Photo from Panama Canal Website
Wow...it's been nearly 2 months since my last post. A lot has been going on in the world. I've been so
busy following the news that I haven't had the time to sit down and actually
write about any of it.
The USA presidential primaries have been akin to a reality
show this year. The Republicans have taken a no-holds-barred approach to
political competition and no subject has been too personal to discuss during
televised debates. The rest of the world continues to enjoy
lots of laughs and endless amazement at just how arrogant, prejudiced, and base
we "Americans" are. The Democratic primaries are proceeding with a
little more dignity, but there seems to be a lot of disillusionment with voter
suppression issues and campaign rigging. Here in Panama the expat community seems just as divided
as the folks back home.
In Boquete there's definite evidence of the doomsday
Christian immigratory wave. It can be perceived in the news pieces that are
circulated on the local forums or via casual conversations overheard in public
places. Or, sometimes it shows up even in direct conversation intended
for a different heading. I recently learned many Boquete newbies believe
that the general election in November will result in rioting and civil disorder
sufficient for President Obama to declare martial law. The expectation is
that subsequent to doing so, he will remain in office for an additional term
"as he has desired all along" and that the US will become a dictatorship.
(I find this incredulous, but would certainly take an Obama dictatorship
over a Trump presidency if those were the only options.)
I've received some orientation to digital currency, as well as a variety of conspiracy theories.
The Cuban refugee situation is intensifying.
Costa Rica mobilized 8,000 Cuban refugees from their borders to the USA
in the past year, at significant governmental cost. The country claims it
is unable to maintain this burden and has announced border closure. Costa Rica, on
April 15th, identified enforcement measures it plans to apply
regarding some 3000 Cuban migrants and 500 African / Asian migrants currently in
Paso Canoas wanting to traverse their country. They will detain them in
immigration centers and arrange for deportation. The same morning, Costa Rica transferred
about 200 people originating from Africa and Asia back onto Panamanian soil after having been
allowed to cross through Panama's border onto the Costa Rican side. Demonstrations along the Pan
American highway resulted, and a strong police presence is being maintained in front of
the immigration building there. One Cuban man who was interviewed by the
local TV channel stated, "Panama says it is helping us, and we are
grateful for having a roof over our heads, but the accommodations are inhuman.
We are just as repressed here as we were in Cuba." Considering they
have arrived en masse short on funds to maintain themselves and are being
provided with food, water, and shelter, I take exception to the comment.
But then, I'm not living under the same conditions. A high level CARITAS
worker in Panama interviewed by the local news station reported that Cubans who have reached Panama through Colombia are all reporting rough treatment from Colombian police and other officials who rob them of their cash.
They allegedly set out with money to care for themselves, but end up in
Panama with nothing after their travels through Colombia. Paso Canoas is a
small town that can be completely traversed on foot in 20 minutes. It has
few hotels. Pictures on the TV showed people living in tents under some
type of large concrete structure with a tin roof. The CARITAS worker also
mentioned Puerto Obaldía, another small town where other Cubans have entered Panama. She said the town consists of 600 people, but
800 Cubans have now arrived there. There
is one doctor to attend to the entire village, and the additional migrants
as well as the nearby comarca, have overwhelmed the delivery of health care there.
Cubans have been migrating to the US and other countries via Ecuador for a number of years. According to reports, Costa Rica has been passing 20,000 people a year through it's borders en route to "el norte". The current crisis began back in November of 2015 when Costa Rican police broke up
an illegal coyote ring that moved these people. Costa Rica arrested and incarcerated 12
individuals, which threw a huge wrench in the [illegal] system. Then in December, Nicaragua
closed it’s borders to the immigrants, and Costa Rica was stuck having to mobilize
8000 Cubans headed for the US. Costa
Rica struggled valiantly with the problem and resolved it, but the immigrants
keep coming. Seems the ball has finally
landed in Panama’s court and the outcome should be interesting. Panama’s vice-president, Isabel St. Malo, has emphasized Panama is concerned with
humanitarian issues and is implementing measures to provide these people with
attention while trying to work out international agreements.
The Orchid Feria, the Jazz Festival, and Boquete's 105th anniversary have
come and gone since my last post. The Orchid Festival was the same as
usual. The Jazz Festival was very expensive with shorter musical
performances. In comparison to the Panama City Jazz Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of attendees, at an average cost of $10 per ticket and integrates the local community, Boquete's Jazz Festival cost $70 a ticket, took place in Valle Escondido, and may have included a handful of wealthy token Panamanians. The event I attended was full of non-local, non-resident groupies. There was a pervasive
commerciality to the ambiance, and some gringo organizer kept bragging to me about the custom-made silver jewelry he was wearing. What a contrast to the rest of life down here.
The Boquete Anniversary celebrations lasted
a few days and included a cabalgata, typical and modern music in central park,
school gatherings, a contest to elect a festivities queen, and civic and
traditional performances. I only marginally participated this year, but
enjoyed the atmosphere and horse parade.
The Panama Papers scandal has changed things here in not so good a way. Panamanians are feeling any combination of embarrassed, ashamed, indignant, persecuted, defiant and/or perplexed. They are an exceedingly patriotic people who take any
criticism of their country personally and are very anxious that the scandal not be a label for the country. A lot of things are going on internally, and the international press is also saturated with information about the matter, so I have little motivation to write more at this time. Perhaps in a later post. Suffice it to say that Panama is feeling the international pressure to comply with the automatic data interchange system established by the OCDE. Though highly resistant, someone recently sent me an article out of France indicating Panama has relented. I haven't seen the same announcement locally, however.
Lastly, the Canal Expansion is close to being opened. The canal is currently in a testing and final touch phase, but the end is very near!
