Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Panama Canal Registers Record Year.
The Panama Canal closed its 2018 fiscal year (FY 2018) with a record tonnage of 442.1 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS), which represents a 9.5 percent increase from the previous year.
With this tonnage, the Panama Canal surpasses the cargo projections of 429.4 million PC/UMS tons for FY 2018, as well as the 403.8 million PC/UMS tons registered in FY 2017.
“The Panama Canal continues to exceed our expectations, reinforcing every day the importance of the waterway’s expansion and its impact on global maritime trade,” said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano. “This is the results of the efforts of our committed workforce who made this an extraordinary year.”
Source: AJOT
Panama: How a country of chaos became a bridge across the Americas.
Being “used” is key to Panama’s history, says filmmaker Abner Benaim, whose documentaries have explored the complex DNA of the country’s capital, Panama City.
“Panama is a country that’s been used by everyone,” Benaim tells CNN. “It does have its own identity, but that identity is made of chaos.
“It’s made up of people from all over the world who came here for different reasons. This is all to do with our location on the map. We’re that span that’s very easy to point out.”
Source: CNN Travel
Detained ex-Panama president transferred to hospital in stable condition.
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who has been held in detention on illegal wiretapping charges, was transferred on Monday to a public hospital in Panama City, where he was in stable condition, authorities said.
Martinelli, 66, “was evaluated immediately by medical personnel in the prison system and paramedics … who determined that he was in stable condition,” the country’s prison system said in a statement, adding that Martinelli had been transferred to receive more rigorous testing.
Source: Reuters
‘Tis the Season: How to get the best travel deals to Panama for the holidays
It’s almost winter up north, and in Panama that means the busy travel and tourism season are nearing. If you’re looking to travel to Panama this winter, and enjoy the country’s dry, summer season, there are many options for many budgets.
No matter what your budget, and what your preferences are, if you want to travel to Panama, it’s good to travel smart. Find the best deals on flights, where to stay, where to eat, and where to shop, all before you’ve stepped foot in this wonderful Central American country. Here are a few pointers to help get you started
Source: International Relocation Firm Blog
