Panama Living Newsletter

Foreign retiree murdered in Costa Rica

I have made several posts in the last year about a hapless foreigner who becomes a victim of violence in his new country. This is not meant to scare potential immigrants or to imply that crime is higher here than back home. The fact is that violent crime is much lower here than in many places in the U.S.A.. What I hope to accomplish is to get people to wake up and not become complacent when moving to Latin America. The fact is, you are considered a millionaire by their standards and that makes you a target. Take precautions and be careful who you befriend. Most of the locals are very friendly, but without knowing the culture and the  lack of language skills can cause you to miss telling cues of danger. Error on the side of caution.

Crown Point man killed in Costa Rica

December 28, 2006

BY DANIELLE BRAFF Post-Tribune

After his helicopter was shot down twice in Vietnam,  Arne Hedlof's friend had one thing to say about him.

"He had luck, I guess," Lee Dillabaugh said. 

But Hedlof's luck ran out earlier this month when he was stabbed multiple times and stuffed into a water storage tank in Costa Rica. Carlos Venegas, a detective in charge of the case, said a maintenance worker opened the tank to check on a foul odor and found the body.

Leader of the Year: Martin Torrijos

Congratulations goes to Panama's President for being selected by the Latin Business Chronicle as the Leader of the Year in Latin America.

As a result of strong economic growth and pro-business policies, President Martin Torrijos has been selected by Latin Business Chronicle as Leader of the Year. "We believe that Panama is in the initial stages of a multi-year investment boom that should be positive for asset prices," U.S.-based consultancy Global Insight says in a report on Panama.

Read the story here...

Panama passes U.S. free trade agreement

It has been a long time in the making, but Panama has finally approved the free trade agreement with the U.S.. Now that the democrates hold sway in congress it may not pass on our side. They have indicated that there will be more protectionism and less opening of markets. Lets hope is passes, for it will bring a lot of benefit to Panama.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Panama have reached a free-trade agreement in talks that began in April 2004, a U.S. trade official said on Tuesday.

The talks were delayed repeatedly by agricultural issues. U.S. access to Panama's government procurement market, in anticipation of the expansion of the Panama Canal, was another thorny issue.

The deal raises the number of free-trade agreements awaiting approval by the new Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress to three, along with those for Peru and Colombia.

Boquete, Champions of recycling

I always want to publicize activities by foreigners that make a positive impact on the local community and this story clearly shows an area that has benefited. Because of foreign influence and initiative, Boquete has become the premier area for recycling in Panama. This is a machine translation with the Spanish version following.

HIRIQUÍ.
More than 200 tons of garbage is generated daily in the province. Boqueteños becomes champions of the recycling While  most of the districts of Chiriquí the garbage is a problem, in Boquete takes advantage of it. In the year that is about to to finalize were managed to recycle 122 thousand pounds of garbage, that is to say, near 60 tons.

World record Marlin speared in Panama

Wow, A Florida man spear fished a 480 lb. marlin while diving. I have had one of these on a heavy real and was worried I would be pulled over the side. Great story and video.

http://www.nbc6.net/news/10536450/detail.html#

Central America attracts U.S. retirees

The publication Capitol Financiero has an article about the numbers of foreigners moving to a Latin American countries. Much of the data they present is from studies and reports financed by our company ,
Prima Panama.
Here is an English translation. The original in Spanish follows.

Central America wants to transform itself into the favorite residence of Americans who want to retire. When 65 million American citizens begin to retire in 2010, the Guatemalan Salim Dahdah will be waiting for them with the open arms. As CFB  Corporacio'n president, they invested $40 million in Guatemala to develop two neocity-planning towns or communities so that many will go to live there. But he is not the only one. Baby boomers, are the generations of Americans born after World War II, until 1964. They look for sunny paradises to spend their days of retirement, and it is the gamble of the real estate industrialists of the region, who develop beautiful residences built in exclusive resorts with golf courses and views to the ocean.

Better get an offshore move on now.

Bob Bauman has a good argument on why now is the time to move your ass and assets offshore. Although he see's little difference in democrats and republicans, (neither do I) he sees a great difference in their policies regarding people moving money offshore and they will soon be in control of congress. From the Sovereign Society's A letter. Free subscription below.

Dear A-Letter Reader,

I haven't had much to say about the takeover of the U.S. Congress by the Democrats. But as a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives myself, I think the GOP got what it deserved.

Durango fugitive nabbed in Panama

Several weeks ago I did a story called "You can run but you can't hide" about how shady characters come to Panama believing they can elude prosecution for crimes committed in other countries. Thus far, all those I have heard of being picked up were on wanted lists convicted of crimes or failure to appear in court for accused crimes. In this case we have a Colorado pedophile who is extradited back to the U.S. to face his accusers. I am always glad to see these guys taken out along with the scammers who prey on the unwary. They give us all a bad name here in Panama.

Panama and US go bananas at WTO

I loved the headline and I'm glad I took the time to read this short piece on the Banana wars. Seems the Europeans are protecting certain Banana producing countries (old colonies) by placing high tariffs on everyone else, rather than having a level playing field. This of course makes our yummy bananas more expensive and less desirable to the Europeans and makes all Bananas more expensive for them, I am sure. Bananas are still less than 10 cents here in the stores and I can walk outside and pick them off the trees here in Valle Escondido.

Banana Wars
BRUSSELS: Panama and the United States have complained at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the European Union's import duty for bananas to support Ecuador in a similar complaint, an industry source said.          

"Panama and the US have filed today as third parties to the Ecuador case," the source said. Last month, Ecuador – the world's largest banana exporter – launched its own challenge against Brussels over the EU's single tariff of 176 euros ($NZ344.82) a tonne, in force since January 2006, saying it was far too high.

                                        

Panama: The Shining City

My friend Robert Baker continues writing great information about Panama. This one posted in the Latin Business Chronicle, gives us some positives and negatives about the country. A good read.

Despite bureaucracy and other challenges, Panama is about to experience the greatest growth period since the original construction of the Panama Canal.

BY ROBERT E. BAKER

Many see Panama as a shining city on the bay with an inherent national destiny to become the center of commerce for the Americas. It might surprise some to know that in the 1500’s Panama was the center of commerce for all of Latin America.