Keith Woolford

http://mupa.gob.pa/noticias/con-mil-dolares-de-multa-sancionan-a-dueno-del-perro-toby Appropriate and a good precedent in relatively new territory, imo.

Not that I'm very PC but I sure wish folks would use the correct name of this place. The name Fundacion Pro-Integracion or Pro-Integration Foundation implies opportunity in a forward direction and is SO much more positive than using the negative sounding term Handicapped which denotes that a person is somehow 'less' than others.

New York Times piece by President J.C. Varela http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/04/11/opinion/dont-blame-panama-tax-evasion-is-a-global-problem.html?referer=https://www.google.com.pa&_r=1 Op-Ed Contributor Don’t Blame Panama. Tax Evasion Is a Global Problem. By JUAN CARLOS VARELA April 11, 2016 Panama City — DESPITE their name, the Panama Papers are not mainly about Panama. They are not even primarily concerned with Panamanian companies. The more than 11 million documents, illegally hacked and released last week relating to previously undisclosed “offshore” corporations, is roiling the world with revelations of the vulnerability for rampant abuse of legal financial structures by the wealthy. They are unfairly called the Panama Papers because this particular trove of documents came from a single law firm based in Panama. But the problem of tax evasion is a global one. Panama does not deserve to be singled out on an issue that plagues many countries. But we are willing to accept the responsibility for fixing it, in part because greater transparency is ultimately a continuation of reforms we have recently undertaken. The world must tackle this problem collectively and with urgency, and Panama stands ready to lead the way. The scope of the information is breathtaking: The files include information on more than 14,000 banks, law firms, corporate incorporators and other middlemen from more than 100 countries, which is just a small part of a worldwide industry that harbors trillions of dollars. That some can rig the system to hide their wealth is not merely unjust; it also harms global development by siphoning off revenues that could be directed to education, health care and infrastructure. Contrary to media reports, Panama does not make special allowances for “offshore” structures. The association of Panama with offshore activities comes from the fact that we tax only income derived from within Panama, not from without, which remains taxable pursuant to the laws of relevant jurisdictions. These rules, based on laws in New York and Delaware, originated in 1927 and are common today. While these laws have been buttressed by additional regulations, they can still be manipulated for illicit purposes. Under previous governments, Panama was no doubt a target of money launderers. Today, Panama is committed to adopting all transparency reforms needed to satisfy the international community. In the 21 months of my administration, Panama has taken steps to increase the transparency and strength of our financial legal systems. We developed a robust treaty network that allows exchange of information. “Know your client” regulations were substantially enhanced and extended not only for financial and corporate providers but also for key nonfinancial industries vulnerable to abuse. And as of January this year, we require identity certification of shareholders of all Panama companies. I have announced a commitment to the automatic exchange of financial and corporate information, and we have proposed steps we believe are consistent with the goals of the international community, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development through its Common Reporting Standards proposal. These reforms have been recognized and validated by the international community, including the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, which cited Panama’s “significant progress” in combating money laundering when it removed us this year from its “gray list.” Removal from that list occurred in record time. Our financial transparency ranking with the nongovernmental organization Tax Justice Network has steadily improved since 2013, and we now rank well ahead of Japan, Germany and the United States. We have also progressed positively in a peer review by the O.E.C.D.’s Global Forum for Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. These reforms in Panama, along with other international efforts, have been paying dividends. Still, more work is needed. I have announced that Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will create an independent committee of international experts to evaluate our policies, determine best practices and propose measures that will be shared with other countries to strengthen global financial and legal transparency. We expect their findings within six months. Panama will continue to cooperate with other jurisdictions to prosecute offenses outlawed in our Criminal Code, and we will continue to exchange financial and legal information to comply with the many treaties we have ratified. We also reiterate our willingness to engage in dialogue with the O.E.C.D. and its Global Forum with respect to reaching financial transparency agreements that can further the economic development of our countries. After decades of dictatorship, Panama is a stable democracy committed to the rule of law and the regional headquarters of more than 100 transnational companies. To fulfill our democratic evolution, we must have a government committed to transparency, accountability and the separation of powers. Our response to the current crisis will test our resolve and our potential.

Look for visionaries with bucks like Elon Musk to lead us out of the energy wilderness.

How has the Papers affair affected Panama? By Luis Fajardo BBC Mundo, Panama City http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35993552

Too much coconut oil last night? Where's the reference to condemnation of Panama by the U.S. ?

"she is just transferring it into her name" ..from a person who is no longer breathing. Makes it a bit more complicated.

David, I would suggest that you send them a personal message.

Bud Smith was fun to be around ..an interesting guy with an anti-establishment bent. A small decal on the back of his Toyota pickup read ROLLS and he had a single tattoo on his leg that spelled TATTOO. RIP Bud.

This is one of the BBC stories published today after investigation of the leaked documents. http://www.bbc.com/news/35956324 Panama Papers: How a British man, 90, covered for a U.S. millionaire By Richard Bilton BBC Panorama Ms Olszewski is a money expert and life coach The Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca says it does everything possible to ensure the offshore companies it sets up are not used for illicit purposes. But documents seen by the BBC show that isn't always true. One of the clearest examples of how the company breaks the rules involves a 90-year-old British man and an American millionaire. Eight years ago, business guru Marianna Olszewski had a problem. The author of Live it, Love it, Earn it (A Woman's Guide to Financial Freedom) offers financial advice directed at American women. Some of her personal fortune had been invested using a secret offshore company. But in 2008, at the height of the financial crisis, she decided she wanted to get her $1.8m back. The problem was that the bank that held the funds wouldn't release the cash without knowing who was behind the offshore company - and Ms Olszewski was desperate to keep her identity secret. 'Sensitive manner' Mossack Fonseca was willing to help. It offered to provide somebody who would pretend to be the real - or beneficial - owner of the cash. An email from a Mossack executive to Ms Olszewski in January 2009 explained how she could deceive the bank: "We may use a natural person who will act as the beneficial owner… and therefore his name will be disclosed to the bank. Since this is a very sensitive matter, fees are quite high." Panama: Home to law firm Mossack Fonseca She replied: "I do think we should go ahead with the natural person however I want to have your promise that you… will handle this in the most sensitive manner." The "natural person" Mossack Fonseca offered turned out to be a 90-year-old British citizen. Mossack Fonseca told Ms Olszewski that the service would be expensive because it was so sensitive. Fees were normally $30,000 (about £20,000 at the time) for the first year and $15,000 for every subsequent year. But she was offered a discount - just $10,000 for year one and $7,500 for every year after. One reason for the high cost is likely to have been the degree of deception. Another email from Mossack details what would be involved: "We need to hire the Natural Person Nominee, pay him, make him sign lots of documents to cover us, make him sign resignations, make him get some proofs evidencing that he has the economic capacity to place such amount of moneys, letters of reference, proof of domicile, etc, etc." It's a blatant breach of anti-money laundering rules, but Ms Olszewski signed up anyway. Andrew Mitchell QC, one of the UK's leading experts on money laundering, has no doubt the bank would have been deceived. "Anybody looking at all these documents will believe that it is entirely legitimately owned by this person," he said. "Mossack Fonseca are prepared to go to that length in order to assist their client. Basically creating a real, live human being to look to the world as if they own the assets, when in fact and in truth, they know, as their client knows, that that person is a sham." The revelation that offshore companies are providing services of this nature could undermine the UK government's plan to create greater transparency. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has pinned his hopes for reform on a new register that will force British companies to reveal their beneficial owners. But the register won't work properly if companies like Mossack Fonseca pay people to pretend to be the beneficial owner. Marianna Olszewski failed to respond when Panorama attempted to contact her about this story by phone, email and letter. In a statement Mossack Fonseca said: "Your allegations that we provide structures supposedly designed to hide the identity of the real owners, are completely unsupported and false. "We do not provide beneficiary services to deceive banks. It is difficult, not to say impossible, not to provide banks with the identity of final beneficiaries and the origin of funds."

Couldn't help but notice that BN is running a bad English translation of a report in Spanish of this story that was originally published in English. Consequently, billion$ are inaccurately stated as million$, etc.

Mr. Mossack is credited for his legal genius in this bio. His father was in the German SS before coming to Panama to spy on Cuba for the CIA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%BCrgen_Mossack Mr. Fonseca was recently removed as advisor to the President and head of the Panamañista political party. He is also an award-winning novelist https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram%C3%B3n_Fonseca_Mora

At least one of the principals of the law firm owns properties in Boquete.

Central American towns are almost always laid out in a North-South fashion, but not so in David. This makes it more difficult to follow maps. Calles are lettered and Avenidas are numbered, starting from the central Park of the town. Calle and Avenida '0', which would run right alongside the Park, are usually called Calle and Avenida Central

Centro de Repuestos Chiriqui or CRC is located on Calle F Sur*, on the opposite side of the street approximately midpoint between the Nissan and Mitsubishi dealers. They sell OEM auto parts and supplies. The trim shop next door is CRC Racing. *Calle F Sur is also known as Calle Miguel Angel Brenes.

This person has special needs.

No problem ..a good heads up and folks should plan accordingly. I was just pointing out that the land entry rules haven't really changed since I arrived years ago. It's how they're applied that varies. It would seem that enforcement of regulations at border points becomes stricter during migratory crises. The last time I remember a clampdown was a few years back when there were busloads of illegal workers entering from Nicaragua and points further north. At this time I believe there's still a major Cuban refugee issue. In my opinion, the '180 day maximum allowable stay' (by decree) for visitors is a real bonus that people sometimes take for granted. Costa Rica, for example, allows only 90 days. Also ..I'm fine with people hopping if they want to.

Panama Immigration can apply their regulations when and as they see fit and can even refuse people entry if they want. It's just that they are not following them in the manner you'd like them to. Where does it say in the Act that a person can leave the country and be immediately re-admitted? 'Those who are passing through'? The term 'onward travel' gets thrown around a lot in these discussions. Every traveler has to return to his country of origin or residence eventually and should be able to provide an itinerary for it ..otherwise they're not a traveler. Bouncing back and forth between two countries without having residency status in either, isn't it.

Probably better to defer to the information on Panama's own immigration website rather than those of foreign governments. Article 43.7 clearly states 'return passage to country of origin or residence'. http://www.migracion.gob.pa/images/Noticias/Fotos%20e%20imagenes/articulo%2043%20Requisitos%20entrada%20.jpg

hi Barbara, here's a few things you may find helpful. Any documents from Canada which you provide for a residency application will have to be notarized and then sealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa. This is because Canada is not a party to the Apostille agreement, established in the early 60's, which provides for a universal standard of authenticating documents. Most people access their Canadian pension income by having it deposited directly in their Canadian bank account and withdrawing cash here via ATM. There can be a 25% withholding tax applied to Canadian income if Non-Resident status is not declared. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/ndvdls/nnrs-eng.html The Canadian Embassy is very helpful if a citizen requires assistance. The Canadian health care system is not accessible here. Meanwhile In Canada Spring has arrived

http://www.chiriqui.life/search/?type=all&q=casa+de+cerdo

Don't know much about weather except what I see and feel. Having come from the lands of 4 seasons, I relate the period we are in now as an autumn prelude to winter. Rainy winter weather from the Pacific is still being held back by summer winds that come from the Caribbean.

Uber drivers are classified as pirates in Panama http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/uber-spells-pirate-panama?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsroompanama+%28Newsroom+Panama%29

The directions to Casa de Cerdo and Su Carne were posted here about 3 months ago by Penny.