Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Denver is Working Towards Becoming a Sister City with Panama City
As part of Denver Sister Cities International, Denver has now become a friendship city to Panama City, Panama. A friendship city is temporary as opposed to a sister city which is a more permanent agreement. The mayors of the two cities- Denver mayor Michael B. Hancock and José Isabel Blandón mayor of Panama City signed the agreement on June 28, 2017.
The agreement ultimately strengthens ties between the two cities in terms of culture, business and tourism. This Friendship City agreement sets the stage for the launch of Copa Airline’s new nonstop air service from Denver to Panama that will begin in December of this year.
When asked about the agreement Blandón stated, “With the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, both parties express their desire and willingness to actively seek common ground across areas of mutual interest.” Both mayors see this agreement as an opportunity for the cities to share knowledge and grow their respective cities. Denver mayor Michael B. Hancock added “New air service continues to drive economic activity and create new jobs in Denver, Copa’s new service to Panama City will further strengthen Denver as a global destination for commerce, trade and culture.”
Source: 303 Magazine
Cuban migrants stranded in Panama live and work secretly.
The radio music broadcasts are amplified by the dozens of speakers positioned in businesses and homes. Salsa, reggaeton and merengue echoes through the narrow streets and mid-20th Century buildings. It could be Havana, but Rita María Triana knows it’s not.
The Cuban capital, where Triana was born, is 932 miles away. But here in Panama City, dozens of undocumented Cubans have been working illegally since the end of the so-called “wet foot, dry foot” policy in late January.
“That was very ugly, very hard, very sad. The desperation of Cubans to win their freedom makes them risk their lives,” said Triana, recalling her dangerous crossing of the Darién jungle from Colombia to Panama. She broke two ribs crossing a fast moving river.
Source: Miami Herald
Panama deal likely to “finally scupper” Nicaragua canal: Chinese state media.
China’s $1bn project to build a new deepwater port by the Panama Canal, which began days before Panama finally cut ties with Taiwan, is likely to “finally scupper” the controversial and long-stalled Nicaragua canal, an article in a Chinese state newspaper has claimed.
The company China Landbridge’s project to turn Margarita Island at the Caribbean mouth of Panama’s canal into the 13th largest container port in the world was called a “huge boost” for China’s Belt and Road initiative, in contrast to the plan by another Chinese company to build a $50bn transoceanic canal in Nicaragua, which has seen little progress since work was ceremonially launched in December 2014.
Source: Hellenic Shipping News
5 Ways Your Life Will Change in Panama
Moving to Panama is a choice that many people make for many reasons, however there’s one that connects them all: change. Whether it’s retiring in Panama, working in Panama, becoming a digital nomad in Panama, or just taking time to live in a different culture, your life will change in Panama (mostly for the better). It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone, exploring the wonders of Panama, and improving your life in a truly unique way. Here are our 5 ways we think your life will change in Panama.
1. Less Stress: Panama is famous for its low-key lifestyle, and this will immediately result in less day-to-day stress. Sure, there are stressful moments here, but the general idea of being high strung is really uncommon in Panamanian culture or the lifestyle here. You’ll find that life moves at a slower pace, people are friendly and understanding, and no one lets the little things get to them. It’s all about letting life take its course and enjoying the moment in Panama, and it won’t take long for you to feel this in yourself too.
Source: International Relocation Firm Blog
