A report published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) reveals that Panama is providing more education to its children. The same study reveals that the economic value per year of education past 12 years has gone down. More advanced education for Panama workers allows employers to pick, choose, and pay lower salaries.

Now we hear that President Martinelli is pushing to provide uniforms and books for all public school students. For those from North America this may sound strange but historically there has been a large gap between the rich and the not so rich in Panama. The ECLAC study mentioned above notes that in 2001 the average education of a worker in Panama was 8.7 years and by 2007 it was 9.3 years. However, the average education for a worker in the cities is 10.5 years versus 4.3 in the comarcas, the indigenous areas of Panama.

The main investment that Panama needs to make in education is in the outlying areas. The simple measures of providing uniforms and books for all students will be a good place to start.

Investment in general in Panama has helped alleviate poverty over the last two decades according to ECLAC’s Social Panaorama of Latin America study. Now as Panama invests more in its people as well as its infrastructure we can expect a better educated and trained workforce to continue to make Panama more prosperous.

For the last ten years Americans in increasing numbers have been moving to Panama to retire making Panama the premier retirement destination in the world. Retirement property values are still very competitive with the US and Europe as well as the Caribbean. In fact the is a current pause in the high end of the Panama real estate market providing excellent buying opportunities.

Panama is at the junction of North and South American. Close to one forth of world trade passes through the Panama Canal and Tocumen airport near Panama City is fast becoming the major Latin American hub. Panama has a democratic government and Americans can own retirement property here. The economy in Panama is thriving and Panama has roads, telecommunications, and shopping comparable to the USA. Business publications refer to Panama as having first world infrastructure.

Retirement property in Panama comes in varies shapes and sizes. You can purchase a condo overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Panama City and from your Panama retirement property watch container ships on the horizon come and go from the Panama Canal. From the same condo you can take a short taxi ride to any of a number of shopping malls comparable to those in the USA.

For those looking for an escape from the city there is Boquete in Chiriqui Province near to the Costa Rican border. This area is mountainous and a magnet for ecotourism. At about 3000 feet Boquete, Panama retirement property is less humid than the coastal areas and the nights are pleasantly cool. There are retirement property developments in Boquete and similar inland sites bringing all of the amenities of modern living to paradise.

Retirement in Panama

Retired persons in Panama, Panamanian or foreign residents, are entitled to a large number of discounts. These include prescriptions, medical visits, restaurant bills, your light bill, lodging and so forth. By the way, many Panamanian medical specialists are US or European trained making Panama a center for medical consultation through all of Latin America.

Residency is easy and inexpensive in Panama. If you have any questions contact us at ABPanama and we will be pleased to recommend a competent bilingual attorney to help you with the paperwork.

HPV Vaccination

Panama is providing free vaccinations for Human Papilloma Virus, a cause of cancer of the cervix. There have been a few complaints regarding vaccinating for a sexually transmitted disease but these are not from Panamanians. Panama views the issue as a medical need and is going ahead with vaccinations of adolescents up to twenty-five year old women.

The point of the campaign is to prevent disability and death from cancer of the cervix of thousands of women.

Slowed Rate of Growth in January

Panama’s economy slowed in January 2009 compared to the year before. Nevertheless Panama continues to grow its GDP at roughly 5 percent, which is the predicted number for 2009.

Life in Panama; Art in the Park

Vaccination controversy, economic growth and other issues aside life goes on in Panama. The 3rd Annual Art in the Park of Penonome, Panama took place March 21, 2009. Artists displayed their work and the Youth Orchestra of Panama played a concert.

A raffle was held and proceeds from that as well as ten percent of each art sale went to art $350 scholarships for promising Panama art students.

Infrastructure and Panama

According to wire services there are more than a hundred large infrastructure projects in the works in Latin America. The total cost will run over $64 Billion. Topping the list is Panama’s Canal Expansion project at $5.25 Billion.

In general the projects include ports and logistics such as Panama’s port improvement programs, electric generation, mass transit such as Costa Rica’s electric train/mass transit project, waste water treatment such as Panama’s bay cleanup project, and telecommunications improvements.

Panama’s Bay cleanup project involves installation of sewage treatment plants and linking all sewage drainage into the plant network. The final goal includes allowing people to swim in Panama Bay, which has not been healthy since Panama old timers were kids.

On March 2, 2006 the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a loan of 45 million dollars for the Panama City and Bay of Panama Sanitation Project to expand the sewer system in Panama City, Panama is improving sanitation in poor neighborhoods reducing contamination of rivers crossing Panama City. As of March of 2008, $6,165,047 in US dollars had been disbursed.

According the IDB’s press release the Panama City and Bay of Panama Sanitation Project is project one of three with a total expected cost of 360 million dollars. The total set of projects is meant to build a system to collect, treat and dispose of sewage in the Panamanian capital.

According to IDB in 2006, “Panama City [had] virtually no facilities to treat the 280,000 cubic meters of wastewater produced per day by almost one million inhabitants and its industrial and commercial businesses.

If you are interested in more about the Panama Bay cleanup project, Panama real estate, or other Panama issues visit ABPanama.