JohnF13

Hi Tom,

In general, Panama is very nice and its people are easy to live with.  The climate is excellent (especially for those of us escaping snow) and the availability of many different types of climate to suit your needs is second to none.  However, this pandemic has highlighted the fact that we have a very draconian government who have the explicit backing of the National Police to do pretty much anything they want.  Lawyers I speak to tell me that the measures brought in by the government go against the Panamanian Constitution, but they just don’t care as there is no real opposition.  In general, the Panamanian people will unquestioningly do what the government dictates, they just don’t have the background rebellious nature of some Countries.  If that bothers you, then this is not the place to be.  However, for me, the positives outweigh the negatives (I likely wouldn’t be saying that if we were still under house arrest) and I do like it here.  Hopefully, as we come out of this thing cooler heads will prevail and a more sensible approach to these sort of problems will be developed.

Those are good questions.  Seems to me the infrastructure is getting worse, even after all the promises of improvements.  The Canal thing is fixable, but will likely require major cash, hopefully without the graft (fat chance!)  While I agree, in part, with a limited quarantine in the current circumstances, the way the government has gone about it is nothing short of draconian.  I can be out of my house for 4 hours per 168 hour week, too short a time to wait in line at Rey's.  That, simply, is house arrest.  Alcohol might have alleviated the situation a bit, but Panama and South Africa (great company) are the only Countries to adopt such a stringent measure.  Would I recommend Panama to prospective immigrants?  A resounding NO and for this main reason:.  The breadth of government control and the ease that it was implemented over every aspect of our lives is just frightening.  I can live with power outages and water interruptions but this has gone way too far.  Ooops, time to get off the soapbox..

I went to Gago yesterday, same type of lineup thing.  I don’t need anything so much that I’m willing to wait 30-40 mins in a lineup.  Got what I needed at Dorado Plaza.

Can’t argue with that, Pantah.  But, logic is something in short supply these days..

Doesn't seem so.  The government needs to prevent general civil disobedience by relaxing some of the measures.  Adding Saturdays to quarantine time might just be the final straw for some.  

The answer is to stop treating people like children and come up with some sensible solutions.

Marcelyn, it is on my whatsapp, if you pm me your phone number I will forward it.  I only used the term “hall pass” ‘cause I didn’t know what else to call it.

Just talked to my gardener, told him not to come for a couple of weeks.  He produced a "hall pass" showing that he was allowed to continue working.  Good for him in taking the initiative.  He'll be here as usual.

Dunno Keith.  It is hot in David, much cooler in Boquete at 4000 feet or so.  If these folks had a brain cell between them the should be able to predict it would be a whole heck of s lot colder 7 thousand feet further up.  Yes, make them pay for the rescue.

Been on that pier.  Dangerous walk to the end, I'm not sure even the pilings can be saved

We don't generally ask for the jubilado either unless the resteraunt is clearly charging N.A. Prices.  We eat quite often at Zum Emslander in the San Franciso Plaza, his menus clearly state the regular and jubilado prices.  Trout, salad and fries for two, less than $14 and the wait staff are excellent.