MarieElaine

Contact Benjamin -  bosorio@cwpanama.net.  I live in a brand new 2/2 downtown unfurnished (has all appliances incl. washer/dryer) for $600 and the furnished units are $750.  It is a split bedroom plan with each having it's own bathroom.  It is completely enclosed and we have 2 dogs and 4 cats here already.  One of the four units is vacant now and 2 others are coming available in a couple months. 

Due to the recent changes in immigration here in Panama, I find I must leave permanently and have chosen Portugal as my next inexpensive destination.  I brought my cat with me from FL when I moved here 2.5 years ago and it was very traumatizing for him.  When he passed away after almost 2 years here, I adopted 2 Panamanian calicos who are my babies.  I do not want to put them through a 2+ day flight to Portugal even under sedation.  I believe this is a cruelty that I wish to avoid.  They need homes here.  They are both female and spayed.  Annie is a princess and Zelda is a tom boy and they are both very loyal and loving. I love them both dearly.

Please contact me at marie_ebm@yahoo.com if you are able to help me in this matter.

I know local vets in Boquete who use the labs in town that diagnose for both people and animals.  Are these results to be trusted?

How horribly sad!  My condolences to those who knew him and also to his family.

Unfortunately, these old frame houses are probably riddled with termites.  Bringing them back to life is usually a costly build and it is definitely cheaper to tear them down and put up a termite proof structure instead.  A shame.

I have never had vegetables and fruits as fresh as I have had in Boquete.  They actually let the tomatoes ripen on the vine instead of gassing them like they do in the US and Canada.  The pineapples I have eaten here are the juiciest and sweetest in the world!  Why we are not exporting more of these crops is a crime.  This wonderful and natural industry is just waiting to be exploited.

I agree with Judy whole heartedly!  I did do some research on this and found that E Passports are now being issued in the US.  The passport contains a chip with information on it like fingerprints and retinal scans.  Most industrialized nations now issue these new passports and I believe one can have the chip installed on an old passport.  Hopefully this will eliminate theft and falsification and make the entry into a new country a little easier.  Other means of identification for those without fingerprints will hopefully be added to this chip.

"Other processes will also be available as of April 15".  Per what I read in ning.  Waiting on details.

Beware of the yellow hail.  LOL  There were some pretty heavy hail storms in Florida when I lived there.  So large they damaged cars.

Apparently (per Olga S. on that "other" blog) the Panamanian government is trying to simplify the immigration process and are encouraging people to apply online without a lawyer.  This is probably upsetting a lot of lawyers who make their living serving the expat community.  There are more changes on the way.

I hope they will also provide computers for those in remote regions to access internet education.  A great first step in providing quality education to all children.

I still do not understand.  When I leave the country utilizing any method, I will have to pay $1500 because I border hopped for 2 years?  If I choose to apply for any residency, is this penalty payable at that time?  If this is so, this seems like a trap to me.

While I agree that these discounts were probably intended to help those citizens whose income is less than adequate, I also believe that the discounts are one of the reasons retirees come here.  Offering benefits to the elderly regardless of nationality is one of the lures I am sure the Panamanian government uses to get us to move here in the first place.

Thanks Keith!  Do you think that "applying in person" means going to Panama City?

Just heard that a law was passed yesterday that will allow Americans, Australians, Canadians and Brits to obtain residency status for $500 dollars without using a lawyer.  Does anyone know anything about this?

Red tide occurred in FL when I lived there.  The common explanation by officials was "we don't know why it happens".  FL processes sewage and sends it out 3 miles into the gulf by pipes.  Are we thinking this might contribute to an ammonia problem?  Raw sewage is also dumped nightly by most cruise ships.  We continue to pollute without an end in sight.

I wonder how many of these were retirees.

Is this why my throat is sore off and on every March and I have a stuffy nose?  Probably the dust flying around from the road work downtown doesn't help.

Thanks Keith.  Another American friend of mine was also detained in Miami, missed 3 connecting flights, was stripped searched all because a dog sniffed something in his bag.  It was leather and he bought it used.  Moral is, if you buy a used suitcase, clean it out well as you never know what's been in it.

I am astounded by these stories!!!!!  How horrible.  Just reinforces my desire to leave.

What do they do if you do have $10k?  

Look at these cuties!  As ARF is always on top of vet visits and sterilization, I am sure these kitties are no different and have been given a clean bill of health.

As a "usually very up" Canadian, I apologize for seeming to be a skeptic Keith but with everything going on with Panama immigration these days, I admit to being a bit soured by the attitudes and lack of clear direction of the Panamanian government.  I am sure in the Martinelli era, these funds were also subject to the corruption of that government.  I work with the indigenous children at Casa Esperanza and am very fulfilled with this work and, while my contribution is small, I am glad other organizations are stepping up to help with funding.  It is really needed.

This is good news but it remains to be seen how much of it actually gets to those who need it.

Sorry, I thought Mr. Feeley said in the Boquete area there were 4500 expats.  Thanks for the correction.  My point is not that all these people will up and leave but that we make a distinct contribution to the economy in Panama.  Why don't we have representation or at least a lobby group bringing up points that concern us?  Money talks, BS walks.  A lot of us came here (especially those without finger prints) because we had the option to border hop to reset our passports.  Now we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.  While I respect every countries right to make their own rules i would expect that a grace period for those select few per law 591 (Americans, Brits, Canadians and Australians) would be in order.  

I spend over $1,000 per month and I rent from a Panamanian who lives in David.  Most who rent here are spending over $1k per month and those that can afford a home here are supporting retail, trades people and utilities to an amount more than $1k per month I would guess.