Panama Has Some Important Choices To Make
Panama is currently dealing with a number of issues that will determine whether or not the country will continue to be a top destination for tourists and retirees. Much of the future will depend on who is elected to run the country next year.

Filed under: Culture, Living & Retirement, News, Politics, Real Estate on July 29th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Actor, Singer, Composer, Politico Ruben Blades
I went in to my meeting with sitting IPAT Tourism Minister Ruben Blades not quite sure what to expect. After his response to a blog I’d written and my retort, did Mr. Blades bring me in to continue the debate? To convince me that his Tourism Master Plan would allay [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on June 18th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

“Sr. Halloran, this is Ruben Blades.”
The Internet, and the Blog phenomenon specifically never ceases to amaze me. Surely, plenty of companies and most politicians loathe them as it’s allowed schmoes like me a forum. How else could I land a meeting with Mr. Ruben Blades?
YES, it’s true. I am pleased and surprised to [...]

Filed under: News, Politics on June 16th, 2008 | 5 Comments »

Panama’s Minister of Tourism, Ruben Blades

Actor/Singer and Politician Ruben Blades recently replied to an article I wrote on Panama’s tourism industry. To anyone familiar with my writing, public speeches and opinions, these ideas are not new. Apparently however, both my ideas and persona are unfamiliar to Mr. Blades. Puzzling, given that he has met me on [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics, Real Estate on June 5th, 2008 | 7 Comments »

Note to readers: I originally wrote this letter back in September of 2006. It was my reaction after attending two successive AMCHAM tourism conferences. I was invited as a speaker at last year’s event, due in no small part to this letter circulating and some local friends who felt I might make an [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on June 4th, 2008 | 7 Comments »

Lawmakers in Panama scramble to catch up to the tourism boom
Be forewarned, I invented all of these laws myself. I am not sure that the lawmakers of Panama have any intention of implementing such policies. But in my perfect world, were I king of the land, these are laws I would pass to [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on June 4th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

According to La Prensa the Archbishop of Panama since 1994, José Dimas Cedeño, made several phone calls yesterday to politicians and government authorities regarding the defense of social welfare programs.

Filed under: News, Politics on June 2nd, 2008 | No Comments »

Snorkeling off Isla Iguana near Pedasi, Panama
Lately, there has been plenty of discussion about Panama and its potential for tourism. Ruben Blades and IPAT are unveiling their “tourism master plan”, hotel projects are in the works all over the country and the real estate market is booming. Despite all the talk, hope and [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on May 14th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Panama Presidential Elections- May 2009
With all the hubub about the U.S. election up North, it’s easy to forget that Panama will soon be changing head of state as well. The election season is just getting underway and several hopefuls are establishing themselves as front runners. The Presidential election takes place in May of 2009, but [...]

Filed under: News, Politics on May 8th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Panama Flag- Panama Political Parties
Politics in Panama can be highly confusing to outisders.  I’m still just learning my way through the variety of parties, their nicknames, their former names and what the heck is Left vs. Right.  Here’s a primer on the backgrounds of the major parties in Panama today.
The Democratic Revolutionary Party “PRD” (Spanish: [...]

Filed under: Politics on April 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Panama City’s Old Quarer or ‘Casco Viejo’
Ruben Blades, singer/actor-turned Tourism Minister, declared several months back that Panama will not only compete heat to head with Costa Rica for tourism supremacy in the region, but will surpass Costa Rica as leader by 2010.  A bold statement for a country still wearing tourism’s equivalent short pants, but is [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics on April 22nd, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Former Panamanian strongman, Manuel Antonio Noriega
Panama is a nation shrouded in mystery. From its questionable beginnings, when the country was plied from Colombia via a U.S.-backed coup, to the shady dealings during the 80s Cold War era, Panama has always been a land rich with untold history, fascinating characters and high-stakes political double dealings.

Filed under: News, Politics on April 1st, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Panama City, Panama- Pubic Transportation in Need of Change
Recently, the press has been filled with claims against Panamanian President Martín Torrijos, stating that his promises for an improved public transit system have gone unfulfilled.  Judging by the current state of affairs, its seems to be sad, but true.  The public has spoken and will rally [...]

Filed under: News, Politics on March 29th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

aerial view of the world’s largest pool in Chile
Panama never got the memo: giant hotels are out, boutique hotels and eco-projects are IN.
In yet another move that supports the common belief here in Panama that when it comes to beach projects, “gaudy-is-good”, the Playa Blanca resort project is promoting plans to construct the second largest [...]

Filed under: News, Politics on March 26th, 2008 | 5 Comments »