What is the stabiltiy of panama?

Question

What is the stabiltiy of panama?

Answer 1

The other answer I have read  is so off base and is so very typical of either realtors wanting to sell you something or someone who simply reads material off Wikipedia, or  someone has the rose colored glasses on way too tight..

Here's the reality about Panama like it or not..I can talk about it, I live here.

Panama is a country of only 3 million people..Atlanta is more populous..therefore it is a country of relatives and cousins and who-you-know. The ruling political party, the PRD are the same people who supported Manuel Noriega, they are anti-US but will always take a hand-out..the Speaker of the National Assembly is wanted in the US for the murder of a US Army sergeant here back in the 90's...imagine the country's Speaker of the House is a wanted murderer..and he goes to work everyday...(google SGT Zak Hernandez).

Corruption in Panama is rampant from the traffic cop who will gladly accept a $10.00 bribe, (that is why he stopped you..)as he is only paid $300 per month to the immigration official who must give you one of a zillion stamps, so they are for sale too....they love their stamps..

Infrastructure is poor to deteriorating..original Canal Zone improvements that the US made and maintained are now crumbling..for examples roads are seldom repaved, sewers have not been replaced since the 1960's..streets are simply patched never re-paved..making driving even on city streets a teeth chattering experience..manhole covers are stolen daily by poor people who need the recycle money..imagine hitting that hole? people do all the time, especially at night....

Prices of everything are on the rise..gas is now $3.48 per gallon..the price is set by the government..not the market..

Milk is nearly $4.00 per gallon, bread about $1.89 a loaf...

Electricity for a two bedroom apartment with the thermostat glued to 82f will run about $200 per month..rents go from $500 for a cheesy in-town apartment with no hot water to $850 per month (mine) for a better three bedroom with no hot water..most apartments don't have hot water heaters..just too expensive to run..

Hey how about that infrastructure?!

Raw sewage in the streets next to $300K apartments is so common anymore it doesn't  even make the paper..just step over it..

Dengue fever is now common in Panama City because the government has cut back on mosquito control..I have had 2 people in my office out with it this past month, it is more than just a fever..Dengue can be fatal..After many years, Malaria has also made a complete comeback in Panama.. unheard of in Canal Zone times but times change..

Panama is a real contradiction..the poorest slums are next to new  expensive high-rises that rent for 5K per month;  a shiny new mall is within walking distance to two ghetto's that are so filthy you have never seen anything like it in the states..

The new Centennial Bridge over the Canal was so poorly built it the roadbed is cracking apart. and the bridge will have to be completely repaired. The American construction bid was rejected..take that you gringo's..they showed us...

Traffic congestion in Panama City is best described as phenominal..and it is all so curable..imagine a city of 850K people with less than 100 traffic lights..think of the chaos at rush hour..that's Panama City..why? are traffic lights so prohibitively expensive? no..there's just no budget for such a frivolous expense..people are used to 3-4 hour commutes for only 20 miles. The government just doesn't care..

Crime in Panama is a real problem and getting worse..Colombian drug gangs operate here now with impunity..come on ..why would a $3-400 a month policeman risk his life over dope? Home invasions are very common, there are bars on nearly everyone's window that doesn't live in a high rise which is why they are so popular...duh..

..Here's a new one for you gringo's..within the last several weeks restaurants have been completely taken over by heavily armed robbers who force the clientele to strip and rob the entire place and then  take your clothes so you can't follow them..a good old American Pizza Hut in Panama City was hit like this just last Friday night. I wonder if the patrons ever will get together again for a reunion since they shared such an intimate time?

So, just because there is no Army doesn't mean there is stability..every day brings some new instability..last week the labor unions (google SUNTRACS) shut down the main streets in cities throughout the entire country...nobody went to school and very few went to work.. The Unions and their marxist university student supporters began a rock throwing melee at police who approached them..there was plenty of tear gas in the streets...tourists were trapped in hotels and business came to a screeching halt..

not my idea of stability..

Sometimes those of us who work here think an army might not be a bad idea..

Many Panamanians say that crime was less when Noriega was in power..just think about that statement..that's how bad crime has become, when rational law abiding people wish for the return of a strongman..not that they would really want one, in those days the criminals were in uniform....the current government is still operating a Banana Republic..several in the past are little more than 5 year kleptocracies..steal what you can..you have so little time.

With the increased rates on the Canal this country should be a Latin American Dubai..the Canal brings in almost $3 Billion per year and there are only 3 million people..do the math....but rampant corruption and mismanagement  from El Presidente, whose uncle was caught by the newspaper buying beachfront property for pennies on the dollar, down to the cop in the street steals the dream from the poor that now make-up %33 of the population...see the CIA World Factbook for the stats..fewer than %5 of the population runs the show in Panama..it's all who you know..not about ability..but upon connections....no, not like in the US..networking is very different here

and there is plenty of resentment brewing and last week it broiled over into the streets..

However, there are many positives..good food..nice people in the interior, great scenery..several good beaches..

overall...an almost nice place to visit...do come..visit..but have your eyes opened to reality not realtors smoke and mirrors..

Answer 2

Panama has the most stable government in the region (they do not have an Army).

Panama has the best economy too. Two reasons: The Panama Canal is steady source of cash. And, they have major plans to widen it for newer, larger vessels.  

Also, Panama happens to be, at this moment in history, in the middle of a giant building boom. There are over one hundred major condominium projects under construction now, in the country.

The market for upscale housing is fueled by wealthy Venezuelans who are leaving Chavez's socialist dream seeking refuge in Panama and by American "Baby Boomers" who seek a warm place to retire.

Also because Panama uses the U.S. Dollar as it currency, Europeans, who are on the Euro, see Panama as a bargain and they too are coming to Panama to buy waterfront apartments at bargain prices.

Panama has the best infrastructure in the region too, inherited from the Americans, who set the standard for stable electricity, good roads, and excellent drinking water.  

So for all these reasons, Panama has stability that is not matched elsewhere in Central or South America.

Answer 3

after a couple of months in panama usa is heaven on earth for some people.