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Jim Bondoux

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Everything posted by Jim Bondoux

  1. Perhaps. Perhaps not. The Martinelli people claim that the seizure of the private plane was instigated via an anonymous complaint from Panama, and not from the US authorities. A three-page email in support of that claim is reproduced in the PanamaAmerica news site (affiliated with Martinelli). https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/politica/informe-revela-que-incautacion-avion-fue-por-denuncia-en-pagina-web-no-peticion-estados
  2. I am not sure how to read your question. The financial need is caused by past effects of Covid-19 on government revenues. The proposed borrowing was to fill the gap in revenues consequent to the anti-virus measures taken. The amount was to be $1.75 billion, the term three years. The conditions imposed were said to involve the sale of a couple of government-owned assets and new taxes on incomes, property, and a new tax on bank transfers. There has been an intense negative reaction by the opposition parties and by the populace. The Costa Rican border officials went on strike, joining the action of other labor unions, so the border blockage has nothing to do with any trade dispute. Protests have been happening for seven days, and continue, even though the negotiations with IMF were halted last Sunday. Yesterday, Wednesday October 6, the Costa Rican police reported 21 blockades, including one on Route 32 (San Jose-Limon) and one on the Pan-American highway 200 kilometers north of San Jose. The intent is stop the transport of goods. Panama's President Cortizo was quick to state that he is not considering any taxes. Yesterday the general director of revenues for Panama reiterated that the government is not contemplating new taxes. Here is the President of Costa Rica on a gallows labeled "taxes":
  3. I believe there is a misunderstanding in the way this report is presented. The President of Costa Rica has been in negotiations with the IMF for a $1.75 billion loan, the need for which can be ascribed to the economic consequences of the Covid-19-related shutdowns. The conditions required by the IMF include spending cuts and tax increases. The Costa Rican population has demonstrated for several days against the prospective measures, and has blocked up to 36 different roads, paralyzing the country. Today, Tuesday October 6, the police report 17 blockades throughout the country, and there are calls for further demonstrations. The President has aborted the negotiations. Yes, there have been arguments between Panama and Costa Rica over trade and Covid-19 sanitation issues, but this is not one of them.
  4. I sense a lot of excitement surrounding this development. Martinelli needs 40,000 members to confirm the registration of his new political party, and it appears likely he will be successful in short order. The "Tribunal Electoral" is installing atm-like kiosks in transportation hubs and supermarkets to facilitate party registrations. Martinelli founded the CD party in 1998, and ultimately had nearly 500,000 members at the height of his presidential term. He seems confident of success, having publicly told elected CD party members who wish to join the new "RM" party to maintain their affiliation for now, just to send their party officials. They will be welcome at the right time. He announced (my translation) "RM is a new opposition party that will support the government in all things it does well, and we will criticize it in all the things it does wrong. We are going to return the quality of life to the Panamanian people." He also said (again, my translation): "We have learned a lot from the mistakes of the past; RM is a party that does not seek revenge, does not seek fights and when we come to power I want all the haters I have, which are many, by my side to help me and to criticize me if I do something wrong." He has many enemies in the political class, but the memory of the prosperous trends during his administration will likely resonate with a voter mass that is stressed from the economic fallout from the anti-coronavirus measures. Cute logo, that stands for "Attaining Goals" (Realizando Metas) but also the initials of one Ricardo Martinelli.
  5. The lockdowns around the world have disrupted supply lines, and folks are now playing catch-up. The US west coast ports are suddenly very busy, eastbound transpacific cargo rates are at high levels, the container manufacturers are booked solid through next February. Retailers stocking for Christmas are behind schedule. Coats has 60 manufacturing plants around the world, but none in the US, and I imagine they too are playing catch-up with Amazon and all their other US customers.
  6. The bus companies that serve the Panama City-Boquete route shut down completely at the time of the quarantine declaration. I see several of the jitney buses serving Chiriqui routes, and folks waiting (with social separation) at the bus stop shelters. This was posted on facebook back in March:
  7. Yes, and there are another three tropical waves marching in sequence behind this one. They are about 3 days' apart, depending on their speed across the Atlantic and the Caribbean. The three weather charts posted below are 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour looks ahead. They show the expected progression of the tropical waves. The major wind/precipitation occurs with and behind the wave, so it looks like Monday and Tuesday will be quite wet in Western Panama. Tropical Waves.pdf
  8. The report I read said that the police had let the protest through one of the roadblocks when a driver quoted the Panamanian Constitution. They only stopped the protest when it neared Casco Viejo, where the Presidential Palace is located. The relevant article is Article 38:
  9. Nope. It's behind the Ruiz warehouse and the Terpel station in Bajo Boquete. Animales has held large patio sales there. I only see it used for basketball games in the evenings, usually Mondays.
  10. I have no connection to any of the actors in this discussion. However, I'll jump in and share my views, FWIW. Your indulgence is requested. 1. TapOut is probably a more reliable and financially stable tenant than the BCP, and therefore is the better candidate as primary lessee. 2. The auditorium is a terrific resource for theatrical productions, Sunday movies, and Tuesday presentations. I'm willing to bet that attendance at the Tuesday presentations is substantially independent from the Tuesday market, i.e. most of the audience for whatever is on the program would show up for the presentation even if there were no concurrent market activity. Obviously that statement also stands for the Sunday movies and various theatrical performances. It's the subject matter that draws attendees, not the market. 3. Then the logic is to have TapOut as master lessee simply rent out the auditorium on an ad hoc basis for whatever it is used for (remember, when it reopens it will be limited to 25% capacity...). For a presentation, there is there something magic about Tuesday 10:30am? 4. The Tuesday market seems to have outgrown its infrastructure. I suggest that alternative sites might prove to have better economics. The El Cancho gymnasium comes to mind, as does the Bible Fellowship building (former Amigos, etc) as offering sheltered vendor space and roomy parking options. A wider horizon (e.g. Alto Boquete) offers additional alternatives perhaps worthy of consideration. 5. Who are the vendors who draw traffic to the Tuesday market? How can such vendors be developed or encouraged? I probably missed them, but surveys of visitors to the Tuesday market would be useful guides for future improvement strategies. Anecdote: I know of one vendor whose traditional location was unilaterally changed and who no longer shows up, and who was probably 50% of the reason I would come on Tuesdays... The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on....
  11. Their website (https://www.novey.com.pa) states that they are making deliveries on the MINSA-directed schedule. I assume you can order merchandise on the website and have it delivered by their staff (MINSA requires that deliveries be made via vehicles owned by the retailer). I imagine that one could pickup orders at the store, but that would need to be confirmed with them. Their website covers their nationwide network, so I think a direct verbal contact with the David store(s) would be best, to confirm that they have resumed operations.. Their "Contactenos" button on the website provides for email exchange, and who knows how (un)responsive that might be... I have 775-9343 and 775-9802 as Novey phone numbers in David. FWIW.
  12. Interesting article in La Prensa suggesting that Panama may have a bit of a constitutional crisis. Informal translation follows: QUOTE Mayors may not acknowledge the Executive's decision on a dry law? The decision of the Executive to end today the dry law, was not well received by the Association of Municipalities of Panama. However, the mayors cannot ignore the measure. By José Arcia - Updated 05/08/2020 The decision of the Executive to end today the dry law, was not well received by the Association of Municipalities of Panama. However, the mayors cannot ignore the measure. Mayors may be unaware of the Executive's decision on dry law? That is the opinion of the constitutional lawyer Ernesto Cedeño, who explained in his twitter account that Law 38 of 2000 establishes that the decisions of the Executive are above the mayoral decrees and the municipal agreements. "In a state of law, even if you do not like a decision of the Executive, you must abide by it," he said. "The mayors can execute the norms established by the municipal councils that are below what the Executive establishes, the laws and the Constitution," the lawyer noted. As a result of the fact that the Central Government announced last Wednesday, the lifting of the dry law, some mayors such as the one in Santiago, Veraguas, issued a dry law decree. For his part, the mayor of Panama, José Luis Fábrega, said that he will abide by the government's decision. UNQUOTE
  13. The earlier post says "for an unspecified period of time". My reading of mayor Josmar Alvarado's decree says that the ban on alcoholic beverages will continue until the National State of Emergency is lifted. He also set fines for non-compliance (100 Balboas first offense, 500 for the second).
  14. Subject to obtaining the required approvals, COPA's tentative plan is to restart flying on June 1, with 50 destinations served at the outset. The preliminary weekly schedule was published today by La Prensa: the table notes destination cities and the number of weekly flights planned for each.
  15. My gardener got a pass a couple of days ago. It's essentially a "Safe Conduct" certificate. SALVO CONDUCTO DE CIRCULACION DE PRODUCTOR. It was issued by the Ministry of Agricultural Development, and is valid for 60 days.
  16. Just to get some context for the statistics, I looked up Panama on the World Health Organization website. The most recent year available at WHO is 2015 (MINSA probably has more recent), but this is what they have for that year: Total deaths, all causes, in Panama in 2015: 18,182 Deaths in Panama from Influenza, Pneumonia and Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease in 2015: 1,053
  17. Received today from Price Smart - Machine translated - apparently applies to all of their locations: Dear partner, To ensure your health and safety and that of our employees, please take the following measures into account: From our side: We are continually instructing our employees to ensure compliance with regulatory health and safety procedures. We are doing extensive cleanings of all surfaces and spaces, and will supply hand sanitizer throughout the club. We may limit the quantity of certain products that are low in inventory in purchases. We will continue to restock our merchandise as soon as possible, which may mean changes in brand and product sizes compared to what we normally provide in clubs. We are limiting the number of members who can access the club simultaneously, to avoid crowds. Given the exceptional nature of the situation, the Optics, Tires and Food Area services will remain closed. We appreciate your collaboration: We recommend keeping a minimum distance of 1 meter with other members while you are in the club. If possible, only one member per family should enter the club so that other members can make their purchase. As much as possible, avoid bringing children to the club. Avoid making cash payments; prioritize card payment to avoid contact. In some clubs we are modifying the hours of attention to the members to have an extended shopping schedule. In other clubs we have had to reduce hours to comply with the regulation. Visit PriceSmart.com or our social media for recent information on our services and hours. To ensure a better shopping experience, follow the recommendations of our club employees. WE APPRECIATE COOPERATION AS WE STRIVE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
  18. New cases reported Saturday, March 7 in China: 99. Reminiscent of the 2009 Swine Flu (H1N1) panic. Big gains for Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, et al. This morning, US stocks open with a huge drop (1500 points on the Dow, 5.5%). Practically only gainer is Wal-Mart. Strongest stocks (i.e. least weak): Pfizer, Merck, Lilly. Interesting.
  19. From the Center for Disease Control in the US, the 2017-2018 flu season saw 959,000 hospitalizations for the flu in the US, with 61,099 deaths. Last year, 2018-2019 season, the numbers were 490,000 and 34,200. Of the 100+ deaths so far in Italy, the average age was 81 (42% aged between 80 and 89, 14% aged 90 and older, 73% male). My next birthday will be my 81st. My perspective is that a healthy immune system is what protects a person from the consequences of having the virus. I am assuming that I will unknowingly have the virus at some point. I am boosting my immune system with vitamin C and Zinc supplements (the latter to get those T-cells going) and Curcumin to have a defense against inflammation, which is how pneumonia kills. Speaking on “America’s Newsroom” this week, Dr. James Phillips, operational medicine fellowship director at George Washington University, said that most people who contract the coronavirus will “do just fine.” “Most of us are going to get this virus. It’s undeniable,” said Phillips. “You won’t find a single expert out there who is saying that this is going to be contained. “And, the more we learn about it, the more we see that the spread is going to be global and, for the most part, that’s OK because the data we know from China shows that roughly 98 to 99 percent of us are going to do very, very well.” Here's a link to the good doctor's interview if you want more (he's an emergency room specialist): https://www.foxnews.com/media/james-phillips-americans-must-live-their-lives-99-of-people-who-get-cv-will-be-fine
  20. A forlorn hope, in my opinion, until they move the tank farm away from the terminal. Until then the airport can't meet international standards.
  21. Article in today's LA ESTRELLA reports that the government contracting authority has rejected all three bids for census-related equipment, and that the census will need to be postponed as a consequence.
  22. Over the years, I remember reading a fair number of complaints from owners of on-demand heaters. I don't recall reading any from owners of tank heaters. Perhaps selective memory on my part. The average shower uses five gallons of water, not all of it from the water heater unless you have the heater temperature set at the low end. Our household number is two, and we are profligate users of hot water (showers, dishwasher, clothes washer), we have a gas-fired clothes dryer, and we cook on a gas range. Our average gas consumption is 2 pounds of LPG per day, or about $1.50 on the basis of our 100 lb. tank. FWIW.
  23. I've been wondering about the "Buen Queso" sign on the main highway pointing to the new red-painted building. I stopped in today. It is a cheese-making facility. The left bay of the building is a small retail operation. The young clerk is eager to practice her English. They make and sell several kinds of cheese, including a Mozzarella-type, "but softer", and a white cheddar-type. The latter in both salted and unsalted versions. I paid $3.50 for a pound of salted "queso duro", i.e. the cheddar type. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks good.
  24. Interesting how the Lighthouse seems to have become an icon for Boquete - It has pride of place on the poster.
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