Keith Woolford

2,752 Cuban migrants have been transported to Mexico To date, about 2,752 Cuban migrants have traveled from Panama City to Juarez, Mexico, as part of an airlift announced at the beginning of May, reported the National Immigration Service. The entity unveiled another flight for Mexico Monday carrying 145 Cubans. The goal is to transport some 4,000 Cubans in Panama illegally. The migrants are headed for the United States. Mexico is admitting them on a temporary basis. Immigration officials are still trying to determine what to do with Cuban migrants who can't afford the plane fare to Mexico. The fare is $575, although children fly free. The flights to Mexico began May 9. - See more at: http://www.prensa.com/in_english/mil-migrantes-cubanos-viajado-Mexico_21_4490010960.html#sthash.EhKpOPe8.dpuf

Thanks for sticking around and sharing your knowledge and wisdom, Roger. Your comments are always courteous and enlightening, and the community is fortunate to have you as a friend.

This press release from the IMF confirming continued economic growth in Panama was published in late March. http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/IMF_Confirms_Panamas_High_Growth

The last 187 Cubans who are in Panama will remain on the premises of the National Immigration Service in Chiriqui until their situation is resolved. The individuals, who entered the country through Colombia and who are headed to the United States, do not have money to buy an air ticket to take them to Mexico to cross into the United States. A Cuban immigrant, who declined to reveal his name, said they were in a hostel, but were taken on a bus Sunday to immigration and left there. He said that immigration officials have not told them what would happen with them. "I do not know why we were pulled out of the hostel if they do not have an answer to our situation," he added. Sietnel Candanedo, of the Pastoral Society of Chiriqui, said he was concerned about the situation because the migrants have no money. There are 145 Cubans who are slated to travel to Juarez, Mexico, Monday. - See more at: http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Ultimos-cubanos-mantendran-Migracion-respuesta_21_4489261035.html#sthash.mBuDLUti.dpuf

Deputy Minister of Finance Eyda Varela de Chinchilla said Panama's economy remains stable. Similarly the official indicated that, to date, there have not been reports of "negative effects" in deposits in banks and on securities ratings due to the investigation into the firm Mossack Fonseca by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Therefore, the deputy minister said that the publications have not had a major impact on the local financial system. Varela de Chinchilla made these remarks while participating in the third Latin America-Europe Investor Forum in London. At the event, the official reiterated "the commitment of Panama to transparency in its financial system." The deputy minister highlighted the country's projected growth of 6 percent for 2016 and identified potential investment in sectors such as energy, logistics, shipping and construction, among others. Varela de Chinchilla reiterated that Panama will continue to cooperate with other countries and international organizations in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion. - See more at: http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Viceministra-Finanzas-economia-Panama-mantiene_21_4489261034.html#sthash.o4S2fvse.dpuf

Hopefully not, Bud. I suspect that outfits like Ancon Expeditions who have been around forever and have promoted sustainable tourism in other sensitive areas such as Gamboa, will be anxious to participate. Obviously, the conditions and regulation of these kind of licenses need to be thorough and with total regard for the environment they are exploiting.

It's discouraging, and sad, that someone would actually "dislike" a report of a unique scientific phenomenon occurring in our area.

Saw him go through Oriana with the red Mitsubishi yesterday afternoon.

Dennis, you will be limited to frozen, farm-raised, Atlantic salmon filets from Pricesmart. Fresh you can find corvina, pargo, tilapia, tuna, and farm-raised trout, as well as shrimps, squid, etc. We obtain most of our seafood at the main Mercado Publico in David.

Wasn't much of a struggle for me, Bud. I tend to discount information having less than one credible source. It's been over a week since this story was originally floated and not only does it remain unverified, the existence of any problems within the Banking system was denied by the Superintendent of Banking of Panama. If there were problems, thousands of international transfers would have already been affected and fails would have been well publicized.

If the story is bochinche, it's harmful to an entire profession.

H.G., if this story is true, the details need to be shared for the protection of others. Is there a Ministry of Health report or other reliable source of the information?

Red Crabs Swarm Like Insects in Incredible Underwater Video - See more at: http://www.livescience.com/54371-swarming-red-crabs-video.html#sthash.1wr6eAbS.dpuf

This is a terrific film about the Hannibal Bank Seamount which is in our backyard. http://oceanmediainstitute.org/hannibal

"oversupply of rooms". The article hits the nail on the head, imo. Ten years ago, it was quite difficult to find a hotel room in P.C. At the time experts said something like "Panama City needs 1000 more hotel rooms", so about 10 hotel developers went out and built 1000 rooms each. This phenomenon happens over and over again ..everywhere. The supply and demand will take time to balance out. Meantime there will be plenty of rooms at competitive prices.

Hands of Stone premieres at Cannes In his career and lifetime, Panama's legendary Roberto Duran has gone from hero to zero and back again. Last night had to be one of his most memorable evenings. The film Hands of Stone, chronicling his rivalry with Sugar Ray Leonard, starring Robert DeNIro and Edgar Ramirez, premiered at the prestigious Cannes film festival. Both Robertos were honored as the post screening event became a love-in for DeNiro. After some rough press lately, this is a positive event for Panama, imo. The movie opens in late August.

This is not good news for consumers, imo. Liberty Global is the international arm of Liberty Media and one of the largest suppliers of broadband internet service in the world. John Malone's business actions have earned him nicknames such as Darth Vader and Mad Max. His communications empire stretches far and wide. He is also America's single biggest landholder, apparently personally possessing a good portion of Maine. Liberty Capital owns the Atlanta Braves. Liberty Media was behind familiar names like DirecTV, Game Show Network, Court TV, Starz Media, etc. Through the now completed acquisition of Cable and Wireless Communications, Liberty Global has become the owner of the largest pay-TV and broadband provider in the Caribbean, FLOW as well as BTC (Bahamas Telephone Company) and Cable and Wireless Panama, as well as a key player in mobile (competing against wireless heavyweight, Digicel in all most FLOW territories) and owner of offshore undersea fiber links to and from the region as well. In addition, the company also owns CWC's operations in the Seychelles named Cable and Wireless Seychelles, providing fixed broadband and voice, pay-TV and mobile voice and broadband to the islands of Seychelles. The company also owns C&W Business and C&W Networks, which serve business and corporate customers in the Caribbean and Latin America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Global

May 15th has been and gone.

It was posted on FB that this fortunate dog, from outside the area, has been adopted by someone in Jaramillo.

Sinaproc advises that there less than 100 Cubans left in the area of Paso Canoas http://www.prensa.com/provincias/cubanos-frontera-Paso-Canoas_0_4482301869.html

Santiago-David Highway Expansion is 81.2% Complete http://www.prensa.com/economia/Remedios-congestion_0_4483051746.html

Panama City's main airport said on Friday it had successfully placed a $575 million bond after a company forming a major source of income for the hub became embroiled in a money-laundering probe, prompting the issue to be restructured. Originally earmarked for $625 million, the bond for Tocumen International Airport was pared back after the U.S. Treasury Department accused members of the Waked family of running a money laundering operation that helped drug traffickers. The Wakeds, who have denied the accusations, control Grupo Wisa, a holding company that includes real estate, construction and media businesses, as well as retailers including operators of duty free shops at Tocumen International. The airport said that last year, rents from Grupo Wisa made up 7.7 percent of its revenue. The coupon on the bond, which is due to mature in 2036, was raised to 5.625 percent from 5.375 percent. The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) alleged that the operation, led by two members of the Waked family, helped various drug trafficking outfits hide their illicit income via 68 companies including Grupo Wisa. Separately on Friday, the U.S. Treasury said it had issued licenses authorizing certain transactions to be carried out by Balboa Bank & Trust, which was seized by Panama's banking regulator as part of the money-laundering investigation. In the statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said it had also issued licenses to Balboa Securities, Corp. It did not give details on why the licenses had been issued. (Reporting by Elida Moreno and Enrique Pretel; Editing by Richard Borsuk) http://www.reuters.com/article/us-panama-bond-idUSKCN0Y5039

Then the woman had a problem with a Delta Airlines ticket agent in Atlanta, not a Panamanian official at Tocumen Airport.

Two "stories" is correct. Neither instance is believable as stated, imo.

The author of the article is Kenneth Rijock, a confessed money launderer. https://www.google.com/search?biw=1120&bih=590&q=kenneth+rijock+the+laundry+man&oq=ken+rijock+laundryman&gs_l=serp.1.0.0i71l8.0.0.0.16742.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c..64.serp..0.0.0.ixtt-Ki9H-o