News
New Board of Directors for Canadian Association
The new Canadian Association Board of Directors:
Enoch Velazquez, Howard Walker, Enrique Williams (new president),
Mercedes Del Castillo,David Young, Joseph Ennis and Joseph Dziver.
A new Board of Directors for 2010 was elected at the Canadian Association’s annual general meeting on January 23 at Exedra Books. And at the first Board meeting held on January 29, Enrique Williams was elected president. Born in Panama, Mr. Williams was Regional Director of the Americas with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO-SACO) at its Toronto head office until 2006. Prior to that, he was National Director of the Panamanian Railroad and Marketing Director of the National Port Authority. In partial retirement, he is presently engaged in consulting for nonprofit organizations. A graduate of both the Universidad de Panama and York University, he is married to Oona-Comrie Williams, an ESL teacher at Florida State University in Panama.
The Visitor is going to Colombia!
(and your company can come along)
The Visitor will participate in the ANATO Tourism Fair in Bogota, Colombia from February 24 to 26. We are preparing a special edition to distribute to tourism industry professionals and potential visitors during the event. “Shopping” will be our theme for this special edition, as many Colombian tourists to Panama take advantage of the low retail price of goods in the country.
Reserve advertising space so your message can reach thousands of people interested in Panama! Deadline for publicity is February 19. Call 225-6638 or write focusint@cableonda.net
Isthmian Update
Some of the news in Panama
Birders on Panama Bay
BirdLife International USA and the University of Havana (Cuba) visited Panama Bay, where the organizations reported sightings of migrating birds. The event was organized by the Audubon Society and was carried out on the first anniversary of the declaration of Panama Bay as a protected area for wildlife. Also in attendance were the National Environmental Authority and the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama.
KLM direct flight increases
The participation of companies from Belgium and the Netherlands in the Panama Canal expansion project has pushed for an increase in flights between Panama and Europe. KLM will start offering its direct flight from Amsterdam to Panama five times per week. According to the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), the Panama stand was very popular at the Vakantiebeurs International Tourism Fair in Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Rail shipping was down in 2009
The transport of containerized cargo on the Panama Railway decreased by 25% in 2009 compared to 2008, a result of the international economic crisis. The general manager of Panama Canal Railway Company, Thomas Kenna, said that last year it moved “a quarter of a million containers”, 25% less than in 2008.
Thermal energy generation
70% of the energy consumed in the country comes from thermal generation because the National Dispatch Center (CND) is saving water in the Fortuna and Bayano reservoirs and using hydro less.
Possible tax increase
criticized
Economist Adolfo Quintero said that the possible increase of sales tax through tax reforms being driven by the government would “punish” 84% of the population. If the Transfer and Personal Property Services Tax (ITBMS) should increase from 5% to 7%, said Quintero in the daily Panama America, it would mean a 40% increase in spending for people who earn up to $800 per month. The daily La Critica projected “inflation and a decline in buying power” as a result of the new tax reforms announced by the government.
To beautify Coastal Strip
Six companies submitted bids for the contract to beautify the new Cinta Costera, also known as the Coastal Strip or Coastal Beltway, on Panama City’s bay front. An evaluation committee from the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) will select the company to be awarded. Bids ranged from $283,500 to $646,800.
Cops with cameras
The daily La Critica reported that 270 units of the Traffic Operations Department of the National Police Force are now using a new technological system that allows them to take pictures and videos of vehicles involved in irregular activities to serve as evidence in investigations.