By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - According to Caterina Duarte, the Marketing Manager for Telered S.A, the company responsible for connecting banks through ATM machines, there are still some problems with an "upgrade" to software deployed yesterday. The company made what she called a "unilateral business decision" to start charging a $3.00 transaction fee for all international transactions. However, she also specified that those fees will not apply to any European accounts. At this moment she said some of the machines are working while some others have not yet been fixed. Apparently the problem has to do with the software that manages the ATM transaction, and they did deploy a fix this morning at 8:30 that corrected the problem on some machines but not all of them. She could not tell me how an individual user might be able to determine (just by looking at it) if any particular machine might work or not, and her advice was to "just try it, and if it's not going to work then you'll get an error message." Duh. She said the are working around the clock to fix the problem, that they are aware of it, and she would send me an email once it has been resolved. When I started pressing her on the "what the hell" issues of charging the $3.00 bucks a pop for every transaction, she said she would be sending me some information they sent to the banks weeks ago. I can't wait. Anyway, in the meantime, you're going to have to try several ATM machines in order to find one that works until they get this cluster un-screwed. What a goat-rope...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just got an email from Richard - "Tried yesterday and again a few minutes ago and still the same problem. I was using a visa card. Not sure if they fixed US debit cards but as of today your US visa card will still not work." And another comment - "No it's not fixed. I tried again today, about 5 minutes ago and it has the same problem as you described." OK, back to the phones and Telered. Let's see what they say this time. I know, it's frustrating. Don't shoot the messenger - I'm getting conflicting information...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By Rocío I. Martins A. for El Siglo - Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli said he would be giving a big raise to high ranking police officers, while the rest of the force will be getting an additional $100 per month as he promised during the campaign. Martinelli made his announcement at the ceremony handing command of National Police to Gustavo Perez. The funds to pay for these raises will be supported by an extraordinary credit and $20 million dollars that will be removed from the budget of the National Assembly of Deputies, money that was being used to pay for "botellas" (employees who were on the payroll but who don't actually show up for work) said Martinelli. The pay raises will be staggered according to the rank of each officer. According to Martinelli's proposal, Police Commissioners will receive $1,000 more per month, Sub commissioners will see a $650 dollar per month raise, $450 for Majors, $350 for Captains, and $100 for Lieutenants and below. Martinelli also promised, as of next year, an additional increase of $20 dollars per month for recruits, so that all officers will enter the police force earning a minimum of at least $500 dollars per month. The President's idea is that if the police are well paid and motivated, they will be in a better position to help fulfill his "safe streets" campaign promise.

Another one of Martinelli's objectives is to change the laws to judge juvenile offenders as adults. “I don't know what has to be done, Madame Solicitor General, so that all those who commit a crime rot in jail, but enough already of (the way things have been) and this must end," Martinelli said firmly. On this subject, the Solicitor General of the Nation, Ana Matilde Gomez, said the President's proposal must first pass through the National Assembly, since that is the branch of government where laws are changed and that there are some laws that can be improved. She added that the message of the President was directed to the police officers for them to do their jobs, do not alter crime scenes, comply with procedures, and not plant evidence in order to avoid that criminals are set free.

Panama America - After the recovery in Ecuador of an 8 year old Panamanian girl, Angelis Mitre Castillo, who has been reported as missing and with the possibility that it could be Mónica Serrano, Panama's Solicitor General of the Nation, Ana Matilde Gomez, requested discretion in the case in order to not create false hopes. Gomez explained in February of this year Interpol of Spain confirmed to Interpol of Panama they had interviewed María del Carmen Medina Reyes, who with her papers supposedly in order, had with her a little girl who had supposedly been given to her in Panama and who she later left in the care of relatives in Ecuador. Medina said she did all of the (adoption) paperwork through MIDES in Chepo, but when Panamanian authorities tried to verify the information they could not find any documents to sustain her claims the child had been adopted. The Solicitor General announced an expert in genetics, a prosecutor Luis Martínez, and a representative from the Panamanian Chancellery will travel to Ecuador in order to review the case file held by the authorities there and to confirm with the DNA lab in Ecuador the methodology they will be using and to see if the genetic profile created in 2004 of the mother of Mónica Serrano to determine if the results can be compared, and the Ecuadorian authorities have given a term of 48 hours. Meanwhile the child will stay at the National Direction of Police Specialized for Boys, Girls, and Adolescents in Guayas, Ecuador. The newspaper Express de Ecuador published today the recovery of a Panamanian girl Angelis Mitre Castillo, 8 years old, who was kidnapped from Panama City in 2002 when she was only 1 year and six months old. That same newspaper said the authorities learned two months ago that the child was in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in the custody of Oderai Nieto Reyes, the sister of the supposed kidnapper. (See Comments)

By Grisel Bethancourt for La Critica - Panamanian authorities arrested three Colombians Wednesday for trying to transport 610 kilos of cocaine in a motorboat near Playa Muerto, along the Pacific coast in the Darién province near Jaqué. Officers of the National Border Service deployed along the coast of the Darién detected the entrance of the suspicious boat as they patrolled the area. The officers chased the gray boat with powerful motors on the high seas and managed to arrest its occupants who were taken by the border service officers to the regional headquarters of the National Police in Jaqué, in the Darién province. The foreigners, who claimed to be from Buenaventura, Colombia, were identified as Jonás Jair Peña, Armando Mosquera and Clovis Quintero. When the boat was inspected police officers discovered a false bottom where the cocaine was hidden. Police officers also found a fuel tank in the boat which is why the officers suspect the intention of the captured crew was to reach a predetermined point in order to introduce the illicit cargo. The three men were turned over to the authorities of the Anti Drug Prosecutor in the Darién, according to the National Border Service. Later they will be transferred to La Palma in the Darién. SEIZURES - More than one ton of cocaine has been seized near the coasts of Jaqué this year. This coastal area has been dubbed the "maritime corridor" where Colombian drug trafficking organizations are using the route to pass illegal drug shipments through the country. REINFORCEMENTS - This year the security along the Panamanian Pacific coast has been reinforced resulting in increased seizures of drugs coming from Colombia. (See Comments)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Conflicts have already started between the interim Mayor of Panama City Roxana Méndez and the PRD controlled Municipal Council of Panama City. Yesterday, Roxana Méndez named Juan Manuel Vásquez as the new Municipal Engineer. At about the same time yesterday morning the PRD controlled Municipal Council voted to install René Paniza in the same position. According to the Panamanian Constitution it falls to the mayor to appoint all municipal functionaries, and in the long run it's most likely Juan Manuel Vásquez will remain as the new Municipal Engineer. This is an incredibly important appointment for two reasons. First of all, the Municipal Engineer is the person who has control over all of the construction projects in Panama City. Secondly, the outgoing Municipal Engineer, Jaime Salas, has been accused of all kinds of wrongdoing. Obviously it will be much easier to prove those cases if the office he used to occupy is controlled by someone who is not in the PRD. And of course, there are tremendous opportunities for corruption in this office - it's likely one of the most lucrative offices in the entire government (so the PRD wants to keep control.) Anyway, this was just Roxana Méndez's first day on the job, and the fate of Bosco Vallarino still remains to be decided.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Yesterday morning I started getting email and telephone calls from panicked people who reported that all of a sudden their ATM cards they use to access funds in the United States were suddenly not working. There was a message saying they were going to charge a $3.00 fee, and when you hit "Accept" to agree to paying the fee, then it would lock up and you could not get any money out of the machine. Yikes! Not good. I heard from several people, and the stories were all pretty much the same. I just got off of the phone with a representative of the Telered S.A. company. These are the guys who manage the telecommunications network that allows the ATM machine that sits in front of the Banco General (or wherever) to communicate with your bank in the United States (or wherever.) They explained to me that the problem started yesterday morning, and there was an error in an update to some operating software that was deployed. They worked through the night to fix the problem, and as of 8:30 this morning all ATM machines should now be working normally. If you still can't get money from your ATM, let me know (don@panama-guide.com or cell 6614-0451). As predicted, these little hiccups are normally fixed within 24 to 48 hours.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received this morning via email: "Morning Don ... Thought the following would be of interest. Mike and Peggy are missionaries who run a small hospital close to La Ceiba, Honduras. We met them in Antigua, Guatemala, in 2003 where they were completing an intensive Spanish Language course. They have lived in Honduras since 2003. I don't know Sally Mahoney. Apparently she is in Teguce (name gringo's have given to the national capitol because the real name is hard to spell and pronounce). We find it interesting that even the left wingers on the Rio Dulce in Guatemala are supportive of the actions of the Honduran government. It would appear our President and most of the rest of the world got it wrong! (One email ends, another forwarded email begins) Hey > friends I have below a letter from Sally Mahoney from the hospital administration to explain more of the situation here and our prayer needs. Please continue to pray for us and the country. This weekend we should know more of where the government is headed. We do not get involved in political things here as that is not our ministry. It is interesting to be on the other side of the fence to see what is really happening and how the media of the world sees it. If non biased people would come and see the truth they would have a different story to tell. Please remember we are located far away from the capital and the activity outlined in this document. Our lives so far are normal with the exception of a curfew not allowing us to be on the streets after dark. We continue to trust God for our safety and pray for His peace to reign throughout the world. Blessings to all In God's Love. Mike & Peggy (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Three Panamanian boxers will be active in international bouts during the month of July 2009.

• On July 4 - At Vienne, France, Anselmo Moreno, Panama, vs. Mahyar Monshipour, France, 12, for Moreno's WBA bantamweight title.
  
  
• On July 18 - At Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Tomas Rojas, Mexico, vs. Ricardo Nunez, Panama, 12, for the interim WBC super flyweight title.
  
  
• On July 25 - At Yucatan, Mexico (PPV), Yuriorkis Gamboa, Miami, vs. Whyber Garcia, Panama, 12, for the interim WBA featherweight title.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By CARLOS ALBERTO MONTANER for the Washington Post - The United States Ambassador to Honduras, Hugo Llorens, an extremely competent diplomat, tried very hard to keep Honduras's Congress from ousting President Manuel Zelaya. After his arguments and pressures were exhausted, and faced with something that seemed inevitable, he did what he could: he sheltered the president's son at his residence to save him from any violent outcome. Fortunately, Zelaya's expulsion from the presidency and from his country was bloodless. It wasn't exactly a military coup: the Army acted on orders from the Supreme Court after Zelaya's continued violations of the law. The ousted president seemed intent on getting reelected, even if it meant violating the Constitution, and on dragging the nation into Hugo Chávez's "21st century socialism" camp against the will of the Honduran people. Nevertheless, if there is still something worse than the depressing spectacle of a freely elected president forced to leave his country at gunpoint, it is that same leader trying to force his way back in. If Zelaya returns, he will be arrested and charged with an array of crimes. His imprisonment will embarrass any who decide, irresponsibly, to accompany him on such a mad adventure. (more)

The Huffington Post - Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has come out in support of the military coup in Honduras, chastising President Obama in a statement for what he calls "a slap in the face to the people" of that country. From his statement: "The people of Honduras have struggled too long to have their hard-won democracy stolen from them by a Chavez-style dictator. The Honduran Congress, the Honduran Supreme Court, and the Honduran military have acted in accordance to the Honduran constitution and the rule of law. [...] "I am hopeful that as President Obama grows in office, he will eventually turn away from despots like Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, and Zelaya, and give the United States' full-throated support to the people of any country who are fighting for the same values we cherish and defend in America. The people fighting for freedom around the world, in Iran and Honduras, should never have to wonder which side America will choose between freedom and tyranny. "President Obama's call for the reinstatement of Zelaya is a slap in the face to the people of Honduras. And the resolution written by the Organization of American States tramples over the hopes and dreams of a free and democratic people.(more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Somebody buy Mitch a beer. And then, fly him and his friends to Washington DC to talk to the State Department. I received this today via email, and it includes a further definition and description of how and why Manuel Zelaya was property and legally removed from the position of President of Honduras. This is good stuff and should not be missed. Understanding what happened in Honduras is difficult for foreigners, and this is the best I've seen yet to make it simple to understand, even for those who are suffering from severe "knee-jerk-itus." The body of the email follows, but it's not really clear what was written by "Mitch" and where the comments from the Honduran lawyer and Constitutional scholar start, but you get the idea... "The following was written by Octavio Sanchez. He is a Honduran lawyer (J.D. Universidad Nacional Universidad Nacional Autonóma de Honduras; LL.M. Harvard Law School). He also was a presidential advisor from 2002 – 2005. He served as the Honduran Minister of Culture from 2005 – 2006. Octavio is tremendously more qualified that I am to discuss the constitution and what happened this past weekend. I’d like to publicly thank Octavio for taking the time to write this powerful piece describing the reality of what happened according to the Honduran constitution." (more)

Published in La Prensa of Honduras - The main road of the city was not large enough to hold the thousands of demonstrators who shouted slogans, sang, and showed their support for what's being called the "transition government" of Honduras. Thousands of people arrived and the concentration completely filled the Avenue of the Los Andes neighborhood in the industrial capital of Honduras. The Hondurans want to be heard in the world, so that people don't only focus on the claims of the former president Manuel Zelaya, but rather investigate the reasons why he was removed from power. "OAS and UN, You Have Already Listened To Zelaya - Now Listen To The People" read several placards while unanimously the people shouted "Mel, Get Out!" The demonstrators also completely rejected the intervention of the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. Among prayers calling for peace in Honduras, the participants waved white handkerchiefs and shouted "Viva Honduras!" Representatives from different social sectors said they support the transition government and asked the world to accept what has happened in the country, and they simply say the constitution has been respected in order to continue as a democracy. (End of Article)

It's Becoming More Clear To Me Every Day: About the only people who don't support this action are "Mel" Zelaya, Hugo Chavez, and Fidel Castro. Sooner or later the leaders of the world will wake up and realize they completely and totally missed the boat on this one when they "condemned" the supposed "coup" in Honduras. Apparently, there was no coup. And, apparently the transition government in Honduras will remain in place until they can hold another election, which should happen relatively soon. Both the Supreme Court and the Legislative Branch in Honduras voted to remove Manuel Zelaya from power - so what the hell else do you want? The wacko left-wingers are going nuts (as expected) but screw those guys. Again, this was a patriotic action to defend democracy in Honduras. Period. I just wish the people of Venezuela had the same will to throw out Hugo Chavez. Unfortunately, that guy will most remain in power until he dies - he'll never give it up in an orderly and democratic fashion. No way.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

Yachting Monthly - Sailing schoolboy Mike Perham, 17, who hopes to become the youngest solo yachtsman to sail around the world is just 650 miles from Panama. His latest log reads: 'After a fantastic day's run, the wind began to drop off slightly this evening and I've now slowed down to 9knots. I'm still chuffed with my progress though as usually in this area by the doldrums the conditions are pretty variable. 'At the moment, it looks like I could be In Panama for Monday morning, which would be a great result. I'm only 650miles off from Panama as the crow flies, but I think I'll be sailing around 750miles to get in there. Sailing straight isn't the quickest way. I'm staying south for as long as I can before peeling off north, almost straight up to Panama. This way I stay in the good winds for longer and will be able to make the most of the current. 'The sheer amount of random gear floating out on the ocean I've come across has been crazy. Today, as I came on deck this morning, I looked out to sea and 10ft away was a large fishing buoy with a flagpole attached. This is a typical marker for something like a lobster pot which would have been a short way offshore. It had obviously come away from whatever was tethering it before and had drifted all the way out here. 'The moment I saw it I immediately thought that one of its trailing lines would wrap around Totallymoney.com's, keel which is nothing less than a perfect hook - especially as we were sailing on the leeward side but, thank goodness, as we sailed straight past at 11knots, nothing got caught and it continued to bob away into the distance and out of sight. The ocean really is full of junk in places. Apart from several mooring buoys I've also had a close encounter with a huge 10inch towing rope stretching further than I could see, in the middle of the Southern Ocean, thousands of miles from anywhere. I've seen countless random plastic bottles and small bits of rubbish just floating about in all sorts of places around the world. 'It's the end of a food week today, so the choice is pretty poor for dinner - oh well, at least I'm going to have a fantastic selection tomorrow!' More at www.sailmike.com

mongabay.com - The World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) has approved REDD readiness plans (R-Plans) for Panama and Guyana, and rejected a plan for Indonesia, reports the U.N. and the Bank Information Center, an advocacy group. Readiness plans are the first step toward a country qualifying for payments under the proposed Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) mechanism, a climate change mitigation scheme that would pay tropical countries for conserving their forests. The details of REDD are expected to be hammered out this December at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen. Rainforest in Panama Readiness plans involve developing a baseline reference scenario for a country's historical and projected deforestation rates, as well as a adopting strategies to reduce forest clearing and designing systems to monitor, report and verify reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from avoided deforestation. (more)

PANAMA, July 1.— Ricardo Martinelli, the president-elect of Panama, today received Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo, who is leading a delegation from the island to the swearing-in ceremony. Spokespersons from the new government indicated that the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, as well as other aspects of interest for the two nations. Likewise, the incoming Panamanian administration expressed its interest in bilateral cooperation, including the possibility of extending its reach. Lazo’s agenda also included a tribute to General Omar Torrijos during a visit to the San Pablo Apóstol Church in the capital, which contains the ashes of the late revolutionary, safeguarded by the religious congregation of this institution. On behalf of the Cuban government, the Cuban vice president placed a floral wreath at the urn containing Torrijos’ ashes. Lazo conversed with several of the members of the congregation and stated that leaders “disappear physically, but their ideas live on”. For us, he added, “it is source of satisfaction to come and recall a figure who worked alongside the people and for the people”. The Cuban delegation is also made up of José Arbesú, deputy head of the International Relations Department of the Central Committee of the Party, and Alejandro González, deputy foreign minister. (PL)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - For about the last six months I've been getting sporadic email from readers telling me the McAfee Site Advisor service was saying there was some kind of a problem or exploit on Panama-Guide.com. I started writing to these guys, complaining, asking for more information, asking them what the problem was so I could correct it, etc. I wrote several times and they never got back to me. Over the last two days I "ratcheted up" my noise level, threatening them with legal action if they continued to ignore me, etc. Today they finally heard me and I just received an email saying "Dear Don Winner, Thank you for taking the time to inquire about the SiteAdvisor web safety analysis of your website. We apologize any inconvenience this has caused. SiteAdvisor senior engineers have cleared this domain for a green Web safety rating switch. Thanks again for your interest. Sincerely, Patricia McAfee SiteAdvisor." Well, golly, thanks folks. You painted my site "red" for no apparent reason, ignored my repeated requests for information or assistance, and didn't respond until I started going ballistic. Gee, thanks for removing the (bogus) warning that never should have been there in the friggin' first place. Awful nice of ya'...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I continue to be amazed and appalled by the knee-jerk calls from the International community to try to force Honduras to reinstate "Mel" Zelaya to power as the President of that country. I continue to read and learn more about this situation every day, and the more I hear the more I am convinced the people of Honduras did the right thing, at the right time. Apparently there is no clearly established method to impeach a sitting president in Honduras as there is in the United States and many other countries. If the President of Honduras commits a crime then it falls to the Supreme Court to remove him from power. That was done. Did you hear me? In Honduras former President Manuel Zelaya was removed from power in a legal and proper fashion by the Supreme Court in accordance with their constitution. There are all kinds of things going on inside of Honduras the international news media is basically choosing to ignore. Everyone seems happy with the simple (but woefully inadequate) 2-step - "There was a coup" and "Zelaya should be returned to power." In fact, there was no coup. And, Manuel Zelaya should not be returned to power. It makes me wonder who is advising the Presidents of the region - where are they getting their information from, and how is it possible I am more clearly informed on the situation in Honduras than they are? I mean, come on... I can understand how it might be politically impossible to make a statement in support of the new government of Honduras, and in effect most of the sitting Presidents of Latin America are probably worried about being tossed out one day themselves. But at the very least they need to get up to speed on the facts on the ground in Hondo. I stand by the decision taken to throw that bastard Manuel Zelaya out on his ass as a patriotic action on the part of brave Hondurans, and I call for the leaders of Latin America (and the world for that matter) to grow a pair of balls.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Obviously, the one feather Martin Torrijos was never able to stick in his cap was the ratification of the bilateral free trade agreement between the United States and Panama. Yesterday, among all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the inauguration of Ricardo Martinelli, I heard a few interesting comments. For example, according to the new Minister of Commerce and Industry (MICI), Roberto Henríquez, the ball is firmly in the court of the US congress to pass the agreement as signed. "Here in Panama we have already signed and ratified the agreement, it's now up to the US congress to vote on and ratify the agreement as signed." That's a pretty clear message. In other words, you can forget about any kind of a renegotiation or tweaking of the agreement, either pass it as it is or forget it. There might be some token tinkering, but I don't see Panama caving in on any of the really significant issues regarding offshore accounts, bearer share companies, or banking secrecy.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - If you peer out into the Bay of Panama and scan the horizon on Monday, you might just spot Mike Perham aboard his 50' sailboat as he approaches Panama. Mike is only 17 years old, and he's vying to be the youngest person to ever have sailed around the world, alone and unassisted. Mike is currently about 400 miles to the West of Panama in the Pacific Ocean and he expects to reach Panama hopefully by Monday. You can read his daily blog and track his progress via his website at SailMike.com with a more complete and comprehensive website available through one of his sponsor's at http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/. I'm currently coordinating with Mike's support team, and hopefully I'll be able to interview him when he reaches Panama. (more)

PANAMA CITY, Panama (CNN) -- Ricardo Martinelli, the multimillionaire owner of a supermarket chain, was inaugurated as president of Panama on Wednesday. Ricardo Martinelli is a pro-business conservative who defeated a candidate from the ruling center-left party. National Assembly President Jose Luis Varela performed the swearing-in and placed the presidential sash on Martinelli, a pro-business conservative who defeated a candidate from the ruling center-left party in May. The citizens of Panama "want things to be done differently," Varela said at the inauguration. "An attitude of change starts today." In his first speech as president, Martinelli promised a smaller government budget but raises for public workers. Public safety, an issue that the outgoing administration of Martin Torrijos struggled to maintain, will be a priority, Martinelli said. "Our prisons will be rehabilitation centers, not schools for criminals," he said. Panama will also work with Mexico and Colombia to combat drug trafficking in the region, Martinelli said. (more)

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Businessman Ricardo Martinelli was sworn in as Panama's new president on Wednesday, promising to start the biggest job-creation push ever in the country. Martinelli said he wants to make the nation of 3.3 million inhabitants the best place to do business in Latin America. "The people have given us a clear mandate to bring change to the government, from top to bottom, and that is what we will do," Martinelli said at the ceremony attended by various foreign leaders, including Honduras' ousted president, Manuel Zelaya. Martinelli, 57, a conservative supermarket magnate, also expressed a desire to become "an active partner" with Colombia and Mexico in the fight against drug trafficking during his five-year term. One of the new government's proposals is a billion-dollar plan to build a train system for the capital's metropolitan area. Martinelli's predecessor, Martin Torrijos, launched a $5.25 billion project to increase the Panama Canal's capacity and allow it to accommodate larger ships. The canal is Panama's economic motor and Martinelli supported its expansion, but the world's economic woes have generated uncertainty over the project, which is receiving $2.3 billion in international financing. And the country's real-estate boom, another driving force of the economy, has also been affected by the international financial crisis and economic downturn. Martinelli acknowledged "our administration will not have the resources the previous administration had."

By Rustin Dodd / MLB.com KANSAS CITY -- Bruce Chen wasn't sure the day would come. The day when he could walk into a Major League clubhouse, walk to his locker and see a jersey with the last name "Chen." It finally came last Saturday. After missing nearly two years of baseball -- two years spent battling ineffectiveness and an arm that required Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery -- Chen took the mound for the Royals in Pittsburgh. He lasted 6 1/3 innings and allowed four earned runs in the loss -- a small bump perhaps, but one that didn't change the fact that Chen was back in the Majors. "It's very special for me," Chen said. "In doing my rehab and trying to work towards coming back -- and I also have my family and my kids -- it's hard. I didn't know if I was going to make it back. I didn't know if I was going to be completely healthy." Chen will make his second start for the Royals on Thursday as they begin a four-game series against the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium It marks another opportunity for Chen to pitch and for others to curiously ask about his name. They've always asked about that last name. Maybe it just seemed a little odd. Why does the left-handed starting pitcher from Panama have the last name Chen? (more)

PANAMA CITY, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Ricardo Martinelli took office as new president of Panama on Wednesday, for a term that runs from July 1, 2009 to 2014 May 31 of 2014. Martinelli, born on March 11, 1952 in Panama City, is the owner of the Super 99 supermarket chain, which is the largest in the country. He graduated in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing from the University of Arkansas, U.S.. He also holds a master's degree in Business Administration specializing in Finance at INCAE, Costa Rica. He served as director of the Chamber Commerce of Panama from 1985 to 1987, and director of Social Security from 1994 to 1996. From 1999 to 2003, he worked as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority and Minister of Canal Affairs. In 2004, he was the candidate of Cambio Democratico (CD), a party of which he served as the president. Martinelli finished last out of four candidates with 5.3 percent of the vote in the 2004 election. In May 2009, he was elected as president, when Martinelli said he would review Panama's ties with China. He also served as Director of companies such as Golds Mills of Panama, Global Bank, Panasal S.A, National Television Channel-2 (TVN), Direct-TV, Desarrollo Norte SA, Molino de Oro, AVIPAC and Calox Panamena, among others. He is married to Marta Linares, who is an insurance agent, and has three children.

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya met senior US officials on the sidelines of an Organization of American States meeting, on the eve of his departure Wednesday for Panama, US officials said. The White House and the State Department said that the deposed leader met late Tuesday with Tom Shannon, US assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs and Dan Restrepo, the top Latin America advisor on the national security council. "Shannon reiterated the US commitment to seeing a return to the constitutional order in Honduras," a US official said, of the meeting on the fringes of the OAS in Washington. At the White House, spokesman Robert Gibbs noted the 72-hour deadline imposed by the OAS for Zelaya's reinstatement following a coup on Sunday. "We continue to monitor the situation and we will respond accordingly as events transpire. We are watching closely what is going in." The OAS in a communique Wednesday said Honduras faced suspension from the organization if it did not return Zelaya to power, in one of several moves by foreign governments and organizations ratcheting up pressure on the country. The Pentagon on Wednesday suspended all military activities with Tegucigalpa until further notice. Zelaya on Wednesday arrived in Panama for the inauguration of conservative millionaire Ricardo Martinelli as the country's new president.

President Ma Ying-jeou attended the inauguration of Panama’s new president, Ricardo Martinelli, on Wednesday. It was part of Ma's diplomatic tour of Taiwan's allies in Central America. Ma sat next to the recently ousted president of Honduras -- Manuel Zelaya. Ma was originally scheduled to meet Zelaya not in Panama, but in Honduras in a later stop of his tour. Those plans changed after the military unseated Zaleya on Sunday. Presidential Spokesman Wang Yu-chi describes Ma and Zelaya's interaction at the inauguration."In short, the president exchanged greetings with President Zaleya. Zaleya said that he's optimistic about the future. It was a brief but pleasant interaction," said Wang. Zaleya made a statement to the media before the ceremony. He said that the Organization of American States has been putting pressure on Honduras’ temporary government to restore Zaleya as president within 72 hours. For now, Zaleya is in Panama, but he is planning to return to Honduras in three days, accompanied by Argentine President Cristina Kirchner. Taiwan's President Ma, on the other hand, is scheduled to visit Nicaragua on Friday. But Foreign Minister Francisco Ou said there will be changes to the president's itinerary following the death of Alexis Arguello, the mayor of Nicaragua's capital city, Managua.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just got back from checking out the large house in Cerro Azul that's being offered at $195,000. What I didn't know is this house was on the market for about six months at $250K and the highly motivated owners recently dropped the price in order to make it an absolutely irresistible great deal. In fact, at this price, this property is almost certainly being offered at below market value. This house sits on two large lots and in fact it's actually two buildings connected by a carport, with a very large pavilion/bohio out back. They have even installed a back-up electrical generator that runs the whole house in case the power goes out. The owner is a gardener, and the property is literally covered with all kinds of fruit trees, berries, herbs, vegetables, flowers, and all kinds of other stuff. Wildlife abounds in the area, and the entire Cerro Azul borders on a national park and wildlife preserve. The house just keeps going and it's huge, with lots of space, storage areas, extra bedrooms, workshops, etc. And if the two lots are not big enough for you, there's yet another lot available directly behind this property (perfectly placed for the installation of a pool, right behind the bohio) that could be purchased from Melo. It became clear to me whoever buys this property is going to be getting an early Christmas present. It's also very attractive as an investment for someone who simply might want to invest some capital and flip it later for a nice profit if you have the time to sell in at a leisurely pace, which the current owners simply cannot afford to do - they have to sell, right now. If you're interested, contact me via email at don@panama-guide.com or via cell at 6614-0451. See the other article for photos.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received this morning via email: "For those of you interested in what actually happened in Honduras, this is a well written, non-political, logical explanation supplied by someone we've known for nearly eight years. We used to live in Honduras on the island of Roatan so keep up with several chat lines. We've lived in Panama for 2.5 years now but remember clearly when the president was elected and what the people were saying subsequently ... and I'm talking about Hondurans, not just ex-pats. Sadly the media seems unable to present a balanced assessment so perhaps this will help. Catherine."

(What follows was written by Mitch, who has been living in Honduras since 2002. This is the best, blow-by-blow description I've seen to date of what happened in Honduras, and the events leading up to the removal of Zelaya as the president there.)

"I don’t profess to be an expert at Honduran politics or constitution, but I have been here a while and stay pretty involved with what’s going on in Honduras and especially Roatan. For those that don’t know me, I’m an American investor that has lived in Honduras full time since 2002. I’m very active on several commissions and have met with minister level executives of the Honduran government many times in the past few years. (more)

PANAMA CITY (AP) -- President-elect Ricardo Martinelli plans to raise police pay, implement monthly aid payments to the elderly and begin work on a plan to build a subway system in Panama's capital within hours of taking office Wednesday, an aide said. Frank de Lima, appointed by Martinelli as economy vice minister, said Tuesday that the new president will detail the programs Thursday during his first Cabinet meeting. The country's 20,000 police officers will get a $100 increase in monthly pay as a way to boost moral, de Lima said. Police officers now earn an average of $420 a month. Between 40,000 and 50,000 elders will begin receiving monthly aid payments of $100, de Lima said. He said the new program will help lessen the impact of the global economic crisis on Panama. A commission that will work on the plan to build a subway in Panama City will be formally established Thursday, de Lima said. The U.S.-educated, pro-business Martinelli, 57, who owns Panama's largest supermarket chain, has said building the subway will be the second biggest source of new jobs in the Central American country, after the Panama Canal's expansion. The canal is Panama's economic motor and Martinelli supports its expansion, but the world's financial crunch has raised uncertainty over the project, which is getting $2.3 billion in international financing. Approved in a 2006 referendum, the project is expected to create about 5,000 direct jobs in 2010-11, when construction is at its peak, authorities say.

By Dan MacLeod - BDN Staff - BANGOR, Maine — A local teenager will leave this afternoon for the San Blas Islands in Panama, where she will help deliver 1,500 shoe boxes stuffed with presents for needy children. Michelle Nosworthy, 17, a student at the Calvary Chapel School in Orrington, has been working on shoe box gift packages since she was in elementary school as part of the Samaritan’s Purse project, a Christian international relief program. Nosworthy said she was glad to finally see the human impact of her work. “I’m really excited,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “I’ve been making the shoe boxes for so long.” The packages contain such things as toothbrushes, flashlights, batteries, soap, toys and candy. “Every day we’ll be loading up on canoes and visiting the local islands to deliver gifts,” she said. While in the San Blas Islands, the group of 18 students will also help paint and repair a community center. They also plan to go to Panama City to work with Amigos de Metro, a children’s home, where they will be handing out boxes and helping to renovate one of the administrative buildings.

Hydroworld.com - Panama's utility regulator predicts the nation will add 31 hydroelectric projects totaling 1,047 MW through 2013. Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Publicos (Asep) said 15 of the projects are under construction “with a healthy rate of progress,” while the other 16 are in final design. The agency said the projects represent investment of US$2 billion, giving a strong boost to the Panama economy. “This gives peace of mind that the market is growing because they can meet demand in coming years,” Asep said. Panama’s current installed capacity is 1,663 MW, compared to peak demand of 1,120 MW, Asep said. Demand is expected to total 1,373 MW by 2013. Barring unforeseen setbacks, Asep predicted June 22, 2009, that three projects of 15 MW would come on line in 2009, seven of 97 MW in 2010, eight of 364 MW in 2011, 11 of 538 MW in 2012, and two of 33 MW in 2013. Among Panama’s recent hydropower activity, the European Investment Bank said it is considering proposals to fund construction of the 29-MW Barro Blanco hydroelectric project on the Tabasara River (HydroWorld 5/29/09) and the three-plant, 115-MW Los Mares hydroelectric complex on the Chiriqui River. (HydroWorld 2/3/09) Russian equipment supplier Energomashexport Corp. LLC announced a contract in February to supply electro-mechanical equipment for the 85-MW Baitun hydroelectric project on the Chiriqui Viejo River (HydroWorld 2/13/09), while Generadora Pedregalito S.A. signed a contract to construct the 20-MW Pedregalito hydroelectric project on the Chico River. (HydroWorld 1/16/09) Istmus Hydro Power Corp. commissioned its 10-MW Concepcion hydropower project in January on the Piedra River in Panama’s Chiriqui Province. (HydroWorld 1/15/09) Meanwhile, Suez Energy Central America is building the 26-MW Gualaca, 34.8-MW Lorena, and 57.4-MW Prudencia projects on the Chiriqui River. (HydroWorld 9/30/08)

Panama City, June 30 (CNA) Republic of China President Ma Ying-jeou met with Panama's President-elect Ricardo Martinelli Tuesday for a short talk immediately after he arrived in Panama City on a three-day state visit. Martinelli said he attaches great importance to the friendship that the two countries have maintained and expects that long-lasting bilateral business and trade ties will continue, according to Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi. Martinelli hoped Taiwan would share its experience in developing mass rapid transit systems with Panama, which Ma responded was something that Taiwan was more than willing to do. The Panamanian president-elect also expressed an interest in soliciting more investment from Taiwan's commercial and industrial sectors, and Ma suggested that Panama provide Taiwan with related information to facilitate such initiatives. On Martinelli's desire for Panama to develop closer commercial exchanges with China, Ma said Taiwan will not oppose its diplomatic allies developing business ties with China as long as they do not compromise formal diplomatic relations, Wang said. (more)

By Michael Dresser for the Baltimore Sun - The port of Baltimore has concentrated its search for a private partner to operate the state-owned Seagirt Marine Terminal on two competitors - a vital step in preparation for the expected widening of the Panama Canal in 2014. The Maryland Port Association said Tuesday that Ceres Terminals Inc./Alinda Capital Partners LLC and Ports America Group/Highstar Capital have passed the qualification process and will be permitted to submit bids to run the Southeast Baltimore terminal. The lead partners are both familiar names in the Baltimore port. Ports America has operated Seagirt Marine Terminal since it opened in 1990. Ceres has been a leading stevedore here for more than 30 years. James J. White, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, said the state expects to make a final contract award late in the fourth quarter. The winning bidder would lease the terminal for a minimum of 30 years and would be required to put up the estimated $80 million it will take to build a new 50-foot berth to accommodate the larger ships expected to call on the port after the Panama Canal is widened. That project is expected to be completed in 2014. White said there were only the two responses to the state's bid invitation but that both qualified. He expressed delight with the quality of the bidders, calling them both experienced stevedores backed by strong infrastructure investment funds. "I think we're in great shape," he said. "We're very encouraged and excited to move this thing forward." The next step in the process is for the state to outline the specific terms and conditions it is proposing for the public-private partnership agreement. The bidders will have until Sept. 4 to submit initial offers, and negotiations toward a best and final offer would take place in the fall. White said construction of the new berth is expected to begin in 2012 and take about 18 months.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - First of all, tomorrow is a national holiday so don't expect to be able to get anything done. The kids all get a free day off from school and all government offices will be closed. Traffic all around the area of the Atlapa convention center will be messed up, due to the inauguration of Ricardo Martinelli as Panama's next president. Visiting foreign dignitaries from all around the world have been arriving yesterday and today, and Martinelli has been holding a series of bilateral meetings with them in order. Expect security to be very tight and there will be all kinds of road blocks, security details, convoys, and who knows what all going on. Tomorrow will be a celebration of Panamanian democracy so try to tune in to the television for a little while to catch some of the action if you get the chance. As soon as Martinelli takes over then all of the "designates" for the positions of Minister also take their posts in his Executive Cabinet. And, we can begin to see exactly what kind of "change" is actually going to take place.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By Carlos Rodríguez for La Critica - Authorities seized 1,013 kilos of cocaine at a roadblock yesterday in Antón. The drugs were being transported in a truck. In the operation five Panamanians were arrested, four of them who were traveling in the truck and one more who was in a lead car that was serving as an escort. (Note - That's 1,013 kilos of cocaine, the same as 2,233 pounds or more than 1.1 tons, with a street value of more than $100 million dollars. This is a very big and significant bust that anywhere else in the world would be a "holy crap" event, but here in Panama it's page 29 material and kinda "ho hum.")

By Getzalette Reyes for La Prensa - To the tune of Rubén Blades' "Patria", outgoing President Martin Torrijos left the Palace of the Herons this afternoon. Torrijos was seen off by a large gathering of public employees from different governmental organizations that met there to say goodbye. Earlier, Torrijos gave his last speech before the National Assembly. There he said that in the past five years the government "managed to establish the bases to construct a different country”.

By Ricardo Faraudo for Panama-Guide.com - It is a well known fact that new properties in Panama are entitled to twenty (20) year property tax exoneration. This incentive is one of the main attractions for investing in a property here. However most people assume this exoneration has been applied automatically when they purchased their property and thus do not pay much attention to this issue. Nevertheless, when handling sales of property for our clients, we have frequently discovered the tax exoneration was never properly registered and the current owner in fact owes money for unpaid taxes which could have been (and should have been) completely exempted. This in turn can become a very serious situation for the owner of the property who is trying to complete a sale. The only two options are to either postpone the sale until the property can be properly registered to qualify for the exoneration (which can take more than one month to get done), or to proceed with the sale and pay the past due taxes and sale the property as it is, and have the new buyer register the tax exoneration, that the property is entitled to. When you purchase a property that qualifies for the property tax exemption, it is important to verify that the transfer of title has been properly updated on the records of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and to confirm accordingly the tax exoneration has been duly completed. We have learned many developers do not tell their clients that the property tax exoneration is not automatically applied when the property is purchased. Therefore most property owners incorrectly assume this issue has been taken care of when they purchase their property. If you contact us at info@prapanama.com during the next 3 months and identify yourselves as readers of PANAMA GUIDE, we will confirm whether your property received the property tax exoneration at no cost. (Note: The author of this article, Ricardo Faraudo, is a founding partner of Panama Relocation Attorneys.)

Copyright 2009 by By Ricardo Faraudo for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

La Prensa - Ultima Hora Panamá PANAMA (DPA). - Panama's First Vice President and Foreign Minister, Samuel Lewis Navarro, said today the solution to the political crisis in Honduras had to involve the restitution of power to the deposed president of that country, Manuel Zelaya. Lewis Navarro made his statements to the local radio station KW Continente, shortly traveling today, Monday, to Managua, Nicaragua, to attend an urgent meeting of presidents of member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA). He said it is necessary to articulate all of the mechanisms in the hemisphere to ensure the return to democracy, which may include the diplomatic isolation of the de facto government that removed Zelaya. "An international condemnation has a lot of weight. I think that a diplomatic isolation would undoubtedly have enormous weight, especially in the modern world today," said the rector of Panamanian foreign policy. He stressed there is a shared concern in Latin America, on the issue of Honduras. He added that the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, will attend the meeting of the SICA in Managua. He warned that the coup d'etat is an "unacceptable" departure in Latin America, where democratic paths have been traced. "Today it's Honduras, tomorrow only God knows where," said Lewis Navarro.

By Yohany Guevara for TVN Noticias - Although the health condition of former Panamanian President Guillermo Endara continues to be delicate, his friends and family remain optimistic and report he is improving. Menalco Solis, a friend and companion of Endara said he is reacting positively to all of the treatments and medicines, and says his is improving markedly. According to the doctor who is attending Endara, he is evolving favorably but his condition continues to be delicate. Guillermo Endara Gamilany was admitted to the San Fernando hospital on Saturday evening when his wife, Ana Mae Diaz de Endara, took him to the hospital with complaints of strong stomach pains. Endara received two dialysis treatments because his kidneys stopped working. The former president is 73 years old and suffers from diabetes. During the recent political campaign he ran as a candidate for president and his health condition was a reason for speculation. Endara had open heart surgery in 2004.

By SANDRA ALICIA RIVERA for La Prensa - President-elect Ricardo Martinelli said he would review the new "decentralization" law because the money earned by the Panama Canal can not go straight into the hands of the municipalities without any kind of oversight. The law, approved last Saturday by the National Assembly, establishes that the money from the Program of Communitarian Development (Prodec) will pass without any kind of restriction or limitation to the provincial councils, which - in the government that takes effects starting on 1 July 2009 - will be dominated by the Partido Revolucionario Democrático. “This is not the way the Prodec was structured, which should be respected, so that they can not steal the money generated by the Panama Canal; what's more, there are serious problems in education and health that can not be fixed at the level of the municipalities," he said. He added that they will review the new law in order for it to be adapted into a true form of decentralization. It should not be something used to poorly spend "the funds generated from the Panama Canal, because what we do not want is for them to steal the money," he said. President-elect Martinelli made his statements in an event where he was handing over scholarships to 2,020 primary, secondary, and university students in the province of Chiriquí and the Ngäbe Buglé region. Martinelli came to Chiriquí accompanied by the Minister of Education (designate) Lucy Molinar; the Minister of Social Development (designate) Guillermo Ferrufino, and the future First Lady of Panama Marta de Martinelli. (See Comments)

By JOSÉ ARCIA for La Prensa - About 30 trees were blown down by strong winds in Panama City yesterday, due to a storm system that also affected the provinces of Coclé and Colón. Panama's National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) reported 48 houses had lost their roofs in Panama City and San Miguelito. In addition, the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewage Systems said a transformer supplying power to a water pump at the raw intake for the treatment plant in Pacora burned out due to the bad weather. In Bella Vista and in Las Sabanas of Pueblo Nuevo cars were damaged under falling trees. Blas Cordova, of the Direction of Hydrometeorology of ETESA, said wind speeds reached 46 kilometers per hour in the area of Tocumen, and 64.7 kilometers per hour in Albrook. As a point of reference he said hurricanes can have winds of more than 118 kilometers per hour. Cordova said the high winds were caused by the convergence of three factors - a tropical wave that formed over the Caribbean Sea; the intertropical convergence zone, currently over Panama, and diurnal heating. The phenomenon only lasted a few hours which is why it can not be compared to a tropical disturbance (the phase before being upgraded to a tropical storm), he added. (See Comments)

Taipei, June 29 (CNA) Honduras has been dropped from President Ma Ying-jeou's itinerary for his upcoming visit to some of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Central America, the Presidential Office said Monday. Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Ma will cut short his diplomatic tour, which originally included plans to visit Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras, and will return to Taiwan two days earlier than scheduled. Honduras President Manuel Zeyala was arrested and forced into exile by military leaders Sunday ahead of a controversial constitutional referendum. Wang said the decision to exclude Honduras from Ma's itinerary was based on safety and security considerations and in view of the fact that the unstable situation in Honduras precludes the purpose of Ma's visit there. With the cancellation of the Honduras leg of the trip, President Ma will return to Taiwan on July 6, two days ahead of schedule, but his plans to visit Panama and Nicaragua remain unchanged, Wang said. (more)

By LES BLUMENTHAL; MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS - WASHINGTON – Struggling to ride out the recession, West Coast ports face new competition as ports in Canada and Mexico, an expanded Panama Canal and even the Suez Canal could steal away some of the cross-Pacific shipping they’ve relied on. More than 70 percent of Asian goods imported into the U.S. – everything from toys to electronics to autos – pass through the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Tacoma and Portland. The directors of the ports, in a first-ever joint visit, were on Capitol Hill last week seeking billions of dollars and a federal commitment to improve rail corridors necessary to speed the goods east. “We need a well-thought-out, strategic freight policy,” said Tim Farrell, executive director of the Port of Tacoma. “We need to focus on corridors from Shanghai to Chicago or Tokyo to Houston. We are just getting started, but the West Coast ports generate more jobs than the Big Three automakers.” (more)

CARY, North Carolina (AP) — Allan Lalin scored in the 21st minute to help Honduras beat Panama 2-0 Sunday in a warmup for the Gold Cup. The CONCACAF championship begins next week in the United States. Honduras starts July 4 against Haiti in Seattle, while Panama faces Guadeloupe in Oakland, California, the following day. Lalin converted Honduras' first good scoring opportunity of the match. He worked a give-and-go with Martinez near the top of the box, blasting a left-foot shot into the left side of the net.

Washington Post PANAMA CITY -- An associate of Panamanian former President Guillermo Endara say he has been hospitalized and is in intensive care for dialysis treatment. Endara's sister-in-law and spokeswoman Jessy Mae Diaz says the former president went to a private clinic late Saturday. Diaz tells RPC radio he lost consciousness Sunday morning and was moved to intensive care. She says Endara is once again conscious, undergoing "delicate" dialysis treatment and "fighting hard for his life." The 73-year-old Endara underwent heart bypass surgery in 2004 and also suffers from diabetes and kidney ailments. Endara assumed the presidency in 1989 after a U.S. invasion that toppled dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega. He served until 1994.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The military coup in Honduras over the weekend reflects the essence of the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America - the guys with the guns are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the power remains in the hands of the people, and not some whack-job wanna-be dictator. Yesterday, military units in Honduras removed President Manuel Zelaya and expelled him to Costa Rica. It was a bloodless coup in that no one was killed or injured, and Zelaya immediately began to complain in a press conference held in San Jose. Political leaders from around Central and Latin America lamented this action with an almost uniform message - "I thought we had put this kind of threat behind us and moved on to true democracy, it's a damn shame." Right. Until you take a hard look at Manuel Zalaya to see what he's been doing, what he stands for, and who has been backing him. He's basically a clone of Hugo Chavez, an to summarize things, both Zelaya and Chavez represent the kinds of things we were all supposed to have actually thrown in the trash - control of the media, constitutional reforms to effectively kill democracy, social reforms to effectively kill capitalism and the local economy, etc. Hugo Chavez has replaced Fidel Castro as the new leader of the socialist left in Latin America, and he "exported" his rhetoric to Honduras in the form of Manuel Zelaya. When I heard of this coup my reaction was "Thank God, and good for Honduras." (more)

By MIKE FITZPATRICK (AP) NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera earned his 500th save, becoming the second reliever to reach the milestone, and the New York Yankees beat the punchless Mets 4-2 on Sunday night for a Subway Series sweep. Chien-Ming Wang won for the first time in more than a year and Rivera got four outs, securing the Yankees' fifth consecutive victory - all away from home. In a fun twist on a night that belonged to him, Rivera even contributed offensively by drawing a bases-loaded walk from Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth for his first career RBI. It was the third regular-season plate appearance for the 39-year-old closer - and second in five days. Mark Teixeira hit a two-run double off Livan Hernandez (5-3) in a three-run first, when the Yankees had two of their four hits. The injury-depleted Mets managed five, their best offensive output of the three-game series. The Yankees took five of six games from their crosstown rivals this season, handing the Mets their first sweep in 13 series at their new home, Citi Field. Rivera entered with two on in the eighth and went to a full count on Omir Santos before throwing a called third strike. The right-hander pitched a one-hit ninth for his 18th save in 19 chances this season. He joined Milwaukee's Trevor Hoffman, who has 571 saves, as the only major leaguers with 500. (more)

By Gordon Edes, Yahoo! Sports - NEW YORK – Better ballpark, better ballclub, better closer. Game, set and match. The Yankees remain kings of New York until further notice. Judging by the way they manhandled the misbegotten Mets in five of six interleague meetings, taking two out of three in Yankee Stadium and three straight this weekend in Citi Field by an aggregate score of 44-17, the expiration date on their most favored team status is stamped with something other than 2009. As for applying the finishing touch to victories, the Mets can roll out K-Rod, Krypton Man or King Kong, it won’t make a difference. The Yankees’ Mariano Rivera, the heavyweight champion of closers, is nowhere close to retiring his belt, as he proved in spectacular fashion Sunday night by not only recording four outs for his 500th save, but by going toe-to-toe with Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez with a bat in his hands and emerging triumphant, drawing a bases-loaded walk for his first career RBI. Sentimentalist that he is, Rivera repeated every word that Yankees captain Derek Jeter said to him after Alex Cora rolled out to second for the final out in the Yankees’ 4-2 win. “After the game, he said, ‘Congratulations, you’re the best, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,’ ” said Rivera, who is 19 years removed from the day he received a $3,000 bonus to sign with the Yankees in Panama, 13 years removed from his first career save, and untold years from calling it a career.

By Jerin Tate for Panama-Guide.com - About three years ago when the real estate boom was in full swing, suddenly a whole bunch of Donald Trump wannabes (I call them Trumpitos) sprang up all over Panama. The big problem is that none of these guys had any experience in any kind of real estate. The bottom line was making as much money as possible before everything came crashing down. Back in those days all you had to do was sell 30% of the building and a bank would finance you for the construction. Apartments were being snatched up at an amazing rate, but mostly by speculators. Their plan was to buy a few apartments, and then flip them for an immediate profit or hold on to them and double their money. This was actually making a lot of people a lot of money. Panama had a full on real estate boom, but actually had very few finished buildings. The buildings that were finished had been constructed by the guys who had been around for a while and were relatively good quality. This made the Trumpitos drool even more, and in 2006 the rush was on. (more)