Mary D

The increase in the annual water and garbage bill is not an isolated incidence. I just heard of the same situation with another Canadian couple who were charged $180 and for a Panamanian paying their bill, it was $64!!! And Panamanians aren't asked for their cedula or any identification. If you "look" Panamanian you pay the lower rate. This is illegal. Someone suggested we get a group together, with our receipts, and the Panamanian receipts and talk to a lawyer in David. Boquete cannot charge what they want, let alone a different rate for gringos. If the city officials in David find out about this, there will be a big uproar. In the long run, when foreigners find out about the 'discrimination' there will be less foreigners coming to the area and some may even leave. But the bottom line is -it's WRONG!!

Large lot for sale-5098 mts. in Acequia/Potrerillos Abajo area. Fenced with very small house on it. Established orange, lemon, mango, coffee trees. Cool breezes. On rock wall lined country road. Water and electricity available. $40,000. Would make a nice mini estate. Quiet, secluded. 1 km off main road to Potrerillos. Titled. For more information, please call (507)6577-8640. Mary

We have a large lot -4016 mts.directly on Via Boquete 1 km. south of the new hospital clinic being built. Water and electricity available. Cleared, level lot with beautiful view of Volcan Baru. $185,000. Titled. For more information, please call (507)6577-8640. Mary

Yesterday we went to pay our annual water/garbage bill in Boquete. We were told that the rate was $180-almost triple what we paid last year. My husband is fluent in Spanish and asked them several times why it was so high. She said all the rates went up. Finally after much discussion and after jubilando discount and early payment, we paid $101. Then we spoke with our Panamanian neighbor and he said he paid approximately $64. My husband went back inside to ask them and another Panamanian was paying $64 also. The girl then told him that we had to pay more because I was a "gringa"-the bill was in my name. She suggested we talk to the alcadia-so we did. He said "no" that was a mistake (the high amount). So we went back to the payment office with the alcadia's secretary. They cancelled our previous payment and reprocessed it-for $64 (after the 2 discounts). When we were in the mayor's office, there were 2 women from Santa Lucia (not native Panamanians, one had been here for 40 yrs.)Who were also very upset with the high rates. It seems if you live in a "residetiale/urbanizacion/private community"that they are trying to charge more. And they assume most of these residents are "gringos" and can pay without question. This seems like discrimination to me, and that's illegal here. We don't live in a private community, but they don't ask and there's no indication on your bill where you live. If you live in a private community, do they charge a different rate for the Panamanians and for the foreigners who live there? So watch and question your bill!