Cupos vs. Visas - Hookers By the Planeload
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Back when the Midnight Club got shut down I started looking into Panama's "Alternadora" visas given to foreign girls, mostly Colombians, who come to Panama to work in massage parlors and strip clubs. During this investigation I learned that the Cotton Club was about to open on Via España in Panama City. I wanted to know if the Director of Immigration was going to grant the request from the owners of the Cotton Club for 80 new "Alternadora" visas. A contact at Immigration told me that no, the Director of Immigration Ricardo Vargas was not going to give any "cupos" (spots or spaces) to the Cotton Club. I was told that Vargas inherited the existing system and the "cupos" that were already on the books, but that he was not going to create a single new spot. Then a week later I saw in the Panama America that there were 500 alternadora visas granted in the past few months, and I was seriously confused... (more)
Cupos vs. Visas: Today I had it explained to me. All of the night clubs, strip clubs and massage parlors have a fixed number of cupos. Some have 15, some have 25, and some have 50. Those girls can come to Panama and stay for nine months, then they have to leave for at least three months. So, there is always a turn-over as the old worn out hookers leave and the new, fresh hookers come in. So, the number of cupos has remained constant, and they confirmed that Ricardo Vargas (now the Defensor del Pueblo) did not create any new cupos as the Director of Immigraion. The number of 500 visas was the reflection of the old girls leaving and the new ones coming in to take their places. So, visas awarded to chicks in the cupos. Got it. Thanks for clearing that up (for what it's worth.)
80 New Cupos for the Cotton Club? Right now Immigraion is without a permanent director. Lic. Tomas Garcia Tobar, who was the National Sub-Director, is serving as the temporary director until a new permanent director is named. American investors from Los Angeles and Las Vegas have poured millions of dollars into the Cotton Club and are trying to get their licenses and permits to open, and they have had to push their opening back at least three times. This property used to be known as the "Dreams" nightclub/disco, and is located 135 meters from the front door of the El Carmen church. I'm pro-hooker, but it doesn't look like this one is going to happen.
Protesting on Via Veneto: 500 Colombian hookers with really nice boob-jobs briefly closed Via Veneto in protest over the reduction of the tourist visas from 90 days to 30 days. They are concerned that the reduced numbers of horny gringo sex-tourists will reduce their potential net worth. "These cute old guys are coming down here to buy some beachfront property, or maybe something in the mountains, and they want to engage in some intelligent conversation while they are here" said some chick with about $25,000 in plastic surgery. "This reduction of the tourist visa to 30 days is going to really put a kink in our style - they should be able to stay as long as they want, or at least until they can't walk anymore..." Nah, just kidding. They didn't close the street, they were just crossing the street. Ah well, that's a whole 'nother article. Cheers.
Copyright 2007 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. As usual, go ahead and use whatever you want as long as you credit the source. Salud.
