Isthmian Update |
Some of the news in Panama |
World shortage
of sailors
The shortgage of seafarers in the world is a matter
that still worries the international maritime industry and,
according to the rector of the Panama Maritime University, Orlando
Allard, Panamanians should take advantage of this situation
by studying for this career.
The right to criticise
The US ambassador in Panama, William Eaton, said yesterday
that Panama requires political will to modernize its judicial
apparatus. Before public, private and union sector leaders,
Eaton indicated that when a foreign investor is a victim of
a judicial process that is not very clear or arbitrary, this
turns into the worst kind of international publicity.
Harley Mitchell, in his first statements as
new chief justice of Panama, took issue with the US ambassador
over his criticism. He said that Eaton "did not have suitability
or legitimacy" to make his statement. He indicated that,
although he shares, in part, the views of the diplomat, Eaton
is not the appropriate person to make those criticisms, which
should be made by Panamanians.
The daily "La Estrella" reported
that William Eaton will continue to put emphasis on the administration
of Panamanian justice, even if this offends the nationals and
" will defend the interests of resident American investors
in Panama. He considers it his duty."
Increase in CSS contributions
Panama workers will find a little less in their pay
packets in January 2008, when each contributor to the Social
Security Fund (CSS), will have the total of their quotations
go from 7.25% to 8% of their salaries. This adjustment is established
in Law 51 of the CSS, which contemplates that the workers should
increase their contributions to the CSS step by step. |
Panama has
one of the worst indicators of poverty
Panama is among the countries of Latin America with
the worst indicators of poverty and inequality. "In spite
of its high economic growth, to eradicate poverty is one of
the great challenges to those in government", declared
Justine Thody, regional director for Latin America of the American
consulting business The Economist Intelligence Unit.
911 Emergency Number
The 911 emergency telephone number project that intends
to receive calls through a center which will take charge of
giving the necessary aid has been discussed by the full National
Assembly. The users will receive the service without cost, but
to finance the project there will be a charge of 1% on the commercial
telephone accounts and on the corporate plans of the mobile
and fixed telephone system companies. However the Panamanian
Chamber of Commerce has asked that the 1% charge be eliminated
for corporate users of the telecommunications services. "It
worries us deeply that they now intend to finance this project
through a new tax on businesses that will consist of paying
a rate of a 1% additional on billing and on the corporate use
of mobile and fixed telephone systems", they said.
Doctor’s strike looms
A national strike of doctors has been called for Nov.
6. This comes after the dialogue to summarize a wage adjustment
did not have positive results. Julio Garcia, head of the National
Medical Negotiating Commission (COMENENAL) said he felt frustrated.
He indicated that messengers from the government have been communicating
with some members of their union to try to break the strike. |
Manzanillo port to
start $ 210m expansion project
Reuters reported that Panama's busiest
Caribbean port Manzanillo International Terminal is to
push ahead with a $210 million expansion project to help
it deal with ever-bigger commercial vessels.
Panama's Maritime Authority said it
will transfer control of more that 1.2 million square
meters of land to the Manzanillo International Terminal,
allowing the port's owners to develop their facilities
for increasingly popular mega-ships.
These so-called 'post-panamax' vessels
are currently too big to pass through the Panama Canal,
but their increased use has prompted Panama to embark
on a $5.25 billion canal expansion program that is scheduled
to be completed in 2014.
Manzanillo, a popular transshipping
center for car exports, is the latest Panamanian port
to announce it will expand as a result of the canal expansion
program. It currently has only two cranes which are able
to deal with post-panamax vessels.
In 2006, Manzanillo handled the equivalent
of 1.3 million containers, making it one of the busiest
ports in Latin America. The port is owned by Seattle-based
firm Carrix Inc and the Motta family, which controls Panama's
Copa airline.
Manzanillo has been operating at close
to capacity and faces stiff completion from other Panamanian
ports, notably Evergreen Group's Colon Container Terminal
and Cristobal Port, which is run by Hong Kong's Hutchison
Whampoa Limited.
It was recently surpassed as Panama's
largest port by Balboa on the Pacific coast, which is
also run by Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa Limited. Balboa
is currently undergoing an ambitious expansion plan that
will make it the biggest port in Latin America by 2010. |
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Panamanians to participate
in Canal investment
As they start work on enlargement of the Panama Canal,
the authorities calculate that the work will generate some 42,000
new jobs, 7,000 of them direct. Although the financing of the
project will have a strong foreign component, a local contribution
of US$250 million is planned, but it will be well-spread so
that not a single local business is left out and Panamanians
will have opportunity to invest.
WTO to arbitrate restrictive tax measures
in Bogota
The World Trade Organization (OMC) established yesterday
an arbitration board to resolve a dispute between Panama and
Colombia originated by restrictive tax measures taken by Bogota
on exports from the Colon Free Zone. On September 28, Colombia
and Panama held their first meeting before the Controversy Solving
Organ of the WTO.
Safety school for contruction workers
After recording 25 fatal accidents in the construction
industry, so far this year, the Panamanian Chamber of the Construction
(CAPAC) has launched a safety school. "Due to the increase
in numbers of construction workers in recent years the indices
of fatal accidents have increased", stated Walter Medrano,
the president of the chamber.
Supreme Court rules against PPC
The Supreme Court cleared the road for the construction
of a mega port in Farfán, by refusing the request for
protection of guarantees presented by Panama Ports Company (PPC)
against the tender process because the sheet excluded the proposals
of companies that already administer ports or terminals on the
Pacific coast of Panama to avoid a monopoly. |
Employment on Canal
Widening
Figures have been released indicating that in 2008,
1,164 technicians will be able to seek work on the enlargement
of the Panama Canal. Electricians, explosives handlers, heavy
equipment operators and others will be hired. In 2009 the project
will generate 3,226 jobs and in 2010, when the third lock will
be built, there will be a need to hire 4, 334 people in what
are described as technical positions, according to data supplied
by the Inadeh, which qualifies personnel in these areas.
Political subsidies criticised
The allocation of US$32 million to subsidize political
parties for the next five-year election period (2009-2014) has
caused criticisms from civic leaders, who consider that the
political organizations have lost credibility. The sociologist,
Raúl Leis, recommended that the political parties be
eliminated from public financing and that these funds be invested
in social work such as construction of schools and hospitals.
Radar upgraded
The Panamanian Civil Aeronautics Authority (AAC),
with the technical support of the US Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) will update Panama’s aircraft radar system to cover
primarily 60 nautical miles with a secondary radar of 200 nautical
miles coverage. The present systems have been in operation for
15 years, according to the AAC. |
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OAS to help small hotels in Panama and Central America |
The Organization of American States is helping to promote small hotels
in Central America. Recently, the program was inaugurated in Panama
with the participation of the Association of Small Hotels and the Panama
Tourist Bureau (IPAT).
The Association, a group of 20 hotels, each with an average count
of 16 rooms, will take advantage of the program's tools, which focus
on the use of digital technology, to improve the standard and quality
of their operations and marketing.
According to Gonzalo Aguirre, the program's Central American technical
director, one of the greatest achievements stemming from the program
has been the networking possibilities that have sprung among the members
and between them and their Central American counterparts. These possibilities
have allowed members to increase their hotel's market presence and negotiation
capacity when dealing with the government and other entities.
Hotels affiliated to the Association are: the Albrook Inn in Panama
City; Guicci resorts in San Carlos; the San Judas farm in Arraiján;
the Bananas Resort, Hostal Sierra Llorona, and Hostal Villa Ensueño
in Colon. . There are 7 businesses in Coclé, two in Azuero and
Chiriquí, and Hotel Bahía and Hotel Laguna in Bocas del
Toro. |
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New Quarter
The Panama National Bank this week announced the release of
a new 25c coin which features the "Puente del Rey"
(the King’s Bridge) in old Panama. It was launched in
ceremony at the Old Panama Museum at the Visitor’s Center. |
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Ground broken for Finisterre Suites — new city hotel |
The construction of the Finisterre Suites is under way, facing Ancon
Store on Via España, behind the building of IFARHU.
From left to right: Mr. Alex Blanco (Director), Ing. René Orillac
(Constructora Diaz y Guardia), Arq. Miguel Lopez Piñeiro (Lopez
Piñeiro Arquitectos), el Sr. Alejandro Blanco (President), and
el Ing. Jesus Gonzalez (Constructora Diaz y Guardia). |
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Panamanian personalities feature in $39.5 million IPAT publicity
campaign |
Panamanian personalities feature in a series of commercials filmed
recently by the Panama Tourist Bureau (IPAT) as part of their latest
$39.5 million promotion campaign.
On TV screens in the countries targeted as the best markets for tourism
to Panama will appear Panamanians who have made an impact internationally
such as the jockey Laffit Pincay the athlete Irving Saladino, the model
Justine Pasek, the boxer "Iron Fist" Roberto Duran and of
course the Minister of Tourism, actor singer Ruben Blades.
Filming has taken place in locations around Panama City such as Parque
Omar, Casco Viejo and the Remon Race Track but the comercials also feature
ecotourism, golf conventions and beaches. The commercials are due to
be released this month. All were directed by the Mexican Simon Bross. |
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Announced at Hotel Association seminar |
Panamanian hotel workers will be sent to train in the U.S. |
Hundreds of Panamanian hotel workers will go to the U.S.A. to participate
in a training program offered by the American Hospitality Academy and
the Panama Hotel Association (APATEL). This was announced at a recent
seminar of the Association.
The program is focused on hotel operations rather than administration
which is what most training plans in Panama offer.
The project covers two programs, one designed exclusively for professionals
with a minimum of one year’s experience in hotel work and another
for students interested in cultural exchange and willing to start a
career in the tourism industry.
Denise de Carrizo, Impacto Maximo; Ing Juan Planells, INADEH; Cesar
Tribaldos, APATEL; Jaime Campuzano, CAMTUR; Jim Ohl, American
Hospital Academy.
The selected persons will travel to the U.S, passage paid and with,
money for maintenance, and English classes. They will also have the
opportunity to work in that country. They will study under a plan of
the American Hospitality Academy and receive a certification from the
American Hotel & Lodging Association, the only lodging association
to create a comprehensive hotel training program.
At the end of the training program, they must commit themselves to
return to Panama and apply their knowledge.
Participating in the ceremony to launch the program were Denise Arosemena
de Carrizo, international coach for Impacto Maximo; Ing. Juan Planells,
Director of Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional y Capacitación
para el Desarrollo Humano-INADEH; César A. Tribaldos, ex-president
and current Treasurer of APATEL; Jaime Campuzano, President of CAMTUR;
and Jim Ohl, representative of AHA.
The selection process will be carried out by the company Impacto Maximo
(www.impactomaximo.com), as a mediator for the American Hospitality
Academ (www.ahahotelschools.com) and APATEL (www.apatelweb.com/apatel/index.html). |
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Cruise Ship breaks Canal toll record |
On October 7th of this year, the cruise ship Norwegian Pearl of Norwegian
Cruise Line broke the toll record for a canal transit with a payment
of $313,000, the previous record being held by Island Princess of Princess
Cruises which transited for $226,000 on September 29th.
Both records indicate that the 2007-2008 cruise season is now well
underway. In fact, between October 2007 and February 2008, cruise ships
will use 100% of the reservation service which ensures no waiting in
line to transit the canal. |
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Consumer price index up 5.2 percent by Sept.
The Consumer Price Index in Panama increased 5.2 percent at the
end of September, compared to the same month of 2006, according
to data published on Tuesday by the Comptroller's Office of the
Republic.
Transportation, with an 8.8 percent increase, housing with 3.7,
education with 3.2, and health with 2.4, are among the main causes
for the new hike in the cost of living.
The increase of the CPI in September was 0.5 percent, according
to the same source, while 4.2 percent was accumulated in the first
nine months of the present year.
Panamanian Economist College President Adolfo Quintero said
the upward trend in prices is due to external and internal factors.
Among the external factors, the price of oil and its derivatives,
as well as an increase in the demand of products, due to the world
economic growth, Quitero told La Prensa Daily.
On the domestic front, he mentioned the existence of food hoarding
and speculation in sales. (Source: Prensa Latina) |
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Petaquilla mine gives new municipal palace |
The re-modelled Municipal Palace of La Pintada in Coclé.
The district of La Pintada in Coclé province recently inaugurated
its new municipal palace remodelled at a cost of $270,000 by the mining
company Minera Petaquilla, S.A., part of Petaquilla Minerals Ltd, based
in Vancouver and which exploits copper and gold.
This is part of the infrastrusture work Petaquilla is carrying out
in the vicinity of its operations, and includes roads, bridges, aqueducts
and help with remodelling schools, hospitals and recreation centers. |
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Panamanian sportsmen in the news |
Manny Corpas plays in Baseball World Series |
Panama is a small country but there always seems to be a Panamanian
sportsman in the news. October is the month for baseball's World Series;
and Panamanian Manny Corpas has played outstandingly for the Colorado
Rockies, a surprise team from the West of the United States. A relief
pitcher, Corpas made a breakthrough during the regular series and saved
five post-season games preventing any home runs for 5-2/3 innings.
Corpas, a 24-year-old Panamanian, is the youngest person to participate
in a world series. His father received a visa to travel to the United
States to fulfill his dream of watching his son pitch against the Boston
Red Sox.
He told the American press that he is ready for the challenge of the
closing games. The Baseball World Series matches were on October 24
and 25 in Boston, and on October 27, 28, and 29 in Colorado. |
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Panamanian footballers in European leagues |
Panamanian athletes are actively participating in European football
with great success. Blas Pérez is a constant goal scorer in the
Spanish second division team, Hercules, which is currently disputing
the King Cup (Copa del Rey).
The most famous teams of the Spanish League, plus the second and third
divisions take part in this tournament. Blas could have the opportunity
to face Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Gabriel "El Gavilán" Gómez is also playing
very well with the Portuguese team Belenense and scored goals in the
encounter with Boavista. "Pistolero" Garcés is another
Panamanian footballer who is making good showing. He is playing in Bulgaria
with CSK Sofia. This experience could be beneficial for the Panamanian
team when it plays in the elimination rounds for the next World Cup. |
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Panamanian mounts to race in Puerto Rico
Panama will be well represented at the Caribbean Horeseracing
Series (Serie Hípica del Caribe) which will take place
at the beginning of December at the Camarero Race Track in Puerto
Rico. Ten horses will be competing in five races.
The events include the Clásico del Caribe with Volveremos
and Siver Bull; Confraternidad with England Charlie and Drago;
Dama del Caribe with Tramposa and Grace Nelly, both mares. Dicky
Cat and Dr. Fox will compete in another event, the Copa CITGO,
while Don Ra and Mago de Oz will compete in the Clásico
Velocidad. |
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To open Spanish C of C office in Panama City |
Spanish chambers of commerce expect to open an office in Panama soon.
This was brought to light during a recent tour of Spain by Panama’s
President Martin Torrijos during which he met with representatives of
the Government and the private sector to promote investment in infrastructure,
logistics and tourism. The Panama office will help small and medium
size Spanish companies to cooperate with their Panamanian counterparts
wishing to enter European markets |
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