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Captain Of  Boat With Three Deaths, Impaired

Posted on January 15, 2018 in Panama

 

Jose Donderis

Post Views: 189

 

THE CAPTAIN  of the  Bocas Del Toro boat that sailed in an overcrowded boat in bad weather leading to the deaths of three passengers on Sunday,  Jan. 14 was the second captain on the weekend to register impaired after a blood alcohol test.

The captain of the boat decided to set sail on Bahia Azul in Kusapín, in the Ngäbe-Buglé comarca despite the warning of rain, wind gusts and lightning, putting at risk the life of the occupants. Not satisfied with this, he scored positive. on a breathalyzer test says Civil Protection System  (Sinaproc) Director, Jose Donderis

On Saturday tJan.13 seven people (5 adults and 2 children) were rescued off Playa Estrella when the boat carrying them overturned. They had to be rescued and taken to the nearest hospital center for evaluation. The captain of the boat was breathalyzed and found to be over the limit.

The  Sinaproc director is analyzing new rigorous measures for boatmen and captains although he did not specify what kind of sanctions will be applied

Weather outlook

The unseasonable cold front is continuing, creating adverse conditions with winds, rains and high waves. Over  45% of the beaches and spas in the country were displaying red flags over the weekend

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/captain-boat-three-deaths-impaired

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Embezzlement Suspect Granted $5 Million Bail

Posted on January 15, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 89

 

Daniel Ochy Diez director of Transcaribe Trading (TCT), facing trial for alleged embezzlement of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), related to the design and construction contract for the rehabilitation and widening of the Autopista Arraiján-La Chorrera has had a court ruling denying him bail, overturned.

Judge Wilfredo Sáenz Fernández, of the Second Superior Court, revoked a decision of the 15th Criminal Court denying bail. Among the reasons given for the reversal is that “Ochy Diez has no criminal record; he has no intention of causing physical harm to other people or destroying, polluting or disappearing.”

The Court warned that the accused cannot leave the country without authorization.

The Public Ministry has investigated since August 2015, a supposed cost overrun for more than $60 million dollars in the highway expansion project. The project was granted to TCT during the administration of  Ricardo Martinelli at a cost of $152.6 million The estimated time for its realization it was two and a half years, but it took more than four years.

Ochy is involved in another criminal investigation related to the purchase of the  Panama America publishing company.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/embezzlement-suspect-granted-5-million-bail

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Panama Could Exit EU Fiscal Paradise List

Posted on January 15, 2018 in Panama

Flag EU with flags of countries - members of European Union

Post Views: 86

 

PANAMA  could be removed  from a European Union (EU) list  of  countries listed as fiscal paradises, no later than January 23, some seven weeks after it was included

A Reuter’s report on Monday, January  15  quoted sources inside the European Commission as saying there were moves to get several to get several jurisdictions. including Panama, off the list.

The first meeting of the Economic Affairs Council and Financial Institutions, (ECOFIN), an  EU organization in charge of relations with third parties, is set for January 23, according to the agenda of the Council of Europe.

It would be then when the ministers of the countries that make up the EU could take the definitive decision.

Commitment
According to the sources, the sudden change of direction has to do with a commitment “signed at a high political level” by Panama “to address the problems identified by the Council in its conclusions of December 5. ”

The country was included in the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions in tax matters because the EU considered that he had a harmful tax preferential regime.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/panama-exit-eu-fiscal-paradise-list

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Two drivers flee after fatal accidents

Posted on January 15, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 238

 

POLICE are looking for two drivers who fled after weekend fatal highway accidents.

Anina Dellasera, 52, died on Saturday night, January 13, after being run over by a hit and run driver on the Pan-America highway near the fire and police offices in Lomas de David.

In the Ngäbe Bugle region a  state-owned pickup of the representative of the Municipality of Chami in the Comarca Ngäbe Bugle, of the state collided with a sewer fixture at 5:10 am on Sunday, leaving one person dead and one injured.

The pickup was traveling in the direction of San Felix when the driver lost control.

A passenger identified as Abel Prado Caballero was killed and another was taken to the emergency room of the Regional Hospital Oriente Chiricano in San Felix The driver fled but the injured passenger has refused to disclose his identity reports El Siglo.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/two-drivers-flee-fatal-accidents

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Panama Sexual Abuse Cases Climbing

Posted on January 14, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 131

 

SEXUAL  abuse is on the rise in Panama with 4,817 reported cases in the first nine months of 2017, an increase of 225  over the whole of 2016  and most of those affected are minors according to a Public Ministry (MP). report.

Although the percentage of victims of these crimes in 2017 is not available, MP data reveals that in 2015, of the 4, 812 registered cases, 88% involved minors.

Concern over the increase in cases led to the National Assembly initiating the discussion of Bill 584, which seeks to reform articles of the Criminal Code, to increase penalties for sexual abuse of minors and eliminate the option of community work as a sanction for these crimes,

Sex crimes prosecutor, Anilú Batista,  told La Prensa that in most cases of sexual abuse the victims are minors, and girls are most affected. She believes that a comprehensive reform of the existing laws is required, and not only of penalty increases.

Roderick Chaverri, of the Network for the Protection of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, pointed said  that the penalties for child abuse are “very low” and warned that the increase in sexual crimes is not just  225 cases, since ” many assaults  are not reported …” He added that neither is there a study to show how many of the early teen pregnancies are the product of relationships with adults.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panama-sexual-abuse-cases-climbing

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7 rescued  from overturned boat with impaired captain

Posted on January 14, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 210

 

FIVE  ADULTS and two children   who were aboard a  tourist boat that overturned in Bocas Del Toro  were rescued  by The Joint Task Force (FTC) on  Saturday afternoon, January 13,

The captain of the boat which was traveling from Playa Estrella to Isla Colón tested positive when given a blood alcohol test.

After their rescue, the passengers were taken to a health center for a medical review.

In a recent Bocas capsizing incident two boatloads of tourists spent 30 minutes in the water trying to swim to a small island and spent a night there while an air and sea search mission was underway.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/7-rescued-overturned-boat-impaired-captain

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Three dead in Bocas boating accident

Posted on January 14, 2018 in Panama

 

Sinaproc rescuers

Post Views: 394

 

THREE people  died, two women and a child when a boat overturned in Bahía Azul, district of Kusapín in the Ngäbe-Buglé district, of Bocas del Toro  on Sunday afternoon, January 14

Sebastián Castillo director of the Civil Protection System  (Sinaproc) in Bocas del Toro, said that the tragedy occurred when the boat Doña Roda carrying  17 people overturned in rough water in the area.

Sinaproc personnel rescued 14 passengers, in Punta Toroquí some with minor injuries and a child with a fractured shoulder.

The boat was heading for Isla Colon, scene of an earlier overturning, where seven passengers were rescued

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/three-dead-bocas-boating-accident

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Strong Waves Alert

Posted on January 14, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 231

 

STRONG WAVES of five to seven feet at intervals of  5-9 secs are predicted for Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts until Wednesday, January 17.

The notice was issued by the Government Information Service on Sunday and runs until next Wednesday, January 17.

Boaters and bathers are warned to be extra cautious,

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/strong-waves-alert

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Sticky fingered ex-minister wins and loses

Posted on January 13, 2018 in Panama

 

Frank De Lima,

Post Views: 203

 

PANAMA’S   former Finance Minister  Frank De Lima got a free pass from preventive detention on Friday, January 12. After a Supreme Court ruling, but will remain behind bars because he allegedly had his fingers in other corruption pies

The ruling that would have substituted detention with twice a month repoting was over alleged embezzlement in a  contract of the Tocumen airport parking lot.

The one that will keep him in custody is for the alleged collection of bribes for the award of contracts for store rental in the Tocumen terminal.

He is also facing charges for the alleged collection of bribes for granting facilities in contracts assigned to the Odebrecht company.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/sticky-fingered-ex-minister-wins-loses

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Mexico grabs Panama drug narco Fakir”

Posted on January 13, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 207

 

Mexico grabs Panama drug narco “fakir”

A LEADING  drug trafficker, wanted in Panama for homicide, was arrested  by Mexican authorities Saturday, January 13, in coordination with Panamanian intelligence forces,

Germán Eliécer Chanis Aguilar, aka “Fakir”, a Panamanian who operated from Panama sending drugs to Central America.

He was arrested by federal agents of the migratory station of Tapachula, Chiapas, at the Ravi Hotel in Ciudad Hidalgo. The operation was carried out in coordination with the

General Directorate of Immigration Control and Verification following a red alert  issued by Interpol Panama for the crime of homicide.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/mexico-grabs-panama-drugnarco-fakir

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WEATHER ALERT, Winds, waves, rain

Posted on January 13, 2018 in Panama

 

Colon braces for more rflooding

Post Views: 229

 

ANOTHER   weather alert was issued by The Emergency Operations Center (COE) of the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc). on Friday, January  12   forecasting t strong winds, waves and up to 200 mm of rain in some areas on Sunday. January 14.

The blame for the unseasonable rain, in what should be the dry seas is laid on a continuing  Caribbean cold front according to an Etesa Hydrometeorology report.

For  Saturday afternoon, light rains were expected over Chiriquí, Veraguas, Los Santos, Herrera, Coclé and Darién and heavier showers scattered over Chiriqui

(David, and  high parts of the mountain range), Bocas del Toro, Santiago de Veraguas, Los Santos (Valle Rico, Tonosí), Colón (center, coast) Panama East and Darién (Piriatí and Cañazas), with  evening rainfall is forecast over Colon and Panama  city, heavy rains in Los Santos (Tonosí, Guanico and Pedregal), Darién (Congo River, Cucunatí, La Palma, Santa Fe, Garachiné, and in the Emberá Wounaan region (Taimatí, Sategantí).

From the early morning of Sunday light to moderate rainfall over the province of Colon and Panama City, with accumulations in 10 hours of approximately 100 to 150mm and in some locations up to 200mm.

For Darien heavy rains are expected mainly in the communities of Río Congo, Cucunatí, Garachiné, Sambú, Taimatí, Puerto Piña, Jaqué, Tucutí, Boca de Cupé and Payá, as well as the Emberá Wounaan. region

The COE called on the population to adopt preventive measures for the increase in winds and strong waves.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/weather-alert-winds-waves-rain

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Varela judicial picks face tough ride

Posted on January 13, 2018 in Panama

 

The nominees listen to denunciations

Post Views: 77

 

THE LIKELIHOOD   of  President Juan  Carlos Varela’s picks for  Supreme Court judges ever taking their seats is shrinking daily as the two nominees sit before the National Assembly  Commission of Credentials to hear speaker after speaker voice reasons why they should not be endorsed.

The supposed lack of independence and impartiality of the aspiring magistrates to the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), were the main reasons aired.

If the Assembly fails to endorse the appointments it will reveal a strategic political blunder by Varela, who had promised citizen participation in the choosing of magistrates, and when he made two earlier appointments, ignored the input of civil society.  Hours after they took their seats they rushed to support the widely criticized Ayu Prado in his bid for the renewed presidency of the Court. He has gone on to become the most traveled judge at the public expense . while the Court lags in handling major corruption cases.

The report on the appointments observations published by the commission showed that 61% of the 52 presentations (32) rejected the appointment of Moore; and 48% (25)  of the exponents disputed  Tovar de Zarak the wife of the former Vice Minister of Economy, Iván Zarak.

Nine of the comments received by the commission were in favor of the appointment of Tovar and only two in favor of Moore.

Tovar de Zarak was opposed because of political closeness to the Government, due to images circulated of her dressed in clothing of the Panameñista party. Her husband resigned shortly before the cabinet announced her nomination, seen by many as a sort of insider trading.

Moore was rejected as she was the prosecutor in charge of investigations into the Odebrecht corruption scandals who,  if ratified to the Criminal Chamber, would be barred in several proceedings for having investigated them.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/varela-judicial-picks-face-tough-ride

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New technology for insurance checks, accident reports

Posted on January 13, 2018 in Panama, Panama

Post Views: 203

 

STARTING in February  Police and traffic inspector s will be testing a technological program to verify the status of a car’s insurance policy and soon reporting an accident will be automated.

Traffic cops will enter the licence plate number into a mobile unit and the system will indicate if the car has a valid policy something that is mandatory by law. If the car does not have a current policy it will be towed.

Drivers are required to carry the policy in force in the car but according to Joaquín Riesen, the Superintendent of Insurance and Reinsurance, if a counterfeit policy is presented,  currently the transit agent would not be able to check its validity and the car could be driven without insurance.

In the case of a collision, a driver can verify if the other vehicle is insured or not through the Citizen Inspector cellular application, created by the Transit Authority ATTT

In addition, the authorities and the private company are working so that soon months drivers will be able to make reports of collisions through the same application, said Riesen.

When the system is operational, in the case of a minor collision, drivers can take pictures of the vehicles and upload them to the system.

An agent would receive the information in a call center and send police to the place of the accident. In this way, according to Riesen, the road could be cleared in about 15 or 20 minutes and not contribute to the congestion of the city.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/new-technology-insurance-checks-accident-reports

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118 new buses join Panama fleet

Posted on January 13, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 109

 

STARTING on Monday, January 15,  118 new Torino buses will be incorporated into Panama’s transit system to reinforce the MiBus operation of  Routes-Tocumen, Versailles, Don Bosco, Los Caobos and Pedregal.

They are added to the 200 that normally provide corridor service in that area of the city, said a MiBuS statement.

The routes from La Doña, Llano Bonito and Pacora are already operating with the new buses which carry more passengers and provide more comfort.

The announcement comes at a time when the Transit Authority plans to intensify the operations against those

bus drivers that provide public transport service and do not have a certificate of operation.

Transport leader Tomasito López countered on Friday that “there is a reality that the units that Mi Bus has to offer the service in the capital city are  insufficient “, and that in addition” still fail to improve the frequency of buses .”

MiBus said that  “it has been able to absorb without difficulties an increase of passengers of almost 50% as a result of the reduction of the transport fare on the North and South corridors to 75 cents, since mid-November of 2017

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/118-new-bigger-buses-join-panama-fleet

Moderator comment: this posting is out in chronological order, but posted so as to provide some background information about the contractor involved in this mega-project. Note this extract from the first posting in this topic:

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The $1.15bn, 381 MW combined-cycle plant is to be built by US-based power firm AES in collaboration with Panama’s Inversiones Bahia. Korean EPC firm Posco E&C will carry out the construction work.

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/posco-ec-awarded-us-650-million-combined-cycle-power-plant-and-lng-terminal-project-in-panama-569396561.html

Dottie, here is the link: http://www.chiriqui.life/topic/7644-how-to-use-the-dgi-website-for-property-tax-info/

To get the above link, all I did was type in "DGI" (without the quote signs) in the search bar, and insured that the "All Content" option was selected, and there it was.

It sounds as if you are having a problem with how to search on CL. Be sure to look at the pull-down option just to the left of the search bar to be sure that "All Content" is selected (at the top of the list). Using any other options is the typical reason users cannot find what they are looking for. Anything other than "All Content" starts restricting what the search engine will "see" as it is searching. There are ten different options, and you definitely want to use the "All Content" option.

Hope this helps.

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Central America: Which Country Has the Most Expensive Energy?

In 2016, the average cost of 1 kWh in Central America was 13.48 cents, while in Costa Rica, it was 18.47 cents.

Friday, January 5, 2018

A report from the CEPAL indicates that in 2016, the average cost of one kilowatt hour (kWh) in Central America was 13.48 cents, while in Costa Rica it was 18.47 cents; 37% more for industrial consumption of 100,000 kWh. In El Salvador and Guatemala, it was 11.03 and 11.54 cents respectively. In Panama, 10.92 cents. 

The price of electricity is one of the main elements taken into account by foreign companies when deciding in which country in the region they should make their investments. In Costa Rica, businessmen have been complaining for years about the high rates that are incurred in the country, well above the rates of neighboring countries such as Panama, Guatemala or El Salvador.

Jorge Sequeira, director of the CINDE, commented to Nacion.com that "... in foreign industrial investment, electricity is a key factor taken into consideration by companies, especially due to the growing use of robots in transformation and manufacturing processes. The problem we have is that, in general, comparing the cost of electricity between countries is easy. Companies already have that information. This defect is more evident and is the first impression they get from Costa Rica. From the beginning, we start off wrong footed and we have to see how that can be compensated by the country's other attractions."

Poor state planning and dependence on a single supplier are the main reasons behind the high electricity prices in Costa Rica.  "... In the view of Sequeira, Costa Rica is stuck because it remains "entrenched" in having a single provider whose operating costs are very high and which makes plants two or three times more expensive than expected."

The ECLAC report states that   "...As of December 2016, the installed capacity in the eight systems was 20,237 MW, 6.9% higher than the installed capacity observed in 2015, which represented an increase of 1,312 net MW (a figure that discounts plant withdrawals due to termination of contracts, maintenance or obsolescence). 

This generator park is distributed in the following proportions: 20.8% in Guatemala; 17.9% in the Dominican Republic; 17.1% in Costa Rica; 16.5% in Panama; 12% in Honduras; 8.3% in El Salvador; 6.8% in Nicaragua; and 0.9% in Belize. 54.4% of this capacity (10,327 MW) corresponded to plants that use renewable energy sources (RES). In the group of SIEPAC countries, these figures for renewable participation were 62.4% and 9,544 MW. "

See full report "Statistics on the electricity subsector of SICA countries, 2016" (in Spanish).

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Central_America_Which_Country_Has_the_Most_Expensive_Energy

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Central America and U.S. Travel Alerts

In its new warning system for tourists, the US government included Panama and Costa Rica at the lowest risk level, Nicaragua at level 2 and Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, in the category "Reconsider Travel".

Thursday, January 11, 2018

The US Department of State has announced modifications to its system of travel alerts and recommendations to citizens considering traveling to other countries. The new advisory system divides nations into four levels, according to the risks present in each country. 

The new system is divided into four categories: 

Level 1: Exercise normal precautions.
Level 2: Exercise increased caution.
Level 3: Reconsider travel.
Level 4: Do not travel.

In this system, Costa Rica and Panama were located in level 1, Nicaragua in level 2, and Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, in level 3. 

Details of levels:

• Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.
• Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution: Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
• Level 3 - Reconsider Travel: Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
• Level 4 - Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or leave as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Central_America_and_US_Travel_Alerts

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Panama Revoking Registration to Two Ships Linked to North Korea Dealings

Image Courtesy: Shipspotting

The Panama Maritime Authority has initiated a process of canceling the registration of the ships under its flag as the two vessels are suspected of breaching the sanctions against North Korea.

Namely, Orient Shenyu and Koti, both flying the Panamanian-flag, have been linked to transporting of banned cargo to or from North Korea.

Orient Shenyu, also known as Glory Hope I, has been included on the list of ten ships the U.S. proposed for blacklisting by the United Nations Security Council.

The bulk carrier is believed to have engaged in exporting North Korean to other countries, which has been prohibited under the sanctions against North Korea aimed at chocking sources of funding that could end up supporting Pjongyang’s missile program.

Panama-flagged product tanker Koti was seized at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin port, south of Incheon by the South Korean authorities in December 2017, as the vessel is believed to have transferred oil products to North Korea in spite of international sanctions.

The 5,100-ton tanker is being probed by the customs officials over suspected ship-to-ship transfers.

On December 22, 2017, the UN Security Council imposed harsher sanctions on North Korea, banning the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and various types of equipment and raw materials.

It was decided that vessels believed of being involved in such activities would be seized, inspected, and impounded.

World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: Shipspotting

https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/239872/panama-revoking-registration-to-two-ships-linked-to-north-korea-dealings/

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Marine News

LPG, LNG tankers take advantage of expanded Panama Canal

Houston (Platts)--9Jan2018/638 pm EST/2338 GMT

With 2017 marking the first full year since the $5 billion expansion of the Panama Canal, shipments of liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas combined marked one of the largest uses of the recently enhanced waterway, Ambassador Juan B. Sosa, consul of Panama, said Tuesday.

The transport of cargoes of LPG and LNG, largely from ports along the US Gulf Coast to markets in Asia, has had a "tremendous impact" on the total volume of cargoes transiting through the canal in the past year, Sosa said, speaking at a joint meeting of the American Petroleum Institute and American Association of Drilling Engineers in Houston.

The number of transits by LPG tankers almost doubled from 449 in fiscal year 2016 to 876 in fiscal year 2017, while the number of transits by LNG tankers jumped to 163 from 17 in the year-ago period, according to data from the Panama Canal Authority.

Together, there were 1,039 transits of LPG and LNG in fiscal year 2017, placing the combined total fourth in the number of transits, behind containerized cargo ships at 2,493 transits; dry-bulk vessels at 2,915 transits; and chemical tankers at 1,959 transits in the same period.
 

Sosa said the increased traffic in petroleum-related products is a direct result of the expansion of the canal, which was completed in June 2016 and which allowed the locks of the canal to accommodate the much larger tankers that have become the international standard for shipments of LPG, LNG and other petroleum products.

Prior to the expansion, the canal could only accommodate Panamax vessels of up to about 80,000 dwt and a draft of less than 39.5 feet.

However, with the widening of the locks and other improvements, the canal can now accommodate the Aframax class of vessels, which can carry 120,000 dwt and make up about 80% of the global LNG fleet.

One result of the expansion has been to increase the volume of trade for ports along the Gulf Coast, particularly the Texas coast, as a result of the region's importance as a hub for the petrochemical and LNG export industries.

He included in the greater Texas coastal region Sabine Pass, just over the Texas-Louisiana border and home to Cheniere Energy's LNG export terminal, currently the only LNG exporting facility in the Lower 48 states.

"The location of Houston is a tremendous asset," Sosa said, noting that Texas is Panama's No. 1 trading partner.

Not only does the Texas coast offer access to the Port of Houston and the Houston Ship Channel, but the greater coastal region also boasts several other deepwater ports, such as Freeport and Corpus Christi, which can accommodate the larger vessels now able to transit through the canal, he said.

"No state has more deepwater ports than Texas," Sosa said.

As evidence of the expected growth in the region's international trade, he pointed to an ExxonMobil announcement last spring that the integrated oil and gas company planned to invest $20 billion in building up its petrochemical operations in the Gulf Coast region.

The bulk of that investment is expected to be put toward ramping up the export of US-sourced petrochemicals to Asia via the canal, he said.

"This also opens the door for the ports of Freeport, Port Arthur and Sabine Pass," Sosa said.

The Panama Canal forms a hub of global maritime trade, with 144 trade routes traveling through the waterway, serving some 1,700 ports worldwide, including 85 direct destinations in Europe and the Americas, Sosa said.

The US is by far the most active user of the canal, accounting for about 68% of transits. China is a distant second, accounting for 18% of all canal business.

--Jim Magill, jim.magill@spglobal.com
--Edited by Annie Siebert, ann.siebert@spglobal.com

https://www.platts.com/ShippingNews/21010501

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Panama's president emphasizes new ties with China in state of nation address

Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-03 10:00:52|Editor: Chengcheng

 

PANAMA CITY, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela Tuesday highlighted the newly established diplomatic ties with China as one of the major accomplishments of his past year in office.

"2017 was successful for Panama and Panamanians," Varela said in his state of the nation speech to the National Assembly, adding the establishment of diplomatic ties with China last June was "one of the most important international developments with positive outcomes for our country."

Varela said his administration, which has been in power for three and a half years, aims to complete the construction of a new convention center in the capital with a Chinese firm's help.

China Construction America will construct the Amador Convention Center in conjunction with Panama's Construcciones Civiles Generales.

In October, China Harbour Engineering Company and Belgium's Han de Nul formed Cruceros del Pacifico, a consortium to build a passenger cruise ship terminal on Panama's Pacific coast.

Varela also said Panama was expected to maintain its last year's growth rate of 5.6 percent in 2018.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/03/c_136868605.htm

Here is a link to the CL Podcast with Inga Collins: http://www.chiriqui.life/topic/3482-chiriquilife-stories-05-inga-collins/.

Note: as "premium content", you must be a registered member of and logged into CL in order to access podcasts.

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Uncovered  Pistol Likely Used In US Citizen Murder

Posted on January 11, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 176

 

THE WEAPON believed to have been used to kill an American citizen in a trendy coffee shop in Punta Pacific on January 4, was recovered on Wednesday, January 10.

The Homicide / Femicide Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Prosecutor’s Office team, and their auxiliary arms, after an extensive search, found a 9mm pistol, in sector 4 of the Samaria, district of San Miguelito. The weapon was hidden under tiles and was delivered to the authorities by a person who is collaborating with the investigation.

It was found in an area frequented by a suspect who was captured on Wednesday afternoon and believed to be the author of the crime, which left two other foreign citizens seriously injured. The suspect is in detention

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/uncovered-pistol-likely-used-us-citizen-murder

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Panama’s aggressive drunk drivers in for a shock

Posted on January 11, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 215

 

AGGRESSIVE DRUNK drivers who decide to vent their anger on traffic police are in for a shock. From Thursday, January 11 those who commit violent actions against the police while under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances. will be calmed down by a “Taser” or electric pistol, which will immobilize the aggressor’s muscles for 5 to 6 seconds.

Ismael Herrera Director of Traffic Operations said attacks suffered by traffic cops led to the National Police Director to order the purchase and assignment of pistols that give an electric shock. “This is a non-lethal weapon that could replace firearms, and in a moment you can neutralize the person and then make the arrest, ”  said Herrera.

Sanctions
A heavy sanctions structure is intended to help reduce Panama’s road carnage of over 400 deaths a year and four times that number in injuries with some 146  accidents each day.

If a person dials in the breathalyzer test 0-24 micrograms per deciliter he is within tolerable limits. From 25 to 40  he will be penalized for driving with alcoholic breath, while 41 upwards will be heavily penalized for proven drunkenness.

So far this year 240 people have been punished with license restrictions and car towed for breaking the traffic regulations.

If the person is detained for the first time, the sanction will be $1,000. and the license will be withdrawn for a year. For the second time, the fine is  $1,500 and the license will be suspended for 3 years and for the third time the license is permanently suspended, said  Herrera.

Osiris Gratacós of the Road Safety Foundation asked the authorities to immediately discuss the increase in sanctions “The increase in fines has to happen soon, people are not aware of what can happen,”

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panamas-aggressive-drunk-drivers-shock

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Jazz Festival Brings Entertainment, Education, Tourism

Posted on January 11, 2018 in Panama

Post Views: 59

 

By Margot Thomas

THE  15^th PANAMA Jazz Festival,   only days away,   has mushroomed into not only an internationally recognized performance feast but a major musical education program and a  boost for tourism.

There are over   90 activities in place, including music workshops, open rehearsals, and informative sessions with artistic universities from abroad, Jan. 15-19 in the City of Knowledge.

Little appears to have been left out. The workshops cover piano, drums, vocals, bass, double bass, trumpet, saxophone, guitar, trombone and vibraphone while the artistic teaching sessions cover folklore, composition, improvisation, digital music industry, panels, symposiums and an exchange of classical music.

It’s all happening at different locations in the City of Knowledge (buildings 105 and 109, the Athenaeum and the  Isaac Rabin school).

Student participation in the early years oscillated between  250 and 800  and since 2015 averages, 4000, including visitors from Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Chile, Costa Rica and Colombia.

The Berklee College of Music, Berklee Global Jazz Institute, New England Conservatory and Thelonious Monk Institute are some of the foreign training entities that will be Presenting workshops and auditions.

An exchange of classical music will launch the educational program of the Festival on January 15, at 9:00 a.m., at the Isaac Rabin School.

Other artistic training activities will include the “Anatomy “of a melody “, by David Engelhard, Attune yourself;  Egyptian music; Afroboricua  Music; History of Latin jazz;”,” Arrangement and orchestration; and Ancestral and contemporary sounds.

The festival will also feature workshops that will address: “Digital ecosystem in the music industry;, “Originality in the development of ideas;, Modes of cultural entrepreneurs; Mental practice for musicians and Finance for musicians.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/jazz-festival-brings-entertainment-education-tourism