeover, which will improve not only the physical facilities, but also the level of service.

The Managing Director of Hospitality and Gaming of the Wyndham Grand Veneto, Richard Rabin, said that the Wyndham group decided to invest in Panama, because of the favorable business climate which exists here.

From left to right: Director of Casino, Victor Peña; Managing
Director of Hospitality and Gaming, Richard S. Rabin
and Hotel Director, Werner Hein.

The Hotel Director, Werner Hein said they will upgrade all the rooms, the restaurant will be remodeled and the lobby will be revamped. The most important improvement will be the training program for all the employees, because “they make a difference between a four or a five star hotel”.

The casino will also be subject to changes, explained Casino Director, Victor Peña. It is going to be upscale and luxurious, following the design of a Las Vegas Casino, with new bars, gaming tables and live entertainment.

It is expected that the infrastructure work will be finished in the first semester of 2008. The hotel will continue to operate during the remodeling.

Focus Publications (Int.), S.A.