JohnF13

Not that I get to Boquete often, but I have not seen an appreciable drop in tourist numbers.  I can understand how businesses are suffering, but IMHO a lot of that may have to do with the physical number of eateries in the town.  Realistically, the local population cannot support that many and the tendency of some places to charge Paris prices for average food doesn’t help.  Having said that, it is also obvious that the road works took longer than reasonably expected, but this is Panama and that is the norm.  It is the way things are here, work around it.

I think self serve is maybe 1/2 cent/litre cheaper.  I usually compare the price at the Terpel in Dolega and the one on the Interamerican going towards Pricesmart.  Sometimes a cent or a bit more cheaper in David.  The Delta station in Dolega is always a bit more than the Terpel, but they pump your fuel there.

IIRC, Mr. Ruiz was the CD candidate in the last election and lost after a revote by about 200 votes.

Interesting to see that our Diputada (Athenas) has been abandonded by the PRD in favour of Manolo(sp?) Ruiz.  She is now running for the Allianza party, according to the Panama News.

It is Keith, but a lot of people ignore things like ice cubes and the water used to was veggies.  Hard to get away from.

That's the kind of stuff no-one understands.  As I mentioned, the government of Ontario signed 20 year contracts with folks who would put in small solar arrays, up to 10kw.  I sat at home for 4 days doing the math, I was convinced I'd missed something, got my wife to go over it but no, it was "govt. legit".  I put one up on my farm, top of the line dual tracker with every panel (40 of them) having it's own inverter.  Cost me over $100,000 but the payback at 80.2 cents was around 8 years.  After that, money in the bank.  I felt bad about it for a while then realized to government were going to get money out of me anyway with the surcharge on electricity, so I started feeling good....

Don't get me wrong, the idea behind such projects is admirable but, we are just not at a reasonable break even scenario yet.  Every wind and solar install is heavily subsidized by government in one way or another.  A personal example - around 2010 the government of Ontario, Canada wanted to "invest" in wind and solar.  They came up with a scheme to pay small producers (10 kw/hr or less) 80.2 cents per kwh.  This was when electricity was being sold to the consumer at around 11 cents/kw hr.  The difference was made up by applying a surcharge to everyone's electric bill.  The result, after a few years, was skyrocketing electric bills and inputs to the grid from wind and solar of about 1% of capacity.  Now, Ontario's electrical rates are double those of neighbouring Provinces, manufacturing is moving away due to high costs and surplus electricity is being sold to the New England States at a sometimes negative cost - Ontario is paying them to take excess power.  It is a perfect example of government intrusion into commercial enterprise with the expected results.

So, simple questions.

1.  What is the cost, in both dollars and expendituress of CO2 that went into manufacturing the equipment, prepping the site (including compensation to landowners) and payments to builders?  If the money to build was borrowed , what is the interest rate per annum and how long is the loan for?

2)  what is the R.O.I?  

3)  what is the actual cost of each KW of power produced as a percentage of the input costs?

 4)  what is the budgeted annual maintenance cost?  If it is exceeded, who pays?

5)  what Is the projected life cycle of the installation?

6)  at the end of life stage, who is responsible for equipment removal and what are the projected disposal costs?

7)  Where will taxpayers be able to see the ACTUAL production figures versus the projected ones on an annual basis?

😎 what is the guarantee period, who is responsible for repairs on breakdown, how long will spares be available?

Folks always claim to know the "savings" but are always secretive about the actual costs.

So, to get back on topic, is this vet available and if so, where is she working out of?

Bonnie, I think because they don't see the need to.  While I would love to see great customer service here, it is just not in the Panamanian psyche.  Maybe in a few years, but not now.

I don’t think lack of customer service is an issue.  From my understanding it has always been bad but the influx of expats exacerbated the perception because most of us come from places with much better customer service.  I think Panama is trying to catch up, but it is not easy to retrain.  As for rising costs, that is a many pronged issue.  Do expats drive up costs?  I think they do, especially in the areas of housing and vehicles.  Food and clothing?  Again, quite likely - we demand a North American diet then complain when the costs go up.  Look around in Super 99, Rey’s or Baru - do you see the indigenous shopping there?  If not, where do they shop?  That’s where you will find the cheaper foodstuffs.  I am still of the opinion one can live cheaply here, but the average expat is too wedded to first world luxeries to even try.

Anything to protect a politician.....

They told me that the fee for a US $ cheque written on my American account from Canada would be $300.  That was 8 months ago.  Colour me unimpressed

We are in Potrerillos and pay ours at IDAAN in David.  They have moved and are now on the Super99 road in David.  We go there every year or so and pre-pay $20, keeps us going.  I think you can also pay at the prepagos places.  Don’t know the vagaries of the Boquete juntas though, so might not be of much help in your case.

Looks like fun to me...

Yup.  Now ban disposable diapers.

If you have the standard 20lb tank, change it out for a 25 lbs jobbie.  Much cheaper.

I’ll second these folks.  Been in several times and always good and friendly service

I know, BD, I’m just an old cynic.  

And everywhere I have seen it introduced for that reason, it turned out to be a scam.

It’s not a matter of holding it in low regard, merely observations on the situation.  Neither Hil nor I said Panama is a failed state but merely made observations that some things need to be adressed.  There is always something that needs fixing.

While Panama is not a failed state yet, it is heading down that road.  The corruption amongst the Courts, the lack of ability to hold anyone accountable (except minor players) and the way in which legislators and others pass laws protecting and justifying egregious behaviour are some of the early hallmarks.

That’s the one that closed Keith.  There is still a big Scotiabank down near Box Shop, but it doesn’t seem to have the full service I need

Didn’t get any explanation why the one in David closed.  Given that, I can’t speculate on the one in Alto.  It seems to be a popular expat bank, let’s hope it has enough business to stay open.

Recently, Scotiabank in David closed and left no forwarding address.  As I do most of my business etc in David these days (Sorry, Boquete..) I found myself in need of a full service bank in the City.  Talked to my insurance agent (Gloria D) and she recommended Banco General.  Good for me, as there is a branch in Terronal Mall and many others around town.  So, off Jocie and I go to the bank, hoping for a quick transaction.  Not so fast boyo!  Firts visit the customer service rep. Explained what we needed (all in Spanish, no English there) and sent us off to get the required documents.  First, a letter of referral from Scotiabank and proof of where our funds were coming from.  Easy peasy....got that stuff and returned to the bank.  The new customer service rep. Looked at the paperwork and said it wasn’t enough.  We needed proof of where we lived and a personal reference (used Gloria D).  Off we went again and returned the next day with the new info.  We spoke to the first service rep who took all the info and then told us we needed to provide proof that our funds were being taxed in Canada.  Left again.  Out in the parking lot Jocie remembered she had emails on her phone from our Cdn accountant, along with our SIN numbers.  Back into the bank, met with the rep again and showed her the info.  She recorded the SIN numbers the reached into her desk and brought out the magic stamp.  Stamped all our info and gave us Clave cards, telling us the account would be active next Wednesday.  All in all, a not terribly difficult process “IF” we had been given all the requirements on the first visit.  An adventure and a learning experience!

To sum up, you need:

Passeport/cedula

proof of where your money is coming from.

proof of residence (water bill etc)

reference letter from your bank

proof you pay taxes in your home country

personal reference

Other banks may be easier, our insurance agent recommended Banco General so we went with them.