Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
At the Edge of the Caribbean, a Hidden Jewel in Panama.
Panama is the thinnest sliver of the Americas, the most logical place to put the world’s most important shipping route, the isthmic keyhole from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific.
And as the locks of the Panama Canal open and close throughout the day the waters that flow between the Caribbean Sea, Lake Gatun and the Pacific are a daily reminder; this is two worlds in one.
Indeed, Panama is very much a place of dual identity: at once Caribbean and Pacific; a modern financial hub that’s also home to some of the most pristine coastal cays in the hemisphere.
And Panama City is the perfect example of this dichotomous personality: at one corner, it’s a forest of towering, newly-built skyscrapers; but at the city’s edge, there’s a centuries-old jewel.
Source: Carib Journal
12 firms signal interest in US$150mn Panama sewerage contract.
The clarification meeting organized by Panama’s health ministry as part of the process to tender a sewerage contract in Panama province attracted the attention of 12 local and international firms.
Interested companies include Spain’s Elecnor, BTD Proyectos, Eurofinsa, Acciona Agua, and IZ Ingenieros Consultores, France’s Veolia and Suez, Chile’s Eathisa, Costa Rica’s Constructora Meco, and local firms Cusa, Saneamos Panamá, and Unity Ducret.
The contract entails providing operation, maintenance and improvement services to sewage infrastructure in the province’s districts of Panamá and San Miguelito. Works include the sewerage system, collectors, and interceptors, as well as wastewater pumping and treatment systems.
Source: BN Americas
Panama Canal Seeks to Raise Transit Fees for Cruise Ships.
The Panama Canal has published a proposal to modify its current tolls structure what will most likely mean increased fees for cruise ships.
The proposal covers passenger, dry bulk, containership and vehicle carrier and RoRo segments, as well as tankers, chemical tankers, LPG and LNG vessels, the intra-maritime cluster (local tourism segment) and minimum tolls (small vessels). The announcement marks the beginning of a 30-day formal consultation period for industry feedback, which will close on July 15, 2019.
Commented Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano: “Our proposed modifications will increase transparency and flexibility, among other improvements, to ensure the Panama Canal remains competitive and optimal for the industry today and moving forward.”
Source: Cruise Industry News
Escape to Boquete: Panama’s perfect mountain paradise
If you’ve visited Boquete, Panama before, you’ll understand why this title’s true. Boquete is one of the true treats of small-town Panama, popular with locals for centuries, and now a hot spot for tourism and expat relocation as well. Boquete is situated about a 6-hour drive from Panama City, tucked away in the Chiriqui highlands. It’s easy to reach from David (Panama’s 2nd largest city) which is a 40-minute drive away.
The proximity to David also makes Boquete easy to reach by short drive after a flight from Panama City, which takes about 30-40 minutes. This makes Boquete remote, but still accessible without much hassle to the capital and its airports and bus terminals. Boquete is situated right in the mountains, adjacent to Volcan Baru. It’s got a cool climate (60s-70s F, 20-26 C), which makes it an ideal escape from the heat, and a great location for outdoor activities.
