Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Panama dam causes massive fish kill, devastates river communities.
The Tabasará River, one of the largest in Panama and a lifeline to the indigenous Ngäbe–Buglé people, was drained for maintenance work on the Barro Blanco Hydroelectric Dam in Western Panama last week, leaving thousands upon thousands of the river’s more than 30 varieties of fish and crustaceans to perish in the mud.
Ricardo Miranda, general coordinator of the April 10 Movement representing the affected communities, stood in the mud and debris just upstream of the dam and picked up a two-foot-long catfish, holding it aloft for the camera.
“I want to take the opportunity to denounce (GENISA), the owner of the Barro Blanco Project,” the young leader declared for a local camerographer, who posted it to YouTube. “I also denounce the FMO Bank of Holland and the DEG Bank of Germany for financing a project like this, which has caused irreversible damage to the environment.”
Source: Intercontinental Magazine
FTA with Panama still effective, no termination notice received: MOFA.
Taipei, May 9 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Wednesday said the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Republic of China (ROC) and Panama is still effective as no notification of termination has been received.
MOFA made the statement in response to a media report quoting a Panamanian official as saying the agreement has become invalid.
Chinese-language Up Media reported on the same day that Panama Minister of the Presidency Álvaro Alemán said on Tuesday the FTA has become invalid.
Source: Focus Taiwanf
This Massive Cruise Ship Just Became the Biggest Ever to Cross the Panama Canal.
A 168,028-ton Norwegian Cruise Line ship traveled through the Panama Canal Monday, becoming the largest-ever passenger vessel to traverse the narrow waterway.
The Norwegian Bliss traveled through the recently expanded Panama Canal on its way from Germany to Seattle. The new ship will cruise from there to Alaska through the summer, Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement last month.
The trip through the Canal would not have been possible without the completion of a nearly decade-long expansion project that doubled its capacity for cargo ships, making locks 70 feet wider and 18 feet deeper to accommodate bigger ships. The hefty infrastructure project was completed in June 2016.
Source: Time
Pedasi, Panama: A destination on the move
Panama is full of gorgeous beachside locations. That is certainly not a secret. The thing is, however, with two coasts of beautiful beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean, there are literally hundreds of towns to put your feet up, catch some waves, or soak in some rays.
What people love so much about Pedasi, Panama
For starters, let’s go with the old adage: location, location, location. Pedasi has one of the best locations in the country when it comes to remote nature, good surf, and unspoiled land/beaches. It’s far enough from the city to be a destination all on its own, but accessible enough from the country’s airports and cities to make it accessible via both land and air. Pedasi is essentially the go-to spot on Panama’s Pacific coast if you’re looking for a non-commercial beach experience, and a unique vacation without the all-inclusives, traffic, or day-trippers from the city.
Source: International Relocation Firm Blog
