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MarieElaine

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  1. MarieElaine
    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.
  2. MarieElaine
    This is good news but it remains to be seen how much of it actually gets to those who need it.
  3. MarieElaine
    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.
  4. MarieElaine
    Thanks for clarification. 30 days and back.
  5. MarieElaine
    My understanding is you have to stay out of the country for 6 months to get another 6 months as a tourist. Wrong?
  6. MarieElaine
    Per the U.S. ambassador, there are 4500 expats (mostly all retirees) in the Boquete area. If each spends $1,000 per month that is 4.5 million going into the local economy monthly.
  7. MarieElaine
    I have to agree with you in principal Jim however, I came here to retire and, while doing business here is a nightmare (I have a friend who started a business in David and after 1.5 years, still does not have a bank account) it is impossible to be here as a retiree these days as well. We don't work so we are not taking jobs, we contribute millions to the Chiriqui economy monthly and we are responsible for many charitable organizations that help so many groups but we are still caught up in the recent legislation. If they are doing this to retirees I can only imagine how much harder it will be in the future for people wanting to start businesses here.
  8. MarieElaine
    I am considering Spain as an alternative. Until I sell my house in Florida, I cannot afford 2K to get my pensionado. There are also retirees out there that do not have fingerprints. Everyone's situation is different. The Ambassador told us in his meeting that there are approximately 4500 expats in the Boquete area and, if everyone of those expats spends a minimum of $1,000 per month (there are a lot of us who spend more) you are looking at $4,500,000 dollars per month in this area alone. If we all left, it would cripple the local economy. Not to mention the charitable work we do here would be missed. Why is Panama ignoring the contributions of the retirees? To me it is obvious they do not want us here.
  9. MarieElaine
    Friends of mine had the fire come right up to their back wall in Alto Boquete. The bomberos told them to keep watering everything in the back of the house including the propane tank on their neighbors property. The bomberos never showed up even though the entire field behind their house was ablaze.
  10. MarieElaine
    Does anyone know how easy it is to immigrate to Spain? Cost of residency?
  11. MarieElaine
    Attended Ambassador Feeley's town hall this morning at the Boquete library. One needs to be away 30 days to reset the 180 day tourist period but the US Embassy was on the phone with the person who heads Panama's migration yesterday and they were informed that the present situation is a way to keep Venezuelans from living permanently in Panama without applying for residency. There is the assumption that the situation will be resolved but for now they are sticking to the "letter of the law" in order to control the situation. I do feel badly for those expats who do not have fingerprints though and there are quite a number of them. They fall through the cracks. They cannot get an FBI report without finger prints and can no longer reside as a tourist for 2 years and use the Panamanian Police report. Our new ambassador is very nice and seems to really care about the situation. Apparently US citizens are being told they cannot leave Panama at this point at Paso Canoas.
  12. MarieElaine
    Legal status is expensive for some of us so the tourist situation was ideal. I believe the check points set up around Chiriqui were for the crime wave we had a year or so ago. That was the intended purpose and, as far as I know they have been somewhat successful in keeping the break ins down. I take the bus to David and Paso Canoas and they never stop us.
  13. MarieElaine
    I have a friend who also ate there and highly recommends it. I will have to give it a try myself. Nice to have inexpensive alternatives.
  14. MarieElaine
    I too have a friend whose finger prints no longer exist. She has "finger wrinkles" but no swirls. The lawyer she consulted told her she should not have chosen to come to Panama if she has no prints and there is nothing he can do for her.
  15. MarieElaine
    I am thinking of flying out of David for a few days in Columbia. Want to travel and see more of Central/South America anyway. I was fingerprinted at Paso Canoas in early February and we went to see Gulfito and stayed for a few days at the Marina there. It was a trip, not just a border hop.
  16. MarieElaine
    With all that is going on it is probably going to be packed. I'll RSVP. Thanks Bonnie
  17. MarieElaine
    If the relatives are visiting from New Zealand and the parents have Pensionado/Friendly Nations status, they just need to walk through one the stores and go home. Have you heard of any Americans/Canadians that have been refused?
  18. MarieElaine
    Fortunately we have been getting a little more rain this dry season. Is it against the law to clear a field by fire this time of year?
  19. MarieElaine
    A wonderful gift!!!!! Our children are our future and it is so heart warming to find foundations/companies that give freely to them.
  20. MarieElaine
    They felled two trees outside Casa Esperanza and there is lots of dry tree limbs and stumps to collect for free if this is the kind of wood needed. FYI
  21. MarieElaine
    Can we not just show up?
  22. MarieElaine
    Were there actually Brits refused entry? Does anyone know this for a fact?
  23. MarieElaine
    Law 591 states that Americans, Canadians, Brits and Australians need to leave the country every 180 days and all others only get 30 days. It would be devastating to this area if they boot out all retirees living as tourists. We bring employment and spend our pensions here without taking jobs from Panamanians. Think of the trades people alone who would be out of work. Most Central and South American countries encourage retirees to live in their countries and bring money into their economies. Am I wrong? Too much logic?
  24. MarieElaine
    I learned after moving here that the heaters have a lot of build up after a year or so and, while a lot of plumbers will replace them, they often only need to be cleaned to work again.
  25. MarieElaine
    It states in the original post that "Fondas" do not have to honor the Jubilado providing they do not serve alcohol and have only 6 or less tables so do not ask for it at these low cost establishments. Secondly, if I owned a restaurant, I would enter the gross sale and the discount as a cost of sale just to keep track. A business owner can never have too many analysis'. PS: Now I know a Spanish curse word proving you are never too old to curse in any language. LOL
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