Panama Coffee Tops the Bucket List


News from Panama

Here is a great article by Rob McFarland in the Newcastle Herald about the world’s most expensive coffee beans: Geisha Arabica coffee in Panama. Thanks largely to The Bucket List, the movie where Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson tick off a series of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, there’s a common misconception that Kopi Luwak – the coffee […]

January 30, 2017

How honest are Panamanians?


News from Panama

Here is a short story that I have to share with you from Rodny of Rodny Direct help line that my friend Rob Brown sent me. How honest are Panamanians? The Panama Helpline Operator report warmed my heart today: Yesterday evening at 17:57 ID holder # (removed), called asking me to help getting to a […]

January 30, 2017

Boquete Jazz & Blues Festival 2017 is Here!!


News from Panama

  Well folks, our world-class festival is here again for the 11th year and the line up this year is proving to be the best yet, including Grammy Nominee, Joe Luis Walker.  Mid week Wednesday February the 8th he opens the jam sessions at The Rock. Thursday is the grand parade that Susie heads up […]

January 30, 2017

The tough way to help kids succeed


News from Panama

Lori writes this great story on how we do not let our children fail, fall and learn from their mistakes.  We have become over protective and although we love our children, we must let them experience opportunities to struggle. There’s something your children may not be getting enough of these days. Sure, vegetables come to […]

January 30, 2017

Is It Time to Think About Moving to Panama?


News from Panama

Every day we are assaulted by news of another shooting in the United States –  kids, cops and innocents gunned down for no reason. Our leaders in government are creating chaos at home and around the world.    Europe is experiencing a migrant crisis that’s tearing the continent apart.     People are nervous enough to be building survival bunkers […]

January 27, 2017

Panama: Incentives for Housing Construction


News from Panama

The Varela administration is considering improving incentives granted to finance the construction and purchase of homes priced between $80,000 and $120,000. The government plans to build 175 thousand houses in 2017, of which 100,000 correspond to the ´Roofs of Hope program’, 45,000 to the ‘Bono Solidario’ program and 30,000 to the ‘preferential interest rate‘. President […]

January 24, 2017

Odebrecht Downrated Again


News from Panama

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Brazilian construction firm from B- to CC, arguing that the revelations about bribes “have exacerbated its reputational risk”. From a press release by Fitch Ratings: Fitch Ratings-Sao Paulo-17 January 2017: This is a correction of a release published Jan. 17, 2017. It corrects the rating for the USD800 million senior unsecured […]

January 24, 2017

Panama: Expansion of Port Terminal in Colon


News from Panama

The proposal is to extend by 20 years the concession of the container terminal at Puerto Coco Solo to Colon Container Company, which plans to invest $90 million in its expansion. From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama: A bill, which seeks to grant an extension for 20 years to the contract for […]

January 24, 2017

Central America, Taiwan, Trump?


News from Panama

The attendance of the president of the rebellious Chinese island to the inauguration of President Ortega and visits to the countries of northern Central America could have profound geopolitical significance.  Even more so with Trump taking calls from the President of Taiwan.  Here is an editorial that offers a view on the subject. EDITORIAL It […]

January 24, 2017

“Equator Baptism @ M/V World Sapphire Atlantic


News from Panama

This is a cute video of the Equatorial Baptism held on the M/V World Sapphire Atlantic. The ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite in the British Merchant Navy, Dutch merchant navy, Royal Navy, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Australian Navy, Russian Navy, and other navies that commemorate a […]

January 24, 2017