Much of it is outdated, so we make it available here for free: Panama Money Secrets. Download part 1, 2 and 3 plus a map. You have to be a member of the "Real Estate" community to access the files.

 Not a member of the Panama Sphere yet? Sign up here!

We've uploaded the new immigration law, that is, as it was given to the Colegio de Abogados before being approved by the cabinet. You can access it by going to the "Laws for Expats" community and click "files". Only members. If you're not a member you need to sign up first.

UPDATE: New version, as published today in Gaceta Oficial, available too.  

Well, the Democrats in Panama is a group to take into account! Big players in the international scheme of things! Here are the results:

Hillary Clinton: 48 votes (37.2%)
Barack Obama: 79 votes (61.2%)
John Edwards: 1 vote (0.8%)
Dennis Kucinich: 1 vote (0.8%)

A total of.... 129 votes!

More global results here.

Interesting sequence of articles and events in La Prensa. The twelfth of this month, they report that French foreign minister Kouchner, US Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Lewis Navarro meet in New York to discuss Noriega. See: http://www.prensa.com/hoy/herald/1262299.html

As you know, France wants Noriega, and the US wants to send him to France. The Torrijos goverment, or at least the yuppies in it, doesn't want him here and (foreign) entrepreneurs in Panama can't sleep just thinking about a return of Noriega. So what is there to talk about, then? Officially, we don't know. Today La Prensa reports that the US is not giving information about the extradition. See here: http://www.prensa.com/t.asp?d=080221p1272415 So, let's connect the dots ourselves.

What else is happening today? Right, the first debate about the new code of criminal procedure. What does that have to do with Noriega? Everything, but nobody will tell you so. One of the new articles establishes the right not to be tried in absentia and it is retro-active...

Timing is, of course, of the essence. The new penal code, which allows Noriega to have his sentences converted to house arrest, will go into effect this May (his friends were already painting his mansion last year when he was to be released initially). So, first the idea was to have Noriega safely tucked away in France for the rest of his life, so that he can't stir up shit in Panama. But Noriega is resisting fiercely, and so is the Noriegista wing of the PRD. They had better plans for the old dictator: First, he would go to Bolivia, where housing and legal assistance had been arranged.

Yes, this is a scoop, and I have it from the horse's mouth so to speak.

Yes, the Chavez-Morales axis is pro-Noriega. The enemy of my enemy, etceteras.

Then, this year he'd return to Panama, have his prison time converted to house arrest first and then, from the comfort of his narco mansion, get the Supreme Court to rule the convictions null and void because he had been tried in absentia.

And today, it looks as if this plan is still marching. Internal PRD struggles have no doubt to do with this, as the appointment of Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, I can tell you, was also a result of pressure by pissed Noriegistas who had even planned festivities for their hero's return, but saw him "betrayed" by the yuppies in the PRD in cahoots with the hated gringos. Reason enough to push for a hostile appointment and torpedoe the free trade agreement in the process.

This, of course, begs all sorts of questions, to name some: Why this flip flopping by the government about Chavez paying SUNTRACS and that Cabal story in El Siglo about Chavez paying (Noriegista!) politicians like Balbina Herrera and Hector Aleman? Is it really flip-flopping (it's fun to see Don Winner struggle with this one for example)? And why now? These rumors have been flying around for years.

What new light is shed on this knowing that Chavez supports a return of Noriega to Panama?

And, today also in La Prensa: SouthCom visits Panama. The chiefs, that is, to talk with "entrepreneurs" and politicians about "security." But that is the second SouthCom visit in just two or three weeks (nobody reported the first one). Why?

This sunday 17 february SUNTRACS organized a wake in Panama City for Airomi Smith, the member who was assassinated last week in Colon. Only a handful of people attended, maybe 25. Here are some B&W pics.

Due to the possibility of violent protests throughout Panama City 
during morning rush hour, the Consular section, will delay its 
opening on Thursday, February 14 to 9:00 a.m. The demonstrations are 
in response to the killing of a member of Suntracs, a construction 
worker's union in the city of Colon.

For personal security and safety reason U.S. Citizens are therefore 
urged to avoid Punta Pacifica/Paitilla neighborhoods of Panama City 
and the area around the University of Panama where the demonstrations 
will occur.  By avoiding these areas you minimize risk and avoid 
turning yourself into a potential target as an innocent bystander.  
U.S. Citizens should also exercise additional caution at all times 
when moving around city.

For updated information on the security situation in Panama, please 
contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy at 
207-7000.  The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located in 
Building 783 (besides the Colegio de las Esclavas), in the Clayton 
section of Panama.   The Consular Section fax is 207-7278.   The 
Embassy web site is http://usembassy.state.gov/panama and e-mails 
should be address to Panama-ACS@state.gov.   

From 6 o'clock this morning angry SUNTRACS members have barricaded streets all over Panama City after one of their members was shot in the back and killed by a policeman yesterday in Colon.

 The police was unable to stop the protesters. Students of the University of Panama took to the streets as well, blocking the Transistmica, and again the police could do nothing.

 President Torrijos has ordered a full scale investigation into the assasination  of the union member yesterday. However, SUNTRACS wants an independent commission to investigate instead of the police investigating the police. Union leaders pointed out that two killings last year, one at the new highway to Colon and another who was working for the controversial Isla Viveros project who was also killed by a policeman, have not been investigated in a satisfactory manner.

Similarly, SUNTRACS denounces the fact that its construction workers work in projects without required safety measures being in place, which caused tens of workers to die last year. But nobody is in jail or even investigated.

The riots in Panama City are expected to continue tomorrow and probably the days thereafter. If you have news or pictures, please sign up and post them here! 

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK IN BOCAS!

March, 2007: Pictures of the nearly dry

reservoir when Bocastown ran completely

out of municipal water for a couple weeks. 

Decemebr, 2007: Pictures of the coastal road

past Big Creek towards Bluff Beach. 

http://tinyurl.com/2qthqn

There is something about this picture that, well, we can't quite put our finger in on.