Islands of Panama – Buying an island in Panama has always been an attractive idea though one fraught with difficulty and danger. Read more!

Latest in Panama: La Mano Dura, Real Estate and Luna’s Castle – President Martinelli´s crackdown on crime continues. This past Friday night while driving in Casco Viejo I was pulled over by the police who checked the car and all my documents. Read more!

The Dream Is Alive In Las Perlas – Here we go again. “How did you get here?”

It used to be “Why are you moving there?” until I answered “Why not?” and got only sheepish mournful looks of those who knew they never would really chase and catch a dream. Read more!

Panama-Canada Free Trade Agreement, FDI Ratings and Travel to Sarigua – Panama has signed a free trade agreement with Canada which would eliminate 90% of the tariffs currently imposed on Canadian products entering the Panamanian market, such as frozen potato products, beans, lentils, as well as some meat and pork cuts, fish, and seafood. Read more!

September 2009

September 2, 2009 – Panama Clandestine Hotels – Panama economic growth, Colon Free Trade Zone taxes and other news… read more.

September 7, 2009 – Signs of Recession in Panama – And other Notes – The world recession has unfolded very slowly in Panama until recently when the economy began to see negative growth in the months of April and May… read more.

September 14, 2009 – Cruising The Pearls And Fighting Taxes – Finally there is a luxury cruise ship service to Panama’s Pearl Islands. I say finally because the islands were a favorite getaway years ago for the powerful and well-known – Joe DiMaggio and FDR – and the best way to enjoy the Pearl Islands is… read more.

September 21, 2009 – Latest in Panama: a strange alien-like animal discovered in Cerro Azul, Noriega as to be pardoned – A strange alien-like animal was discovered by a group of Panamanian teenagers in the mountain town of Cerro Azul which lies to the north of Panama City…read more

October 2009

Ex-President of Panama, Guillermo Endara, died, the Bay of Panama will soon be clean; two new naval bases on the Pacific Coast of Panama – Ex-President of Panama, Guillermo Endara, died of a heart attack this past week. Endara, who was the first democratically elected president of Panama after the Noriega military government was removed by the U.S. military, was a very popular figure in Panama. His presidency is remembered for returning a broken country to peace and stability.–read more–

Latest From Panama – Costa Rican Political Corruption And Panama’s Economy Picks Up – Former Costa Rican President Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier (1990-94) was found guilty this week of corruption charges and sentenced to 5 years in jail. Calderon is charged with receiving kickbacks worth $540,000 dollars from the Costa Rican Social Security system. -read more-

Panama’s New Property Laws - Tensions were high this past week at the National Assembly as the Assembly members debated and passed a first version of Law 71. Even the U.S. Embassy sent out an email notifying the expatriate U.S. community that the Embassy would be monitoring developments at the National Assembly. – read more –

Panama Adds New Section To Coastal Highway – The Panamanian government this week gave the order to begin extending the coastal highway (Cinta Costera) to the Casco Viejo section of Panama City. – read more –