Blog.PanamaForum.com

Dear Members,

PanamaForum.com is back after an extended outage!

All problems have been fixed and we even have some new features, including a live Panama Chat!

Interact with other PanamaForum members daily at noon and at 8 pm Panama time (EST), or feel free to check in at any time around the clock.

Go to PanamaForum.com, login (or register if you aren’t a member yet), and then click on the “Panama Chat” link in the sidebar.

TOP PANAMA THREADS:

Dentists in Panama City
Are you looking to get your teeth cleaned, polished, whitened, filled, and x-rayed in Panama City? Find out who does it best, who speaks English, where they are and how much they charge, on this thread.

Skateboarding in Panama City
Is skateboarding at all popular in Panama City? Where do fellow skateboarders hang out? Read this thread and find out.

Retiring to Panama
jrmanville and his wife are exploring the possibility of retiring in Panama. He has questions regarding living expenses, solar power, crime in Panama, and mortgages. Share your wisdom and advice on this thread.

Is It Worth Living In Panama?
A member who has been a part of the forum for some time and has been considering relocating still has a few doubts. Is it really worth living in Panama? What are your reasons for moving here?

New bank challenges
The fees, the delays and the customer service. Check out this thread to find out which banks treat you like a criminal, and which banks treat you like a customer they want to keep.

Dating in Panama Part 2
This thread is hot! Read Mr. WOOHOO’s advice on dating beautiful girls in Panama. What do you need to watch out for? This thread is especially useful for those who want to have fun without getting burnt. (Access password required! You must be over 18 to request the password.)

TOP PANAMA NEWS:

Taiwan government defends plane donation to Panama
The Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the planned donation of an executive jet to Panama yesterday, denying dollar diplomacy was still alive.

Panama to host International Tourism Fair next year
PANAMA, Dec 30 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – Panama will host next year the first edition of the International Tourism Fair, aimed at promoting the development of the tourism industry in the country.

Final Panama Canal contract awarded
A consortium of Spain’s FCC, Mexico’s ICA and Costa Rica’s Meco has won the final Panama Canal dry-excavation contract with a US$ 267.8 million bid. The consortium beat Belgium’s Jan de Nul, Brazil’s Oderbrecht and the ISC Panama consortium to win the contract, the second largest in the US$ 5.25 billion canal expansion programme.

Panama: Families mark 20 years since US invasion
Relatives of people who were killed when the US military invaded Panama in 1989 marked the 20th anniversary of the intervention on Dec. 20 with a protest outside the old US embassy in Panama City, burning effigies of US president Barack Obama and Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli. The Association of Relatives of the Fallen is calling for a Truth Commission to investigate the events of December 1989, including possible war crimes.

Panama-flagged bulk cargo ship seized by pirates
MOGADISHU, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Somali pirates hijacked the Panamanian-flagged bulk cargo ship Navios Apollon on Dec. 28 as it was sailing to India with fertiliser, a maritime official said on Dec. 29.

After unexpected database problems, PanamaForum.com is back online. No data has been lost. We apologize for the inconvenience!

Dear Panama Friends,

My Panama lawyer is selling an established 11-year old Panama corporation with a bank account. This is great for everyone who is looking to start doing business immediately and obtain the credibility of an existing company when dealing with banks, etc.

Company details:

• Established in 1998
• Clean history, no lawsuits, all taxes paid
• Involved in consulting
• Includes well-managed bank account opened in 1998
• Account can be managed via online banking
• Nominee directors included
• Available for immediate purchase; be in business within days

Contact me for more details.

What has been going on on Panama Forum? Check out these threads and the latest news:

POPULAR THREADS

• Is it worth living in Panama?
• Is Panama really the most business-friendly country?
• What can I do with an offshore company?
• Real Estate in Panama City Will Soon Be Cheap Again
• Panama Banks - Complete List

PANAMA NEWS

• Balbina on the clear
• Fugitives creating a Costa del Crime
• Buy-American maven Dennis Kucinich uses Panama webhosting company
• Panama Canal transit falling off
• Big steps made toward free trade pacts with Panama, Colombia
• Panama Election Observers Announced

Enjoy Panama!

Dear Panama Friends,

Let your creativity run wild and help us find a new slogan for Panama Forum!

Then, take a few minutes to check out these new boards which we recently added to Panama Forum:

• Real Estate: Investing in Panama Real Estate could be the best decision you ever made. But not all is what it appears to be. Make sure to actually visit the property and do due diligence on the company you are buying from.
• Panama Sports: Talk about baseball, soccer, basketball, boxing, and other sports popular in Panama.
• New Members: It’s never too late! If you haven’t introduced yourself to our community yet, feel free to do so at any time.
• Humor, Jokes, Spam & more: Do you know any jokes that are popular in Panama? Post them here.

There’s more! Here’s what else has been going on:

• Martinelli Expands Lead in Polls to 16%
• Three Killed, Two Injured in Attempted Armored Car Robbery
• Panama on Flood Alert
• Panama Ports hits yacht club for $2 million
• Panama’s Copa Holdings reports February traffic
• Ivanka Trump hails Panama’s booming real estate market
• Panama’s banking system said safe
• Panama a poster child for tax evasion?
• Hotel occupancy down 18% — sales down 80%…

Hello Panama Forum Members!

Are you as passionate about Panama as I am?

Have you been dreaming about sharing your observations and thoughts with a huge audience?

Or maybe you just want to keep a public record of your insights and ideas?

There’s an amazing new feature at Panama Forum that allows you to do all that, and more: your own blog!

But wait… you might be thinking that starting your own blog is difficult, and that it’s even harder to gain readers and make your blog well known.

And that’s certainly true. There are millions of blogs out there and most of them have just one reader: the author.

However, starting your blog at Panama Forum gives you an instant headstart and puts you way ahead of more than 95% of all the bloggers out there:

INSTANT BENEFITS

1. Your blog is integrated into PanamaForum.com
2. You’ll have a big readership right away: all Panama Forum members will be aware of your blog
3. All your blog posts are promoted near the top of our front page, where they are seen by hundreds of visitors each day
4. Each week we’ll email a selection of the best posts to all our 4,309 forum members
5. Your blog has your own RSS feed, which makes it very easy to promote your blog posts all over the web (we do that for you, too)
   and finally,
6. Your blog is 100% FREE and it takes you just a minute to get started.

If you always wanted to start a blog but didn’t know how or thought it wouldn’t be worth your while, think again!

It’s so easy that you have NO EXCUSE!

You don’t even have to register… just log in to Panama Forum and make your first post right now:
http://www.panamaforum.com/blog_post.php?do=newblog

Don’t be shy… tell it like it is! Write something about yourself, about Panama or about anything else you can think of.

After you’ve made your first post, take a minute or so to customize your blog (this is OPTIONAL):
http://www.panamaforum.com/blog_usercp.php?do=editoptions

I look forward to welcoming you to the wonderful world of blogging! If you have any questions, I’m here to help.

Enjoy Panama and have fun!

See you next week.

LATEST THREADS:

• Panama switches to energy-saving light bulbs
  Panama joins the list of nations who are suffering an energy crisis. They try to remedy the problem by handing out free fluorescent energy saving bulbs to its citizens.
• Stable banks in Panama
  Worried about your money? Check out this thread and get a list of most stable and reliable banks for your needs.
• Panama climate
  Traveling to Panama for the first time and no clue about the climate? Visit this thread to get more information.
• Best beaches of Panama
  Want to visit the best beaches in Panama? Lots of information and pictures in this thread to get you to your dream beach.
• Panama nightlife
  Do you want to know more about nightlife of Panama City? See which places to visit and which to avoid.

PANAMA NEWS:

• Gringa Robbed at Gunpoint on Bus at Albrook Terminal
  A friend of mine was on the David-Boquete bus a few days ago which had not yet left the Albrook terminal. A guy without a ticket boarded the bus on the pretext of needing to deliver some papers to someone on the bus. He robbed my friend (and her 90 year old mother) at gunpoint and walked off the bus carrying about $8000 worth of gold coins and jewellery.
• Positive Panama 2008 Economic Activity
  The Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE) of Panama grew 8.27 percent from January to November of 2008, informed official sources. According to comptroller reports the growth was due to the high performance of mining and quarries, construction, transportation, storage and communications, hotels and restaurants.
• A Live Auction of pre-Columbian Artifacts from Panama?
  “Panama, c. 500-1500AD. A heavy and nice red ware vase with round body and wide flared tubular neck and swirl design in gray with crème colored background on neck. Nice example of its type, produced near and influenced by Costa Rica, in excellent condition. H: 6.25″. Choice. Old San Francisco Collection.” Somebody is auctioning off a whole bunch of pre-Columbian pottery, all of it supposedly from Panama, in an auction on 15 February 2009.
• Absolved Former Nicaraguan President Eyes Presidency
  Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman wants his old job back now that his money laundering conviction has been overturned. Aleman says he is ready to challenge the ruling leftist Sandinistas in 2011. He says he will seek the presidential nomination from his Liberal Constitutionalist Party. Aleman’s announcement Monday came three days after the Supreme Court overturned his 2003 conviction and 20-year prison sentence. He had been accused of using 60 bank accounts in Panama to launder about us$58 million in stolen government funds. Aleman governed Nicaragua from 1997 to 2001. He had spent most of his time since his conviction under house arrest, but remained the top power broker in his party.

Hello Panama Forum Members,

This is the 38th issue of the Panama Forum Newsletter.

While most of our participating members are single or retired, some are asking questions about what it’s like to live in Panama with kids, and what there is to do.

If you have just relocated to Panama, you may have noticed that there is quite an active single life, but what about family life there? Luckily, Panama is quite child-friendly, and there are plenty of options for entertainment and activities.

When planning a family trip to Panama, there are many adventure tours that take you around various areas of the region, allowing you to explore local villages, beaches, jungles, and more.

While most trips are ideal for children above the age of 6, there are many different fun activities to choose from for children of all ages.

Within Panama City, I would suggest visiting Casco Viejo, a historic neighborhood filled with gorgeous restored buildings, plenty of shops, delicious restaurants, and even a museum that can give you a nice, educational day trip out with your family.

Feel like a walk in the park? Panama’s Parque Omar is a huge park filled with trails for jogging or strolling, a playground, a gym, several sports fields and courts, a swimming pool, a local library, and fresh smoothie and fruit stalls. Be sure to check out the park’s weekly schedule to find out about the many public events that are held there.

If you are a member who is still unsure about visiting or relocating to Panama as a family-friendly spot, there is no need to worry. Panama is a happy, culture rich, historical place that is great for raising kids.

TOP PANAMA THREADS

• Is It Worth Living In Panama?
  A member who has been a part of the forum for some time and has been considering relocating there is still having a few doubts. Is it really worth living in Panama? What are your reasons for moving there?
• Real Estate In Panama
  With such a huge market for real estate in Panama it isn’t surprising so many investors are flocking there. But one user would like a few more details about local real estate, and how it relates to business there.
• First Time Visitors To Panama
  Some must see sites for people visiting Panama City for the first time, and some activities you just have to try.
• Renting An Apartment In Panama City
  Here is some advice for people looking to rent apartments in Panama City. Where should you look?
• Stats On Number of Americans Living In Panama
  Michael is curious about the number of Americans who have relocated and are currently living full or part time in the area.
• Best Beaches
  Which beaches are best? With so many covering the Panama area, what beaches are the most beautiful, family friendly, and fun? Check this thread to find out.
• Gyms In Panama City
  Want to stay fit? This thread lists some of the best gyms in Panama City.

TOP PANAMA NEWS

• Panama’s waterless Promised Land
  Tucked away among the rolling hills of Panama’s impoverished Sector C countryside rests a small and secluded village known as La Tierra Prometida - The Promised Land. But water only flows through the village’s pipes once every three to six months.
• Panama Seizes Mexico Company ICA Funds
  Mexican construction and engineering firm ICA, which operates a toll highway in Panama, called for respect for the rule of law after a portion of its capital was seized in a dispute with Panamanian tax officials.
• Panama President Torrijos and U.S. Secretary of State Rice Hold Bilateral Talks in Panama
  Talks Held on Margins of “Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas” Ministerial MeetingSec.
• FARC Guerrillas Return to Bajo Chiquito in Panama’s Darién Province
  Although this time they were dressed in civilian clothes, men who are assumed to be Colombian guerrillas returned on Saturday to the town of Bajo Chiquito in Panama’s Darién province, returning to the store sacked by FARC guerrillas on 1 August 2008.
• Barbara Bush Library exhibits Panamanian children’s art (Spring Observer)
  The children of Panama may be miles away from Spring geographically, but local kids can relate to and appreciate their artistic talent.
• Beachfront Beauty and Pastoral Charms: Dekel Panama Presents the Andromeda Country Cl
  Dekel Panama S.A. proudly announces the launch of the Andromeda Country Club in Pedasí, Panama.

Hi guys and gals,

I hope you are all doing great!

It’s been a while.

If you have a minute or two check out MRWOOHOO’s blog, it’s filled with insightful tips, experiences and stories. http://mrwoohoo.panamaforum.com

There have been many new discussions started and news reported on PanamaForum.com. So let’s get right to it: Here are the latest Panama Threads and Panama News.

See you again soon and enjoy Panama!

TOP PANAMA THREADS:

• Best beaches
  Where are the best beaches in Panama? What are the costs of hotels close to the beach? Find out and join in in this discussion here.
• Listening To Spanish Radio
  Learn Spanish by listening to the radio. Russeldm shares a cool website.
• Profanity?
  Is profanity common in everyday Spanish? Tell us your opinion on this thread.
• The optimal price per meter
  Matt provides some invaluable tips on the pricing of buying land in Panama.
• The Future of Tourism in Panama
  Gordon shares an interesting article titled “Panama’s Five Deadly Sins of Tourism”.

PANAMA NEWS:

• IFC approves US$300mn for Panama Canal expansion
  The Word Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has approved a US$300mn loan to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to support its US$5.25bn expansion project, IFC reported in a release.
• Barbara Bush Library exhibits Panamanian children’s art
  The Barbara Bush Library is featuring a Panamanian Children’s Art Exhibit, showing the works of children of Ponuga, the Province of Veraguas and the Republic of Panama.
• British company develops former U.S. base in Panama
  The British company London & Regional Properties has begun transforming a former U.S. air base in Panama into a residential and commercial complex. The $700 million Panama Pacific center at the former Howard Air Base will include 20,000 homes and 11 million square feet of commercial space. The 40-year project is expected to create 40,000 jobs.
• Panama switches on to energy-saving light bulbs
  Panama plans to hand out 6 million energy-saving light bulbs, nearly two per citizen, to ease soaring demand for electricity and prevent future blackouts, President Martin Torrijos said on Monday.
• Carew honored in native Panama
  Rod Carew has spent the last few years traveling around the world as an ambassador for Major League Baseball. He’s assisted at baseball clinics in various countries, trying to spread the word that baseball is no longer just America’s pastime.

Hi PanamaForum.com friends!

I hope you are all doing great.

This is the thirty-sixth issue of the PanamaForum Newsletter.

Drum roll… get out the champagne… this week we passed our 4,000 members mark! Yay!

Thanks Panama friends for your continued support, a big thanks also to our moderators.

Enjoy Panama and have FUN.

PANAMA FORUM THREADS:

• Dating in Panama
  Read Mr. WOOHOO’s advice on dating beautiful girls in Panama. What do you need to watch out for? This thread is especially useful for those who want to have fun without getting burnt.
• First time visiting Panama?
  Check out these great tips on what is a must see when traveling to Panama. Have you been to Panama before or are you living in Panama? Share your favorite places and experiences here…
• Trustworthy lawyer
  Can you ever trust a lawyer? And if yes, whom would you recommend? Find out what others wrote and share your opinions too.
• Best Night Clubs in Panama!
  What are the best night clubs in Panama? Great links, and the thread takes an unexpected turn. Share your night club experience on this thread.
• Apartment Rental In Panama City
  What’s the best way to find an apartment for rent? Through a real estate agency? But aren’t apartments more expensive through an agent? Are real estate agents corrupt? Find out and share your own experiences.

PANAMA NEWS:

• Tax Implications of Renting Your Property in Panama
  So, you have a property in Panama you have decided to rent it out and start earning some income from your investment. After some searching you find a good tenant, sign the contract and start receiving a nice monthly check, life is good! But what about Panamanian taxes?
• Panama’s Torrijos Sees No Impediment to U.S. Accord
  Panama’s President Martin Torrijos said the resignation of a political ally wanted for the murder of an American soldier should clear the way for the U.S. Congress to pass a trade agreement with his country.
• Three Men Die While Cleaning Out Septic Tank
  Three workers of the Xtra Supermarket in 24 de Diciembre passed away yesterday after being overcome by fumes when cleaning a septic tank. The men were apparently working without the property safety equipment. Four others were taken to the emergency room of the Santo Tomas hospital where they have been hospitalized.

Welcome to the 35th issue of the Panama Forum Newsletter!

I’m happy to say that more members have joined us on PanamaForum.com over the last week. A big welcome to all new members!

This week we will go right to the lastest Panama Threads and Panama News.

Have a great time… and see you next week!

TOP PANAMA THREADS:

• Real Estate in Panama
  Wow! This thread is hot and a must read for anyone considering buying, renting or building in Panama.
• Living expenses in Panama
  What are the actual living expenses per month? Go to this thread to find out. As whypanama says: “Panama is our home and we have found paradise!”.
• Panama sounds right for us!
  Indeed it does. Share your advise and Panama knowledge with member kidchico, who is considering moving to Panama. This thread has great information and details on living in Panama.
• Single’s clubs
  What are the best single’s night clubs in Panama? Share your night club experience on this thread.
• Renting apartments in Panama City
  How much rent do you pay on a comfortable apartment per month? Which zone in Panama City is the best to live in? What do you need to know when renting an apartment in Panama City? Find out in this thread.

PANAMA NEWS:

• Leatherback turtle habitats discovered
  Spanish researchers said they’ve discovered extensive leatherback turtle nesting beaches in Colombia and Panama. Researchers from the Spanish Council for Scientific Research documented 6,000 new turtle nests along 60 miles of nearly uncharted Atlantic beach in the north of Colombia and south of Panama in 2006 and 2007.
• AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean
  An international conference on AIDS opened on Sunday in Mexico City, making Latin America a first-time host for the biennial meeting that is the largest gathering of AIDS experts.
• National Police Respond to Incursion of FARC Guerrillas in the Darién
  Sixty armed men arrived in the community of Bajo Chiquito in the Darién province where they entered the store in the town, took all of the food and threatened the rest of the population before returning to the
• Costa Maya only DAYS away!
  The La Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant promises to be bigger and better this year with eight contestants battling for the prestigious title. For the first time since the inception of the pageant will Costa Maya see the participation of Panama.

Hello!

This is the 24th issue of the Panama Forum Newsletter.

Manuel Antonio Noriega.

I heard so much about him but didn’t really know much of his history, so I did a little research.

Noriega was a Panamanian general and the de facto military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.

Noriega in 1983.

He used to be a strong ally of the U.S. and worked closely with the CIA from the late 1950s to the 1980s.

But by the late 1980s, relations had turned extremely sour between Noriega and the United States government.

Noriega had been working as a double agent, collecting money from the United States, while at the same time working for Communist governments, turning over highly classified U.S. intelligence materials to Cuba. He was also a huge trafficer of cocaine and a big money launderer.

Noriega and Fidel Castro

The U.S. urged Noriega to step down in early 1988, but to no avail. The U.S. then ordered his arrest in 1989 and 13,000 US troops invaded Panama to support the 12,000 already there.

He surrendered in January 1990, and was taken to the USA for trial.

Mugshot of Noriega

Noriega was found guilty in 1992 and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.

To date, he is still in prison in the U.S., but he might soon be extradited to France were he faces money laundering charges and could get another 10 years of imprisonment. Noriega has also received a long jail term in absentia in Panama for murder and human rights abuses.

I hope you found this interesting and learned something new.

Enjoy Panama and have fun!

Until next week.

TOP PANAMA THREADS:

• Retiring to Panama
  jrmanville and his wife are exploring the possibility of retiring in Panama. He needs questions are regarding living expenses, solar electricity, crime in Panama, and mortgages. Share your wisdom and good old advice on this thread.
• Trustworthy lawyer
  We all know that there are good lawyers, and then there are the not so good and sometimes lazy and greedy lawyers. If you are not sure if you can trust a lawyer, go to this thread.
• Innocent until proven guilty?
  What’s Panama like when it comes to the law?
• What to get involved in, in Panama?
  What can a young American woman get involved in, in Panama City?
• Biggest Misconception/Surprise about Panama
  Panamax wants to know: “What was your biggest misconception about Panama and/or what surprised you the most?”

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PANAMA NEWS:

• Heavy Lift Crane Falls Over on Ave Balboa
  A crane fell over in one of the lanes of Ave Balboa while it was being used to work on an overpass that will be part of the “Cinta Costera” (Costal Strip). No one was injured or killed in the accident.
• Columnist barred from leaving the country
  A Panamanian judge barred sports columnist Bienvenido Brown from leaving the country and ordered him to stand trial on criminal defamation charges filed in 2005.
• Electoral Base in Panama Grows About 11% from 2004
  The inclusion in the primary voting register of more than 65,000 young people who will be older than 18 years of age before 2 May 2009 will life the number of eligible voters to 2,228,377 (2.2 million). That is to say that in the next national election which will be held on 3 May 2009 there will be 229,000 more eligible voters than in the 2004 elections according to numbers from the Electoral Tribunal.
• EU, Latin America close to banana deal at WTO
  European and Latin American negotiators are close to a deal that would end a quarter of a century of “banana wars” as part of mammoth trade talks here, sources close to the negotiations said Sunday.
• Shark bites Panamanian Judge
  An official says a Panamanian judge was bitten by a shark off the Central American nation’s Pacific coast.
• Boquete, Chiriquí: Sabor Escondido, a Restaurant with a Smiling Difference!
  I took Tricia, a professional critic with me, one with years of working in the hospitality industry and listened carefully to how to judge both restaurant and the food. With food photos.