Latest on Bosco Vallarino, immigration officials deporting foreigners with expired visas and more.
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Written by one of the leading experts on real estate and relocation issues in Panama, the Panama 101 – E-Book Guide To Living and Investing in Panama, 2009 Edition gives you the critical information you need to make educated lifestyle and investment decisions. Over 140 pages packed with detailed, insider knowledge that took years to acquire… can be yours in a matter of minutes. Preview the E-book, click here! |
Dear Panama E-Letter Subscribers:
Latest on Bosco Vallarino, immigration officials deporting foreigners with expired visas and more.By Matt Atlee Panama City’s mayor, Bosco Vallarino was hospitalized this past week for three days. He was given an additional three days to rest at home and plans to be back on the job by the 14th of December. Vallarino is no doubt suffering from a bout of exhaustion as he tries to pull together his flagship project, La Vía Navideña, and at the same time, prepares to face down the anti-corruption prosecutor over the $4,000 municipal check that was written to his wife. Hopefully, with the arrival of the New Year, some semblance of normalcy will return to the mayor’s office. Panamanian immigration officials have begun to deport people who overstay their visas or who do not have the correct documentation to permanently live in the country. From July to November 2009, Panamanian immigration authorities deported 834 foreigners. Most were Colombians, Nicaraguans, Peruvians, Chinese, Americans and illegal immigrants from 75 different countries. Many illegal immigrants end up spending long periods of time in a small jail that is located on the second floor of the immigration office. Two Colombian men were arrested by Panamanian customs authorities this past week at Tocumen International airport; the two men were carrying more than half a million dollars hidden in suitcases. The two Colombians flew into Panama aboard a plane that left from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. From Panama they planned to fly on to Colombia, but were stopped just as they were about to board their plane. The drug route between Colombia and Mexico has been going through Honduras where there is still lots of political instability and Panama where the international airport is constantly being used as a point to transfer money or drugs between Mexico and Colombia. The reaction in Latin America to the very secretive U.S.-Colombian security treaty, signed at the end of October 2009, and negotiated over this past year, has led to a whirlwind of criticism from Latin American leaders throughout the region. Much of the criticism is coming from Venezuela where the Chavez government is upset about the prospect of having U.S. troops in the region yet again. The last U.S. military presence in the region was to be the small Palmerota Base in Ecuador which was to be closed at the request of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. But with the new agreement between Colombia and the U.S., there could be seven Colombian military bases leased to the U.S. in which American pilots, sailors and civilian experts will be employed in anti-terrorism operations. The total number of U.S. civilian and military personnel involved in the project is estimated to be around 1,400. Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli traveled to Costa Rica this past week to meet and help support the newly elected president of Honduras, Porfiro Lobo. Lobo has been recognized as the legitimate leader of Honduras by only Peru, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica. Many Latin American countries have refused to recognize the results of the Honduran Presidential elections held on November 29th because the government who oversaw the election was not democratically elected but rather took power in a June 28th, 2009 military coup. Honduras is anxious to end its diplomatic isolation and return to a state of diplomatic normalcy. A pineapple farm in Panama was a front for a cocaine shipment center. Cocaine was being shipped from the pineapple farm to Europe. The police were able to seize 900 kilos in cocaine. London & Regional Panama (L&RP), the principal Developer of the Panama Pacifico project located within the old Howard Air force Base has opened the first of seven areas it plans to develop for business and residential purposes. The first area contains $64 million worth of “flex warehouses”. L&RP, reported that about 85% of the new warehouses are already being used by Spanish and Finnish companies. The next phase of Panama Pacifico will contain the much anticipated business park and the Town Center residential community. The benefits of doing business in Panama Pacifico are beginning to attract investors: the project is a special economic zone which allows businesses special privileges as far as obtaining residential visas for employees and tax relief. To see more on the project Click Here. Written By Matt Atlee Panama 101 – E-Book – $69
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