Larry's Central American Travels

Carnival, Civil Unrest And Playboy Magazine

 

Be sure and visit my other blog, “The View From Here” for random musing on a variety of subjects on a lighter note. Just click on the ‘Hot Topics’ link on the left.

 

Protesting Ngöbe-Buglé Indians Remain On Alert

While thousands of people moved to various locations within the country for this year's carnival celebrations, the natives of the Ngäbe Bugle region remained vigilant. The group camping in the park in Panama City reminded the Government that the talks should resume in the National Assembly on Monday, 27 February 2012. One of the leaders of the Coalition for the Defense of Natural Resources and the Rights of the Ngäbe Bugle People told TVN News that they "allowed" the carnival celebrations to take place in an act of good faith, but hope that next Monday there will be an agreement that is satisfactory for them.

The pending issue is on hydroelectric projects on lands of the Ngäbe Bugle region and in adjoining areas. The Indians reject any hydroelectric development in the region and demand the cancellation of the concession granted for the Barro Blanco project. It was precisely this issue of the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project that prevented the debate from advancing, because the indigenous leaders maintain their position and they demand the cancellation of that concession, but Government Minister Jorge Ricardo Fabrega said this project is not located in areas annexed to the region.

On Monday, 27 February 2012 at 10:00 am the dialog should resume in the Trade Commission of the National Assembly.

So what does all of this mean at this point? Don Winner (Panama Guide) summarizes: “Stock up on supplies, especially those of you in Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro. The government is not going to back down on the issue of hydroelectric projects. They will keep talking, but sooner or later I suspect the Ngäbe Bugle will get up from the table and walk away. It would be wise to take advantage of this time to stock your shelves. Hey, they might reach an agreement, then your shelves will be stocked, and that's a good thing, right? Better safe than sorry.”   

 

But – It Gets Even Better (Worse?)

Changuinola, Bocas del Toro. - The Coordinator of the Movement for the Defense of the Territory of the Ecosystem of the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Feliciano Santo, announced that in the coming hours this group will undertake forceful actions including the closure of the Pan-American highway. It is important to note that these protests will be carried out by different groups of indigenous Ngäbe-Bugle Indians - organizations from non traditional authorities - meaning - those who do not recognize the authority of the Congress that was elected in a vote organized by the Electoral Tribunal in 2010. In short, groups that do not recognize the ‘leaders’ now negotiating for the Ngäbe-Bugle people.

Again, I will leave it to Don Winner (Panama Guide) to explain the situation: “Yeah, because this mining and hydro power crap wasn't complicated enough already. Back in 2010 the Electoral Tribunal tried to organize an election in the Ngäbe-Bugle region. The vast majority of those who were eligible to vote (50,000+) decided to boycott the election. The current Chieftain who is legally recognized by the government because she won that election with 27% of the vote - is not recognized by the vast majority of the rest of the population of the Ngäbe-Bugle people. So, there's a good chance that whatever agreement she signs will not be recognized by the people in the Ngäbe-Bugle region, either.

Sound like the whole thing is resolved to you. You also need to realize that this debate (battle, struggle?) has been going on for years. So stay tuned. The ‘fat lady’ has not even showed up yet, much less sung.”

 

Carnival Highlights

The Carnival Season concluded in Panama yesterday with the traditional Ash Wednesday observance. Carnaval is a BIG deal in Panama, and much of the population started celebrating mid-week last week.

Here are some of the highlights:

Thursday, 16 Feb: With every passing hour there are fewer and fewer cars in Panama City, and the Albrook Bus Terminal is full with people who are trying to get an early start on this year's Carnival celebrations. Several told TVN news that they are concerned over the possibility that the indigenous Ngobe-Bugle Indians might close the Pan-American highway again due to the possibility of a failure of the ongoing talks in the National Assembly, so they wanted to "get out of town" and to their destinations in the interior of the country as soon as possible.

'Dry Law' Suspended: Panama City Mayor Roxana Mendez has suspended the "dry law" during the Carnival celebrations, so the bars and nightclubs and remain open as late as they like.

Carnival in Panama City: The stages and areas for the Carnival celebrations have been set up in the Coastal Strip. There will be "culecos" during the day and concerts at night.

More Than 1,100 Police Officers Deployed: The National Police will have more than 1,100 police officers deployed in the areas where Carnival celebrations are being held, in order to ensure the safety and security for all participants. Other elements and agencies of state security, such as the SINAPROC and Fire Department. 911 ambulance system, Ministry of Health, and Red Cross will all have personnel on the street doing their things.

Friday, 17 Feb: The Albrook bus terminal was crowded this morning as thousands of Panamanians head towards the interior of the country to enjoy the four days and five nights of carnival. According to the administration of the Albrook terminal 2,600 buses will be transporting travelers to different parts of the country. By late afternoon the road to the Bridge of the Americas was getting congested, as confirmed by photographs sent by TVN News.  

Saturday, 18 Feb: As of 11:00am, the first day of Carnival celebrations in Panama, the National Police said through a press release they have already issued 1,940 traffic tickets to drivers, mostly for talking on the cell phone while driving. Despite campaigns against talking on a cellphone while driving, because of the serious consequences this practice can cause, people insist. The fine for this infraction is $75 according to the ATTT. Traffic authorities asked drivers to please adhere to the provisions of the rules of the road to avoid accidents.

The National Police of Panama have made checks against more than 46,632 people using the "pele police" handheld data system during Carnival 2012. These checks resulted in the arrests of 272 people who had outstanding arrest warrants, another 521 were wanted by the authorities, and 59 with citations. The National Police also reported the recovery of 49 vehicles which had been reported as stolen, and another 2 that were using stolen license plates. (Telemetro)

The Comptroller General of the Republic, during an operation related to Carnival 2012, has achieved the retention so far of 109 official state owned vehicles, nationwide, for breach of the law. The operation was launched because during Carnival celebrations people tend to try to used these state owned vehicles and they drive them with expired license plates, they are being driven by unlicensed drivers, and being used to transport people who have nothing to do with the government. (TVN)

Tuesday evening (21 Feb):  The Carnival death toll had reached one dozen. Eight of them died in circumstances not related to the holidays. The other four, which were included in the official account of the security sectors, were all road and traffic fatalities. It is estimated more than 127,000 vehicles traveled from Panama City into the interior of the country for carnival. On the last day of revelry another 800 drivers were ticketed, in addition to the 3,621 who were ticketed earlier between Saturday and Monday.

 

Playboy Magazine Shoot in Panama

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition - 2012 magazine was recently released. It always contains some of the most beautiful models in the world, and this year some of those models were photographed in some of the most beautiful places on earth - Bocas del Toro and the San Blas islands in the Republic of Panama. This may be even a bigger deal than the recent New York Times article naming Panama as the #1 Tourist Destination for this year. This additional exposure in Sport Illustrated will help to place Panama on the map as a potential tourist destination as well. In 2011 more than 2 million tourists visited Panama for the first time - up from 1.4 million in 2010. So, tourism is growing in Panama. Want to see why?

 

My Book – ‘Angels in Panama’

My book is still available at a reasonable price paperback from the publisher.

The book is also now available in e-book form as well from both Amazon (for the Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (the Nook).   

The links below are for the various formats of my book. I have also included a link to my website where you can read excerpts of ‘Angels in Panama’ if you want.

Paperback from Publisher $9.95

 Kindle from Amazon $15.95

 Nook - Barnes/Noble $15.95

Angels in Panama Web Site 

 

 

Till Next Time. Pura Vida

 

 

 

Panama Back To Normal?

 

After a week of violent protests, Panama is returning to normal. I covered the crises in detail on my other blog last week. If you do not know the details, visit my other blog by clicking on the 'Hot Topics' link on the left

Legislators Reconsidering Panama Laws on Dams & Mines 

Legislators in Panama have agreed to reconsider a law on dams and mining that set off disruptive protests by Indians and their supporters. The decision is a partial victory for the Ngobe-Bugle tribe, which has led highway blockades since Jan. 30 to oppose the new law. Its initial approval last month drew anger because it would theoretically allow the construction of dams on Indian lands in western Panama.

A congressional commission decided late Wednesday to return the law to debate, and Indian representatives and legislators have begun discussions on possible modifications. Laws in Panama must win approval in three separate votes in Congress.

 

Agro Loses $3.2 Million Due To Protests

While we had plenty of veggies, fruit and milk, here in Chiriqui Provence, Panama City was literally cut off from us during the riots.  That cost producers and shippers a lot of money.

“The closure the American Highway by the Ngäbes Bugle Indians has caused losses to the agricultural sector estimated at $3.2 million, however, the figure may be higher, said Oscar Osorio, head of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA),” reported Prensa.com.

Vegetable growers and milk producers are experiencing the largest losses from the 8 day closure of the American Highway by the Indians of Chiriqui. In addition, upland farmers’ harvests were spoiled when they became stranded or because of fuel shortages.

“When calculating the losses for agriculture another factor taken into account was the lack of labor for harvesting crops, bearing in mind that 80% of the workers in horticultural production are indigenous. (…) For example, a potato farmer usually employees 92 Indians, during the protests only two went to work,” exemplified the website.

 

It’s Carnival Time In Panama

For those of you who have not experienced Carnival in Panama, here are some absolutely essential terms you need to be familiar with. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, these terms, and a lot of cerveza will get you through the day – and the night.

The important Carnival terminology:

 Culeco: During the heat of the day, revelers need to cool off from dancing and drinking under the hot sun so they congregate to continue dancing under the stream of refreshing water from a fire hose in a tradition called the “culeco.”

Murga: The brass band that follows the Carnival queen, playing the “tonadas” or music that her followers sing.

Tuna: A group or camp that supports a certain Carnival queen, her followers.

El PH: An important term at night, PH stands for Pub Herrerano, which usually plays the loudest music at the carnivals and brings the top musical talent to its temporary venue.

Bloqueador: Literally translated “blocker,” in case you forget your sunscreen, remember to ask for some “bloqueador anti solar” to keep the rays of the sun from tainting your Carnival experience.

 

 Starbucks In Central America 

I am not sure if I like this news and I certainly do not look forward to any expansion in Panama. I can’t imagine $5 a cup coffee here.  However, Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) plans to open its first Costa Rican location in May as the world’s largest coffee- shop chain boosts its presence in the region.

“Starbucks has purchased Costa Rican coffee for many years,” Pablo Arizmendi-Kalb, general manager of Starbucks in Latin America, said in a statement. “With this opening, we are committed to expanding our role in the rich coffee heritage present in  Costa Rica.” The cafe will be located in San José, the nation’s capital.

Manuela Velásquez, marketing director of Starbucks Central America, said in a phone interview from El Salvador that the company anticipates adding locations this year in Costa Rica.

Starbucks currently operates 535 coffee shop locations in Latin America, Velásquez said. Since announcing plans to enter the Central American market back in August 2010, Starbucks has opened six locations in the region, including four in El Salvador and two in Guatemala.

Starbucks, which has more than 10,700 U.S. cafes and 6,200 abroad, gets more than 20 percent of revenue from international stores.

 

Forbes Tells Why Panama Is So "In"

In the travel section of a recent edition of Forbes magazine, writer Carolin Patek asked why Panama should be your next trip. Rightly so - The New York Times just ranked the isthmus as #1, touting the bustling economy, a wild destination called Bocas del Toro and the expansion of the Canal.

Forbes took the angle of how Panama's strategic global position at the crossroads of the Americas is attracting an unexpected amount of foreign investment considering the tough economic times, driven ahead by the $5.25 billion dollar expansion of the Canal. The article states that Panama City as a result is becoming an "energetic and modern metropolis" with lots of luxury options for first-class travelers.

The article also covered the record-breaking investment made to build Latin America's tallest building, Trump Ocean Club, which opened last year in the Punta Pacifica neighborhood and the upcoming opening of the Waldorf Astoria near Calle Uruguay.

The Frank Gehry designed Biomuseo, currently under construction in Amador and set to open in early 2013, got a mention too which included a reference to the visit to the site that was made by famous American actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie a few years ago.

True to the form of the current spin machine on Panama, this Forbes article couldn't wrap up without dropping some dining recommendations in the Old Quarter, Di Vino Enoteca and Manolo Caracol restaurant in Casco Viejo.

 

My Book – ‘Angels in Panama’

My book is still available at a reasonable price paperback from the publisher.

A great gift – available for instant download. The book is also now available in e-book form as well from both Amazon (for the Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (the Nook).   

The links below are for the various formats of my book. I have also included a link to my website where you can read excerpts of ‘Angels in Panama’ if you want. 

Paperback from Publisher $9.95

Kindle from Amazon $15.95 

Nook from Barnes/Noble $15.95

 Angels Web Site

 

 

Till Next Time.  Pura Vida

Click on thumbnails for full-size view.

Achilles Heel in Panama's Infrastructure?

 

If you haven't been following it you may want to check out my rather zany article on 'The View From Here' blog entitled "Larry's Experiment." Just click on the link on the left entitled 'Hot Topics'.

 

Panama's Infrastructure Achilles Heel?

I have mentioned before that the Inter American Highway (in the U.S. we call it the Pan Am Highway) runs through the country from end to end AND is the only highway through the country. (Just click on the map and look at the red line on the map as it snakes through the country) This becomes a real problem during bad weather when rainstorms cause rivers to overflow and/or washes out bridges along the highway.

However, the highway becomes a tool for people who have a complaint and decide to protest by closing the highway. Right now there is an on-going protest concerning mining rights in the indigenous territories. The fact that the demonstration is a ‘phony’, according to news sources makes it even worse. ‘Phony’ in the sense that the leaders of the protest turn out not to be leaders of the indigenous tribe, and it is reported they are being paid to demonstrate – paid by opponents of the legislation that have no ties or interest in the indigenous issues.

But the point is that protesting Indians have closed the road at the San Felix intersection and the economic losses stemming from the 21 consecutive hours that the Inter American Highway has been closed has been quantified at more than $1.5 million dollars.

The greatest losses have been recorded in both domestic and international loads, primarily those which are transported from the province of Chiriqui to the regions of Panama City and Colon. "The deterioration of vegetables, milk and a variety of poultry products has reflected substantial losses," said an official. As for the loads of cargo that come from Central America to Panama, the President of the Canatraca said these transactions have also been greatly affected, because such goods are moved only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Don Winner (Panama Guide) Comments: The actual economic damages are way, way more than $1.5 million dollars. That's just what the transportation sector can put their finger on. It's much higher when you consider that this protest has basically cut the country in half, and no one can get from there to here and back again. Lost time, fuel, etc.   

 

The Panama Beat

Politics Panama Style: The Vice President of the National Assembly, Marcos Gonzalez, apologized today for the rude gesture he made as he was being interviewed on TV after the riots in the Legislative Palace. The Vice President of the National Assembly raised the middle finger when he was booed by the audience during the interview. However, Gonzalez attributed his offensive gesture to the tension of the moment. Gonzalez also denied having sent people to beat others in the stands during the unrest in the National Assembly, as hinted in the Twitter accounts of National Assembly Deputy from the Panameñista party. Meanwhile, access to the Legislative Palace was restricted to avoid further clashes, according to the legislative authorities.

The New Mayor of Panama City: Don Winner (Panama Guide) Comments: When Roxana Mendez took over (as the new mayor of Panama City) she found there was about 1,000 people on the payroll of city hall who were either not needed, or who were receiving a paycheck and not actually going to work. She is now in the process of cleaning up the mess left behind by her predecessor Bosco Ricardo Vallarino. She's firing people left and right, all of them members of the Panameñista political party. And who should those people be mad at? The Varela brothers and Jose Blandon, who torched the alliance between the Panameñistas and the CD. So, I hear you've been fired. Want a job? Come over to the dark side...    

 

Danger on The Country’s Roads

An 18 wheeler loaded with 700 sacks of cement turned over on the Northern Corridor exit that goes towards Arraijan. The truck driver, who declined to give his name, said he was coming from the Panama cement plant, located in Gatunciillo, Colon, when he lost his brakes. He said he "leaned" the truck against the Jersey barrier and the impact caused the truck to flip over, and his load was dumped on the roadway.

Red Devil Bus Turns Over: One person was killed and eleven were injured when a bus on the internal Salamanca round in the province of Colon flipped over. Early reports indicated the driver lost control of the bus and flipped while driving towards the city of Salamanca in Colon. The 9-1-1 ambulance service came to provide first aid to injured, who were later transferred to the medical clinic in San Juan. This accident occurred at 5:00 am this morning.

Larry Notes: The alarming thing about most of the serious accidents that get reported here in Panama is that most of them appear to be the result of unsafe vehicles operating on Panama’s highways. Every day you see vehicles on the road that have no business ever leaving a driveway - parts missing, lights that are not operational, etc.

Last night I watched a ‘junker’ pulling out of a parking place on the park that was a joke – a bad joke. The only external light on the car was one headlight that was so dim it looked like a candle. Out on the highway that car would not be recognizable as a car in the dark. The old gent driving was talking to the two police officers in the park as he pulled out.

I couldn’t help but think of my good friend in the – D.C. area who runs a very successful business replacing the cracked windshields on dump trucks on-site on   construction sites. ‘On-site’ is the key point here. Truck drivers know that they probably would not get a mile on back on the streets before the police stopped them for that ‘dangerous’ cracked windshield. And the fine is hefty.

 

Restaurant & Hookah Lounge in Panama City

Welcome to the Fenicia Restaurant & Hookah Lounge in Panama City, a great choice for excellent food and atmosphere. They feature a wide variety of dishes ranging from authentic Lebanese cuisine to some of the best sushi in town, as well as great American Angus steaks and much more.

Fenicia Restaurant & Hookah Lounge is distinguished as having the best hookahs in town with a menu of over 35 flavors that our customers enjoy every day. They also offer a diverse selection of national and international liqueurs, beers and wines.

Do you know where the hookah bar closest  to your house is. No? Come on folks, let’s get with it.

 

Government Assistance That Works? 

The Panamanian government sponsored a project, managed by the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), which provided the seed money to grow a pineapple for export that is considered in some markets a luxury item. The pineapple, known in the market as honey pineapple for its sweetness and flavor,  is not native to Panama.

The World Bank, through MIDA, contributed $221,000 to the project's inception and the Agricultal Producers Association (APAQ) also contributed $119 000, which paid for the acquisition of land, materials, labor, and other farming equipment.

The APAQ spokesman acknowledged that it was not easy for them to start the project because there were many doubts about whether the chosen sites met the criteria for planting the seeds, but the technicians established that (the lands) were excellent for obtaining quality fruit, as has been demonstrated in this first crop. Much sooner than forecast, the first crop has been harvested and being shipped to Belgium. So there are 52 people working in the fields and another 20 in the fruit packing plant. These are the families who own the co-op, do the work, run the business, and reap the benefits. They grow the fruit and sell it to European markets - with no or few middlemen.

Maybe the U.S. Government should try some programs like this – projects that make sense, provide jobs and make money. Note that there were no multi-billion dollar federal government loan guarantees and they are not betting any tax payer dollars on ‘scientific break-through’ technology, ‘hoping’ that it would work.

    

My Book – ‘Angels in Panama’

My book is still available at a reasonable price paperback from the publisher.

A great gift – available for instant download. The book is also now (finally!) available in e-book form as well from both Amazon (for the Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (the Nook).   

The links below are for the various formats of my book. I have also included a link to my website where you can read excerpts of ‘Angels in Panama’ if you want.

Nook from Barnes/Noble $15.95 

Paperback from Publisher $9.95

Kindle from Amazon $15.95

Angels in Panama Web Site 

 

 

Till Next Time.  Pura Vida

Click on thumbnails for full-size view.