Expatriate Forums in Panama

General Question

sf1 — Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:03 am

Author: sf1

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:03 am

Hello All,

I currently live and work in the Middle East (have done for 3 years) I may have the opportunity to move to Panama for to live and work for a couple of years. My questions are, what tyoe of lifestyle can be enjoyed for an expat living and working in Panama? Is there much of an expat community ?

I look forward to some answers.

Regards
SF1

Internet Help

cc2297 — Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:02 pm

Author: cc2297

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:02 pm

We are a group of students at NYU’s Stern School of Business pursuing an MBA that need your help in accessing the internet market needs of expats living abroad for a school project. Please take a moment to help us complete our school project by filling out a quick survey. If you are willing to help us complete our project, please email me at cc2297@stern.nyu.edu and I will forward the link to you. Below is a quick description of what we are aiming to establish.

As an expat living in a foreign country, it can be difficult to keep up with what’s going on back home in news, sports, and popular media. The internet infrastructure in developing countries can make it difficult to stream US content in a timely manner and with quality video. I am working with a team of classmates at NYU’s Stern School of Business to conduct market research on how receptive expats living abroad would be to a web-based platform that would allow quality streaming capabilities and access to US television content. In order to gather the necessary market information to compile a report, we need to get as many responses from expats living abroad as possible.

Travel Writing

Alison06 — Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:51 am

Author: Alison06

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:51 am

V!VA Travel Guides invites talented and enthusiastic writers to apply for its 2009 Travel Writing Boot Camps.

The V!VA Boot Camp is a weeklong crash course in which students will gain valuable insight into the world of travel guidebook writing through instruction from seasoned professionals. Attendees will find out what editors want, learn how to work with multimedia outlets and improve writing skills through daily critiques. Students may also have the opportunity to stay "on assignment" in the host country after the course.

Find out what you need to know to travel, get published and get compensated.

Guatemala: 23-27 March
Panama: 30 March-3rd April
Brazil / Argentina: 13-17 April

To apply, visit the V!VA Travel Guides website.

Changing Skylines

Soraya Somarathne — Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:38 pm

Author: Soraya Somarathne

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:38 pm

Dear All,

Parts of South America are beginning to see changing skylines - in some parts of China this is happening faster than you realise.

Please check out: www.spyshanghai.com

Since living and working in the architectural sector in Shanghai for the past 6 months, I've been keeping a blog covering Shanghai's changing skyline as well as some of the stuff I have been getting up to!

Hopefully you'll find some time to have a bit of a read!

Also, writers are wanted!

Thanks and all the best for 2007!

Soraya

PANAMA COUNTRY PROFILE / PANAMA COUNTRY GUIDE

Panama Info — Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:22 pm

Author: Panama Info

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:22 pm

PANAMA COUNTRY PROFILE

Introduction

With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.

Geography

Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Coastline: 2,490 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain:
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 7.36%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 90.66% (2001)

Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

People

Population: 3,039,150 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.8% (male 460,840/female 443,359)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 984,558/female 956,748)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 91,383/female 102,262) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 26.18 years
male: 25.89 years
female: 26.48 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate: 19.96 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate: 6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.94 years
male: 69.67 years
female: 74.31 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 93.2%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama

Government type: constitutional democracy

Capital: Panama

Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), and Veraguas

Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004

Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice president.
election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%
note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party), PP (Popular Party)

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (formerly called Legislative Assembly) or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - in 2009, the number of seats will change to 71)
elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 40, PA 17, PS 8, MOLIRENA 3, CD 2, PP 2, PLN 1, other 5
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of appeal

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin TORRIJOS]; National Liberal Party or PLN [Anibal GALINDO]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Jesus ROSAS]; Panamenista Party or PA (formerly the Arnulfista Party) [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [Ruben AROSEMENA]; Solidarity Party or PS [Jose Raul MULINO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP; National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP

International organization participation:
FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATT
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 227-1964

Flag description:
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the centre and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the centre

Economy

Economy - overview:
Panama's dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for four-fifths of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004 led by export-oriented services and a construction boom stimulated by tax incentives. The government has been backing tax reforms, reform of the social security program, new regional trade agreements, and development of tourism. Unemployment remains high.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $20.57 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 13%
services: 79.8% (2004 est.)

Labour force: 1.32 million
note: shortage of skilled labour, but an oversupply of unskilled labour (2004 est.)

Labour force - by occupation:
agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: 12.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line: 37% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index: 48.5 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed): 25% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.095 billion
expenditures: $3.737 billion, including capital expenditures of $471 million (2004 est.)

Public debt: 69.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp

Industries: construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling

Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production: 4.873 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - consumption: 4.473 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports: 120 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports: 61 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption: 40,520 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports: NA

Oil - imports: NA

Current account balance: $-469.6 million (2004 est.)

Exports: $5.699 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities: bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999)

Exports - partners:
US 12.2%, Nigeria 9.4%, Germany 8.4%, South Korea 8.2%, El Salvador 5.7%, Peru 5.1%, Costa Rica 5.1%, Japan 4.1% (2004)

Imports: $7.164 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Japan 32.9%, China 10.6%, US 9.8%, South Korea 7.2%, Singapore 7.1%, Italy 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.076 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external: $8.78 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient: $197.1 million (1995)

Currency (code): balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Exchange rates:
balboas per US dollar - 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 386,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 834,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed
domestic: NA
international: country code - 507; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations: AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations: 38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Internet country code: .pa

Internet hosts: 7,129 (2003)

Internet users: 120,000 (2002)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 355 km
standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 11,643 km
paved: 4,028 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,615 km (2000 est.)

Waterways: 800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2004)

Ports and harbours: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part of Colon area), Vacamonte

Merchant marine:
total: 5,005 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,960,929 GRT/183,615,337 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,548, cargo 886, chemical tanker 465, combination ore/oil 13, container 605, liquefied gas 183, livestock carrier 8, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum tanker 521, refrigerated cargo 298, roll on/roll off 97, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 256
foreign-owned: 4,388 (Andorra 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas 1, Belgium 14, Brazil 1, Canada 1, Chile 14, China 310, Colombia 5, Croatia 1, Cuba 9, Cyprus 7, Denmark 13, Egypt 15, France 7, Germany 23, Greece 546, Hong Kong 159, India 8, Indonesia 46, Ireland 1, Isle of Man 2, Israel 3, Italy 8, Japan 1814, Jordan 9, Latvia 2, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 11, Maldives 1, Malta 1, Mexico 4, Monaco 8, Netherlands 22, New Zealand 1, Nigeria 6, Norway 66, Pakistan 1, Peru 13, Philippines 15, Poland 19, Portugal 8, Romania 13, Russia 4, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 54, South Africa 3, South Korea 292, Spain 41, Sri Lanka 1, Sudan 1, Sweden 4, Switzerland 188, Syria 7, Taiwan 301, Thailand 10, Trinidad & Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 18, Ukraine 9, UAE 83, United Kingdom 29, United States 88, Venezuela 20, Vietnam 2, Yemen 1) (2005)

Airports: 105 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 61
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.)

Military

Military branches:
an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 18-49: 733,031 (2005 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 511,905 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $147 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (2004)

Military - note:
on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
organised illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the border region with Panama

Illicit drugs:
major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering centre for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial centre; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem

Used Postage Stamp Appeal for Charity

Terri1968 — Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:01 pm

Author: Terri1968

Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:01 pm

Dear Friends

I am not an expat but wondered if you could help us at the Royal National Institute of the Blind in the UK. We provide over sixty services for blind and partially sighted children and adults and can only do this with help from people like yourself. For more information on the RNIB please visit our website at www.rnib.org.uk

I am appealing to you to send us any used postage stamps that you would normally dispose of. We are deperate for stamps from anywhere in the world so any amount at anytime would be great. We still need stamps from the UK as well. Please could you also tell your friends and family.

If you can help please can stamps be left on the envelope, but have the back of the envelope removed. This will make it cheaper for stamps to be sent as well as saving us a job. There should be approximately1/2 - 1cm of paper surrounding the stamp, but do not worry if this is not possible. Stamps then should be sent to RNIB Stamp Recycling, PO Box 185, Benfleet, England, SS7 9BH. I can be emailed at Puddenhead@blueyonder.co.uk

I thank you for your time.

Terri Bush
RNIB

Every day one hundred people start to lose their sight.

Please help: Looking for German / Swiss / Austrian expats

Ellie Lazzaro — Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:53 pm

Author: Ellie Lazzaro

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:53 pm

Hello

I'm a student of Gießen University in Germany looking for particapants for my study (diploma thesis).

As the focus of the study are German / Swiss / Austrian expats, the following introduction will be in German!

Thank you for your understanding!

Kind regards
Ellie Lazzaro

----------------------------------------

Sehr geehrte/r Auslandsentsandte/r,

im Rahmen meiner Diplomarbeit an der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen möchte ich Sie um Ihre Unterstützung bitten.

In meiner Studie geht es um die Wirkung der Anpassung des Auslandsentsandten und der Familie auf die Gesundheit und die Arbeit.

Die Anpassung an das Gastland ist ein komplexer Prozess der einerseits von vielen Faktoren beeinflusst wird und andererseits viele Faktoren wie die Arbeit und die Gesundheit beeinflusst. Ein Verständnis dieser Prozesse kann nicht nur Auslandsentsandten selbst helfen, ihre Situation besser zu verstehen, sondern auch den Firmen aufzeigen, wie und in welchen Bereichen sie ihre Mitarbeiter unterstützen können. Deshalb ist die Einschätzung der Arbeit durch einen Arbeitskollegen oder den Vorgesetzten sehr wichtig. Da oft nicht nur ein Mitarbeiter ins Ausland entsendet wird, sondern eine ganze Familie, wurde auch der Lebenspartner in meine Studie integriert.

Um meine Studie durchführen zu können bin ich auf Ihre Mithilfe angewiesen.

Sie müssen lediglich einem Link zum Onlinefragebogen folgen, diesen ausfüllen und die Links zu weiteren Fragebogen an Ihren Lebenspartner und Arbeitskollegen oder Vorgesetzten weiterleiten.

Es ist absolut sichergestellt, dass alle Ihre Angaben vertraulich bleiben. Die Daten werden ohne Namen und Adresse ausgewertet. Die Untersuchung unterliegt allen Bestimmungen des Datenschutzes.

Kontaktieren Sie mich bitte über pm, das Forum oder meine Emailadresse, wenn Sie Interesse haben an meiner Studie teilzunehmen.
Gerne beantworte ich auch weitere Fragen zu meinem Projekt.

Ich möchte mich schon heute für Ihre Unterstützung bedanken

Elizabeth Schibli-Lazzaro

Lost Dog PLEASE HELP!!!

Carla Hurt — Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:11 am

Author: Carla Hurt

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:11 am

Help,
My dog ran away in the storm Thursday April 27th. She is a husky chow mix. She has one brown eye and one blue eye and is wearing a green collar with a tag that says Luna. I have had her for 10 years and miss her desperately. She ran away in Amador near the causeway. If you see her please call me.

314-1025 - Home
212-8763 - Work
212-8279 - Husband's Work

Thank you for you help

Carla

moving to Panama

swhibley — Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:45 pm

Author: swhibley

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:45 pm

Hello everyone, I have a question that perhaps you could answer for me...or at least I would appreciate it if you could.

I am looking into moving to Panama, but I am wondering about the average age/country of origin of those foreigners currently living in Panama. I know that there is a considerable American population; but are they most newly retired? 50+ age group? Did you all come from hot-spots like California or Florida before moving to Panama? Are most of the foreigners living in Panama(that you have met) part-time residents (escaping winter - as I am thinking about doing), or living there on a full time basis.

This may be a weird question, but I would certainly appreciate any insight.

With thanks,
Steve

PANAMA COUNTRY : Panama Country Profile

Anonymous — Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:25 am

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:25 am

PANAMA COUNTRY : Panama Country Profile

PANAMA

Panama (Spanish: Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. A transcontinental country, its isthmus constitutes the last part of a natural land bridge between the North American and South American continents. It borders Costa Rica to the north and Colombia to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

History of Panama

Much of Panama's domestic politics and international diplomacy in the 20th century was tied to the Panama Canal and the foreign policy of the United States. At the turn of the 20th century, Theodore Roosevelt pursued United States diplomatic efforts to facilitate a deal with Colombia that would allow it to take over French canal operations started by Ferdinand de Lesseps. In November 1903, a small number of wealthy Panamanian landowners lead by a covert Separatist Junta presided by Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, were encouraged to secede from Colombia with support from the United States.

On November 3 1903, Panama declared its independence from Colombia. The President of the Municipal Council, Demetrio H. Brid, highest authority at the time, became its de facto President, appointing on November 4 a Provisional Government to run the affairs of the new republic. The United States was the first country to recognize the new Republic of Panama and sent troops to protect the nation. The 1904 Constituent Assembly elected Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, a prominent member of the Conservative political party, as the first constitutional President of the Republic of Panama.

In December 1903 representatives of the republic signed the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty which granted rights to the United States to build and administer indefinitely the Panama Canal, which was opened in 1914. This treaty became a contentious diplomatic issue between the two countries, reaching a boiling point on January 9, 1964: Martyr's Day. These issues were resolved with the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977.

The original intent of the founding fathers was to bring harmony amongst the two major political parties (Conservatives and Liberals). The Panamanian government went through periods of political instability and corruption, however, and at various times in its history, the mandate of an elected president terminated prematurely. In 1968, Gen. Omar Torrijos toppled the government of the recently elected Arnulfo Arias Madrid and became an autocratic dictator of Panama until his death in an airplane accident in 1981. After Torrijos's death, power eventually became concentrated in the hands of Gen. Manuel Noriega, a former head of Panama's secret police and a former CIA operative. Relations with the United States government soured by the end of the 1980s, with Noriega being accused of drug trafficking.

In December 1989, the United States invaded Panama in a large military operation codenamed Operation Just Cause involving 25,000 United States troops. Ostensibly, the death of an unarmed U.S. soldier in plain clothes in Panama at a Panamanian Defence Forces roadblock was one of the precipitating causes for the invasion along with drug trafficking charges and Noriega's refusal to hand over power after being defeated in elections. However, according to the Panamanian government at the time, the officer's vehicle attempted to drive through the roadblock, which was located near a sensitive military location. A few hours after the invasion, in a ceremony that took place inside a U.S. military base in the former Panama Canal Zone, Guillermo Endara was sworn in as the new president of Panama. The invasion occurred just days before the Panama Canal administration was to be turned over to Panamanian control, according to the timetable set up by the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. After the invasion, Noriega sought asylum in the Vatican diplomatic mission represented by Monsignior Jose S. Laboa, but after a few days turned himself in to the American military. Noriega was immediately taken to Florida where he was formally charged and arrested by United States federal authorities. He is eligible for parole in 2007.

Under the Torrijos-Carter Treaty, the United States returned all canal-related lands to Panama on December 31, 1999, but reserves the right to military intervention in the interest of its national security. Panama also gained control of canal-related buildings and infrastructure as well as full administration of the canal.

Politics of Panama

Panama is a republic with three branches of government: executive and legislative branches elected by direct vote for 5-year terms, and an independently appointed judiciary. The executive branch includes a president and two vice presidents (second vice presidential seat will be eliminated in May 2009 elections). The legislative branch consists of a 78-member unicameral Legislative Assembly (legislative branch will decrease to 71 members in May 2009 elections). The judicial branch is organized under a nine-member Supreme Court and includes all tribunals and municipal courts. An autonomous Electoral Tribunal supervises voter registration, the election process, and the activities of political parties. Everyone over the age of 18 is required to vote, although those who fail to do so are not penalized.

General elections were held on May 2, 2004; the presidential contest was won by Martín Torrijos, son of the former strongman Omar Torrijos. Martín Torrijos assumed the presidency on September 1, 2004. The former president had been Mireya Moscoso, widow of the political leader Arnulfo Arias.

Geography

A map of Panama, showing the nine provinces and three provincial-level comarcas.Main article: Geography of Panama

Panama is located in both North and Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. Its location on the eastern end of the isthmus forming a landbridge connecting Central and South America is strategic. By 1999, Panama controlled the Panama Canal that links the North Atlantic Ocean via the Caribbean Sea with the North Pacific Ocean.

Economy of Panama

Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. The handover of the canal and military installations by the US has given rise to new construction projects. The Martin Torrijos administration is commited with huge but necessary reforms, that are not easy. It has already passed a fiscal reform, a very difficult Social Security Reform, and soon it will call upon a Referendum for the updating of the Panama Canal.

The most influential union in the country is SUNTRACS, the militant construction workers union, although Panama has several major unions and labor federations, including the large National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO) which itself is broken up into several large factions.

Demographics of Panama

The culture, customs, and language of the Panamanians are predominantly Caribbean Spanish. Ethnically, the majority of the population is mestizo or mixed Spanish, Indian, Chinese, and African descent. Spanish is the official and dominant language; English is a common second language spoken by the West Indians and by many in business and the professions. More than half the population lives in the Panama City–Colón metropolitan corridor.

The majority of Panamanians are Roman Catholic, accounting for almost 80% of the population. Although the Constitution recognises Catholicism as the religion of the majority, Panama has no official religion. Evangelical Christians are now estimated to be around 10% of the population. Other Protestant churches make up about 4% of the population. Other major religions in Panama are Islam (4.4%), the Bahá'í Faith (1.2%), Buddhism (at least 1%), Judaism (0.4%), and Hinduism (0.3%). The Jewish community, with over 10,000 members, is by far the biggest community in the region (including Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean). Jewish immigration began in the late 19th Century, and at present there are three synagogues in Panama City, as well as two Jewish schools. Within Latin America, Panama has one of the largest Jewish communities in proportion to its population, surpassed by Uruguay and Argentina, as well as among the largest Muslim, East Asian, and South Asian.

Also in regards to the Bahá'í Faith, Panama hosts one of only seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the world. Completed in 1972 in Panama City, it is perched on a high cliff overlooking the canal, and is constructed of local stone laid in a pattern reminiscent of Native American fabric designs.

Panama, because of its historical reliance on commerce, is above all a melting pot. This is shown, for instance, by its considerable population of Chinese origin, who number around 150,000, or about 5% of the population. (See main article at Chinatowns in Latin America—Panama). Many Chinese immigrated to Panama to help build the Panama Railroad. A term for "corner store" in Panamanian Spanish is el chino, reflecting the fact that many corner stores are owned and run by Chinese immigrants. (Other countries have similar social patterns, for instance, the "Arab" corner store of France.)

The country is also the smallest in Spanish-speaking Latin America in terms of population, with Uruguay as the second-smallest (by almost 400,000). However, since Panama has a faster birth rate, it is likely that in the coming years its population will surpass Uruguay's.

The "Puente de las Américas" was founded in October 12, 1962

Source : Wikipedia.com