JohnF13

Brandy, and EXACTLY where does the urine and poop (and the diaper) get to when they are just dumped down the ravine or abandoned at the side of the road?  Single use diapers are one of the most polluting things around due to their volume.

You want to create less pollution, less garbage?  BAN ONE USE DIAPERS.  Cloth is just as easy to use and is environment friendly.  I wonder how many plastic bags it takes to equal one diaper......And, just in case you think I don’t know what I am talking about, my daughter was raised on cloth diapers.....

Tough love needed.  Every business owner needs to head down to the mayors office and tell him they are closing down on a particular date.  The ONLY thing officials will understand is lack of taxes.  Demand the holes are closed up, the roads are graded and paved, fire.the totally incompetent firm running this farce and start again with real engineers and workers at the end of high season.  Anything else will just get you ignored and laughed at.

And thats the problem.  They seem to think that piss poor customer service is acceptable because of the lack of options.  I went with Planet.  More expensive but I expect better service.  Called them on a Monday afternoon, the new stuff was installed the next day. 

Well, they have one less customer now.  Two weeks of no internet, several days waiting in for a tech that never showed after many, many promises.......enough.

Bonnie, community policing is a catch phrase designed to make you feel good because pilice management, in the not so distant past, removed beat coppers from the streets to more efficiently respond to incidents using cars.  When it was realised that there was no longer any interaction between the police and the public (who can talk to a police officer who is driving by at 50 mph?) the phrase was invented to make it seem like management was doing something.  Arghhhh, I'm too old and have seen too much!

Mine has been off and on for the past couple of hours.  Really causes problems with equipment.  Seems to be bbac on and stable now.

I agree with your sentiments, Bonnie.  But, medical care is the same as pensionado benefits - there to be used if you choose.  That, I think, is the crux of the matter - choice.  As for medications, if they are not available in Regional, you can always source them elsewhere, but I suspect that a shortage is a shortage is a shortage.  Mae Lewis pharmacy has never impressed me, they don’t have even basic meds in at times.  As a non- CSS person at Regional, you will pay for all drugs and prescriptions - but at a cheaper price than at a private hospital.  Private insurance is another matter to be discussed in a different forum, but my one comment on it is that it seems to be structured to drive older folks off the plan using economic means.  My old insurace company increased my premiums 51% in a three year period, the last time claiming 12% inflation costs along with 11% annual increases.  Anyway, I’m done here, merely pointing out some options that are either missed or unfairly dismissed by authority figures.

4 hours ago, Bonnie said:

So you're talking about no health insurance at all. Even those of us with expensive coverage pay for regular stuff up to a deductible, which is usually at least $5000. The choice is what happens beyond that: how to pay for catastrophic illness or injury. Virtually anyone can afford the day-to-day stuff, but medical catastrophes can be financially ruinous without insurance.

 The idea of saving what you would pay in premiums for future costly treatment is a good one IF, and only if, you have the financial wherewithal to pay for costly care initially, i.e., should you encounter a costly health crisis before you've saved enough to pay for it. I've never used my health insurance, have paid hefty premiums which grow heftier by the year, and now wish I had chosen that option. Unfortunately, I was in no position to know when an unanticipated crisis might arise. That's the nature of unanticipated crises. And I've had enough experience with the public system via helping others that I know I don't want to be there if I should suffer a debilitating accident or illness. (A friend who spent time in a public hospital described the experience as a cross between "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Midnight Express.") But, then, when it comes to matters of health, I am very risk averse. Others are braver (or more foolhardy).

  I would disagree with your statement that a medical catastrophe would be financially ruinous.  The public system is there and available for every qualified resident.  Costs are reasonable and you do pay for some things yourself.  I have spent some time at Regional helping out a friend.  While it is not the most modern hospital, the staff there treated my friend with compassion and sympathy.  I guess it depends on your expectations, some folks can never be pleased.

I believe I explained it in my post.  Private for regular stuff like annuals, colds, coughs etc and only use the public system if you have a serious problem.  Even though I have a private plan, the huge annual premium increases mean that in a couple of years I may have to choose between health insurance and eating.  With my particular deductible, I would need to incur about $17,000 in costs before I can make a claim.  That's every year.  Makes me wonder if I had saved the annual premiums, how much ahead financially I would be.  

Bonnie, I think your doom and gloom comment is a bit of a stretch.  I know of an older person who has spent a considerable time in Regional hospital and reports that the care she received there was excellent.  That included operations and chemo treatment.  The previous warden for David was extremely negative towards the public system and he decamped, in part, for the U.S. after his insurance premiums went to over $1000 a month.  Not too many people can afford that, especially those on a fixed income.  Maybe people should look at a mid range alternative - private care for routine matters but with the option for a referral to the public system in case of an emergency.

John, those of us that were in the police milieu used such dark humour as a stress relief.  Still happens.  Lighten up.

Bonnie, it is in the big expansion of Chiriqui mall just down the road from PS.  Go past PS then next left.

City mall has pretty much everything that PS has and usually a bit cheaper.  But, of course, they don't have Kirkland dog food.  Oh, and they have it "in stock".  Weused ti go to PS for paper products, better choices available at City Mall.

The main point about the deterrence thing, as others have mentioned, is not to let anyone  too close to your house without you knowing about it.  After that, especially with some of our “aged” community, it is too late.  Cameras, dogs, perimeter alarms, rooftop sirens all play a part, but you also need to advertise the fact that you have them.  Thieves in every Country, unless you are the specific intended victim, are lazy and scared.  If your home looks and is advertised as being well protected they will most likely head to another, less prepared place.  It’s the old case of “I don’t have to be faster than the bear, I just have to be faster than you”.  Yes, it would be far preferable if all thieves were apprehended prior to committing their deeds, but that is just not possible.

Unfortunately, we went in last week wanting their excellent fish.  No longer on the menu.  As we are not burger eaters, we left....

Keith, let me know if you are sucesseful....

Thanks Keith, just looking at alternatives right now

Does anyone know if this plan is still operational and if they are accepting applications?

I doubt it will be 18 MORE officers, merely a rotation.  Sadly, a tactic used to deflect attention away from poor policing.  But, I’m just a cynical old b.....

On 9/25/2017 at 11:41 AM, Moderator_02 said:

Surely Mr Martinelli would have made sure he was not prosecuted for anything while he was in power.  That covers the time between 2011 and 2013.  If indeed he was prosecuted, what was the verdict?  If he was found guilty, what was the sentence?  IMHO, this is revisionist history on behalf of the exprez.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-criminal-cases-paralyzed

Annnndddddd, turns out I was wrong.  Tthe only “registration” you need is when you first go in, something that, apparently, you repeat on each visit.  

From what I have been told by Panamanians, one needs to get registered in the system.  While it may not be a total necessity, I like to keep within the rules on this kind of thing.  I am heading down today to find out.

I know I have seen this pass by but cannot find the thread.  How does one go about registering in the CSS system?

Went to City Mall yesterday on a recce mission.  After spending $75 in the grocery section (no meat or alcohol) I have to report we were impressed.  Large, clean store, attentive staff, short check-out lines ( There are check outs on both sides of the store).  Jocie, who is the grocery price checker, said that pretty much all of the prices were 30-60 cents less per item than at Baru or Rey.  I was looking at 2 things in particular - toilet paper and kitty litter, as these are expensive at other stores.  Good products available, and at prices comparable to, or less than PriceSmart.  My PS “membership” is due in June, I suspect I will not be renewing.  Only glanced at the upper floors but looked like a good selection of higher end clothing and furniture.  They even have woodworking tools at reasonable prices.  All in all, a great new addition to David and one that is going to threaten the stranglehold PS, Rey, Baru and 99 have on the consumer dollar. Worth the trip.