More On Law 71 and Oscar Arias visits Panama - The debates over proposed Panamanian Law 71 – the law that will set government policy on the titling of islands and coastal lands – will continue as the Panamanian government plans to extend the debate over the bill for at least another month. The President of the National Assembly, Jose Luis Varela, has stated that the law will be discussed in an extraordinary session that will be convened by President Ricardo Martinelli. Read More

Latest From Panama : President Martinelli Decides to Clean Up Colon – Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli announced this week that he plans to make huge improvements to the city of Colon – an unusual idea as Colon has long been known as not only the most dangerous city in Panama, but one of the most dangerous in all of Latin America. Read More

Panama Canal Expansion On Track - The building of a third set of locks on the Panama Canal will begin next year according to Antonio Zaffaroni, the director of Grupo Unidos por El Canal, the consortium that won the contract to build the new set of locks. Zaffaroni explained that the construction work will pass through four stages: during the first stage Grupo Unidos will be obtaining the necessary permits and approvals; during the second stage, the company will be clearing land; and during the third stage, they will be building facilities to produce concrete, crushed stone, and cement; during the final stage, they will build the new locks. Read More

Latest From Panama : newly elected Mayor of Panama City and other news - It was announced this past week that the newly elected Mayor of Panama City, Bosco Vallarino, would have his budget audited by the Comptroller General of the Republic of Panama, Carlos Vallarino; in particular, the Comptroller General wants to audit the contracts that were awarded for the mayor’s flagship project the Vía Navideña (Christmas Way), a kind of Christmas boardwalk that people will be able to stroll through to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas. The Vía Navideña will be built along the new coastal highway that runs in front of Panama City. The mayor wants to replace the popular Christmas Parade with the Vía Navideña: his contribution to improving Christmas and Panama City. Read more