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TransPanama | Panama: Latin America's FDI Leader | casa romero boquete panama | Chiriqui Viejo River Abuse| HOME, the film | Guna Yala

October 2011

 

 I Trip Reports   II News  III Agenda  IV Suggestions V Picture

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I. Trip Report    

 

Sendero TransPanama

Una realidad que hoy une dos continentes por Abdiel Barranco

 

 

Tal vez para muchos, el nombre de Rick Moralez no diga nada y puede que el significado de TRANSPANAMA sea solamente una marca comercial, pues la fusión de estos 2 nombres, mas el apoyo de mucha gente, hizo posible la culminación de un sueño y el inicio de una misión, la cual es crear una ruta o sendero, que atraviese el Istmo, de frontera a frontera, mojando los pies en ambas costas y dejando huellas, en los lugares de montaña más bonitos de Panamá.

 

Luego de más de 4 años de planeación, correcciones de ruta, interrogantes y curiosidad, llego el momento para realizar algo, que en nuestros tiempos, nadie había echo o de lo cual no existía registro y era casualmente realizar una caminata CONTINUA (Thru hike) desde la Frontera de Panamá con Colombia, hasta el Hito Fronterizo entre Panamá y Costa Rica, pero por montaña, caminando por senderos, trochas o montaña virgen, cruzando ríos y quebradas y llegando vivo para contarlo.

 

La verdad, hay pocos panameños que tengan experiencia, disciplina y tiempo para realizar esto, pero para un hombre con el temple de Richard Moralez, el tamaño del reto y la responsabilidad que esto implicaba, no fue motivo de achicopalamiento, por lo que con mapa en mano y un Equipo de apoyo, se enfilo el 26 de julio hacia la frontera con Colombia; al llegar a ese punto, el cual se definió gracias a la ayuda de un GPS (Sistema de posicionamiento global, por sus siglas en español) marcaron el inicio de la ruta, poniendo las banderas de ambos países, con la intención de que algún día alguien siga a hacia Colombia.

Tal vez el describir las experiencias vividas por Rick, sea complicado, pero de solo imaginar el caminar por tierras en donde ningún ser humano ha puesto sus pies, es algo que incentiva a la imaginación para darle sentido a esta historia, por lo que traigo a la retina comentarios como “Vieras las guacamayas, volando sobre el dosel de los árboles, con estos colores” o el mensaje de su navegador, que puso a todos en alerta, el cual decía “Cambio de planes, río crecido, armaremos balsa para cruzar”

 

A pesar de que la coordinación de muchos elementos, estaban bajo la responsabilidad de un pequeño, pero eficiente Equipo de apoyo, el excursionista nunca se sintió solo, ya que ahora su campo de juegos era TODO EL PAÍS, por lo que la única compañera que nunca le abandono fue su cámara digital, con la cual capto videos y fotos de cada kilometro recorrido, los dolores, frustraciones, alegrías y ese cumulo de experiencias que son hoy, muestra fehaciente de que no hay sueños imposibles.

 

Con cada paso, el descubrimiento fue tanto de todos los bellos parajes conocidos, así como también de sí mismo, ya que por mucha experiencia que tuviese, el estar SOLO en la montaña, le enfrento no solo con mosquitos y tábanos, sino con la ambigua sensación de sentirse humildemente pequeño, ante la inmensidad del reto que decidió afrontar y para el cual se entreno durante toda su vida, teniendo siempre la certeza de que Costa Rica a cada paso estaba más cerca.

 

De las comunidades y personas que conoció, reconoce que es difícil nombrarlas, dado que a lo largo de todo el recorrido, hubo gente que sin conocerle, le guio, le dio la mano y hasta una cucharadita de azúcar para el café de la mañana, el cual era uno de los pocos placeres que le mantenía consciente de su realidad en ese momento, pero no todo fue soledad y lodo, dado que amanecer tras amanecer y kilometro a kilometro, palpo la realidad del panamá de monte adentro, de ríos de inmensa riqueza dorada, de problemas comarcales, de niños de barrigas infladas con aire por cena, así como de cimas en donde las aguas deciden llevar su caudal al Atlántico o al Pacifico, en el punto donde Vasco Núñez de Balboa, diviso por primera vez la inmensidad de este Océano, allá en el Cerro Pechito parao.

 

Según muchos alejados a la pasión por la exploración, está loca Aventura solo pudo enfrentar a nuestro explorador a serpientes, problemas médicos, riesgos innecesarios y muchas cosas más y efectivamente así fue, dado que allá adentro, donde no hay señal celular y la ayuda más cercana está a no menos de 7  ó 10 horas de caminata, la experiencia fue lo que le permitió a Rick armar una balsa para cruzar ríos, improvisar refugios todas las noches y mantener el ánimo, para soportar la hinchazón de los pies, por la constante humedad, así como la soledad.

 

Retrotraigo en mi memoria el video, del momento en el que Rick cruzo el Canal de Panamá, justo en las esclusas de Gatún, donde trotando, cámara en mano culmino uno de los dos tramos más difíciles de todo el recorrido, el cual se mantuvo oculto al publico por un tiempo, dado que por su seguridad, las coordinaciones con el Servicio Nacional de Fronteras (Senafront), hicieron prometer que la información de la ruta por donde pasaría en esta parte del país, se mantendría oculta, para evitar el posible encuentro con buscadores ilegales de oro en los ríos de Darién o con la insurgencia Colombiana.

 

Luego de esta parte, el trakking o rastro que constantemente informaba su Spot (Unidad de rastreo Satelital), generaba datos de su ubicación, por lo que sorprendidos quedábamos de lo rápidos avances diarios que llevaban a Rick a caminar hasta 35 Km. diarios, dado que el terreno y algunos senderos ya conocidos, hacían de esta parte algo más llevadero, tanto para la navegación, como para los pies, pero la parte de la cordillera estaba por venir.

 

Poco a poco el rápido progreso le permitió llegar a Río Belén en el Atlántico, atravesar Coclé, casi ser juez en las elecciones de la Comarca Gnobe, Ver aguas a lo lejos, allá en las montañas de Santiago y poco a poco empezar a sentir el rico clima de las tierras altas Chiricanas, por lo que el olor de las torrejas de maíz y comida casera le llenaban de ilusión, hasta cuando recibió la noticia de que en dirección contraria, había un corredor Canadiense que justo atravesaba el país con dirección al cono Sur, haciendo una travesía de Polo a Polo, por lo que no se permitiría ser el segundo, aunque habían condiciones geográficas y logísticas diferentes.

 

Mientras todo esto pasaba por la cabeza de Rick, las coordinaciones para el encuentro en el Hito Fronterizo con Costa Rica, se hicieron bajo gran presión, dado que todo estaba planeado para que su caminata culminara un día sábado, para que así algunos pudiésemos recibirle y celebrar así su hazaña, pero un tanto por el cansancio, así como por el momentum que le traía motivado, hicieron que el viernes 27 de Septiembre, Rick y un grupo pequeño, pero bien integrados de la fundación  TransPanama, le recibiera y ayudara a colocar la bandera Costarricense, como fiel testigo de un sueño alcanzado.

 

Fueron 2 meses y 27 días, en donde Rick Moralez palpo de primera mano un Panamá que el solo ha visto, tanto de día como de noche, con sol y luna, lodo hasta las orejas y la satisfacción de llevar en las venas y la memoria, un hito HISTORICO el cual, con este pequeño homenaje que le hago a un HOMBRE y amigo, su nombre sea reconocido por locales y extranjeros, no como la exaltación a un logro personal, sino como el ente catalizador con el cual cada uno de nosotros sintamos orgullo de promocionar un hecho, un sendero que ahora una las Américas.

 

II News                                                                                      TOP
 
Casa Romero in Boquete, Panama: An old new lodge
by Javier Romero
 

No puzzle on this  title.  It is what it says.  Casa Romero is one of the oldest houses built in Boquete by legendary businessman Aristides Romero.

Now the Romero Family is opening its doors to the public as a bed and breakfast.

Aventuras Panamá,  promoted this investment and it has been hired as its marketing and sales partner.

The owner of Aventuras Panama, Javier Romero Gerbaud, a proud Chiricano,  grew up here and it is more than happy to be involved in this new adventure.

 

Take a look at preliminare website here: Casa Romero Boquete Panama Bed & Breakfast

 
Panama: Latin America's FDI Leader
Panama has Latin America's highest percent of FDI, while Venezuela has the lowest.

BY SEAN MATTSON
Published May 5, 2011
 
PANAMA CITY - Panama has replaced Chile as Latin America's leading recipient of foreign direct investment as a percent of its GDP, according to a Latin Business Chronicle analysis of new data from the UN the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and GDP data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

PANAMA CITY - Panama has replaced Chile as Latin America's leading recipient of foreign direct investment as a percent of its GDP, according to a Latin Business Chronicle analysis of new data from the UN the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and GDP data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Business is finding that tiny Panama has become much easier to locate on a world map. With breakneck economic growth, a $5.25-billion expansion of its famous canal and a capital city skyline unlike any in Central America, Panama has made a quick transformation from a military-run backwater to an outstanding economic performer that is the envy of its regional peers.

Panama attracted $2.36 billion in FDI in 2010, continuing a trend that has had the seen the country of 3.4 million people average above $2 billion per year in FDI since 2006. Last year's FDI figure was the equivalent of 8.8 percent of Panama's $26.8 billion economy. That was a higher rate than any other country in the region, including Chile, according to the Latin Business Chronicle analysis.

"The foreign investor finds everything here," says Nicolas Ardito Barletta, the president of the PanAm Development Corporation, a regional business-services firm based in Panama City. Barletta points to carrier Copa Airlines, Panama's expanding international airport, the canal, ports, telecom infrastructure and Panama's geographic location as the key components to the country's recent success. "The advantage is the connectivity," says Barletta, a former president of Panama who also heads Panama's private sector-led National Competitiveness Center, or CNC, which guides the government meeting competition-boosting priorities.
"The foreign investor finds everything here," says Nicolas Ardito Barletta, the president of the PanAm Development Corporation, a regional business-services firm based in Panama City. Barletta points to carrier Copa Airlines, Panama's expanding international airport, the canal, ports, telecom infrastructure and Panama's geographic location as the key components to the country's recent success. "The advantage is the connectivity," says Barletta, a former president of Panama who also heads Panama's private sector-led National Competitiveness Center, or CNC, which guides the government meeting competition-boosting priorities.

From giants like Caterpillar and Procter and Gamble - which set up its Latin American management headquarters in Panama in 2007 - to specialized maritime services companies, the foreign investment coming to Panama is diverse. Perhaps the single investment project most emblematic of Panama's newfound role as an FDI magnet is developer London & Regional's $705-million transformation of a former U.S. Air Force base into a one-size-fits-all destination for companies investing in Panama.

The 1,400-hectare Panama Pacifico project boasts investment by tech companies Dell, 3M, Sony and BASF, on the ever-growing list of 80-plus firms investing in the residential and commercial development. Foreign investment there is boosted by laws that include tax exemption and flexibility on foreign employee quotas. Nestled against the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, the development also serves an example of smart government stewardship - under guidance, in this case, of the World Bank - of the land and waterway it regained from the U.S. government in 1999.

"As long as Panama understands that it's not a 3 million person country but an economic engine that serves 400 million people in the region ... then this economy will keep on growing," says Henry Kardonski, the managing director for London & Regional Panama, which aims to have $160 million invested in Panama Pacifico by July 2011. Once the 40-year project is completed, the goal is to have created 40,000 permanent new jobs in the 20,000-residence development.

Kardonski says Panama's authorities "have had a consistent policy" toward business and that the investment climate continues to improve. "I think things are much clearer today than they were three or four years ago in terms of what a company can expect," he said. "The rules and the way things are explained are clearer. The government is clearer on how to attract investment and that attracts the private sector as well."
THE FDI WINNERS AND LOSERS
Chile's FDI grew last year, but as a percent of its GDP it was not enough to lose its previous top rank. FDI in Chile last year accounted for 7.4 percent, which ranked it third in Latin America. In second place? Nicaragua, which could boast a 7.8 percent FDI/GDP ratio. However, the FDI numbers are hardly astronomical: $508 million. The high ratio is due to the fact that its economy only stands at $6.6 billion, the smallest in Latin America.

A similar pattern is seen by Honduras, ranked fourth. Meanwhile, Peru jumped up to fifth place on the ranking, with its FDI now accounting for 4.8 percent of its GDP. Peru's FDI last year increased 31 percent to $7.3 billion, according to ECLAC.

Brazil, which saw FDI jump 87 percent last year to $22.5 billion, is the top recipient in Latin America. But its FDI as a percent of its $2.1 trillion economy is only 2.32. Mexico ranks behind, with 1.72 percent. Meanwhile, Venezuela is the undisputed laggard, with FDI accounting for a negative 0.48 percent of its GDP. Ecuador follows with a FDI/GDP ratio of 0.28 percent.

MUCH TO DO
But Panama still has plenty to do to improve. The World Economic Forum ranks Panama 53rdon its 2010-2011 Global Competitiveness Index. While the ranking is an improvement on a year earlier and places Panama among Latin America's leaders - well behind Chile but a few spots ahead of ahead of Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia - the ranking is dragged down by Panama's dismal judicial and education systems.

"The biggest problem we have right now is lack of trained labor at all levels from the worker up to the CEO of a company," says Frank Kardonski, the managing director at the Panama office of commercial real estate NAI Global and a cousin of L&R's Kardonski. "Basically, we're at full employment. The people who are not working right now are people that have no education."

"Most companies I speak with, are having very big difficulties in finding people in order to keep up with the growth that they have," says NAI's Kardonski. In a separate interview, L&R's Kardonski agreed that skilled labor was probably the top concern for businesses. He added that companies are finding the skilled labor they need through training and even by repatriating skilled Panamanians living abroad.

Barletta, who has a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago, says lack of skilled labor put the brakes on Panama's now-waning luxury condominium boom, which helped push Panama's GDP expansion to double digits in 2007 and 2008. He says Panama could grow at an average rate of between 5 and 8 percent of GDP for the next 15 years but that numerous bottlenecks need to be addressed.

Of the six major issues Barletta's CNC sees as potential problems he says only one - infrastructure - is being tackled with urgency. Education and training, institutional strength including rule of law and respect for contracts, efficiency of public services, poverty, and governability are the other concerns.

"In not one [area] they are advancing at the necessary pace," says Barletta, pointing to a likely specialized labor shortage as thousands of new hotel rooms come online in Panama in the coming years. He also foresees shortages of English-speakers for call centers, maritime and logistics specialists, craftsmen, middle managers and engineers. "Precisely in the most dynamic activities," he says, estimating that the crunch could adversely affect the economy in three years.

Some of the needed changes are generational and progress is slow. Panama's newspapers regularly churn out tales of unpunished corruption allegations, an education reform President Ricardo Martinelli has trumpeted has not been unveiled, and there appears to be little government interest in acknowledging problems with the judicial system.

Martinelli, a multimillionaire supermarket chain owner, has struggled with his agenda in spite of enjoying the support of a majority of legislators. Due to protests, he quickly and surprisingly repealed a mining law reform he originally backed to promote foreign investment in mines. But Martinelli's pro-business reputation so far trumps concerns that his unpredictable decision-making style could hamper the investment climate. "It could, but for now I don't see it," says Barletta of the mine law debacle possibly affecting sentiment among investors. -With additional reporting by LBC staff.

© Copyright Latin Trade Group
 

Chiriqui Viejo River Abuse by Javier Romero

       

Chiriqui Viejo River by Tizingal, normal dry season water flow

Power house of Paso Ancho Chiriqui Viejo River hidro project with ecological flow above it

Chiriqui Viejo River reduced to "ecological flow" righ below Paso Ancho river diversion

Paso Ancho Dam which accomplish Chiriqui Viejo River diversion to harvest its hidroulic potential with turbines on discharge

Chiriqui Viejo River by Tizingal, normal dry season water flow Power house of Paso Ancho Chiriqui Viejo River  hidro project with ecological flow above it Chiriqui Viejo River reduced to "ecological flow" righ below Paso Ancho river diversion Paso Ancho Dam which accomplish Chiriqui Viejo River diversion to harvest its hidroulic potential with turbines on discharge
 

Esta es la casa de máquinas donde la hidroélectrica de Paso Ancho en Volcán regresa el flujo de agua al cauce normal del río con su potencial hidroelectrico cosechado.

El Rio Chiriqui Viejo, desde la represa donde se desvia el flujo hasta su descarga al cauce original, queda reducido a una quebrada denominado caudal ecologico.

Por supuesto que esto afecta el nivel de agua del subsuelo, la disponibilidad de agua para la agricultura, el uso alterno en actividades turísticas como river rafting, el paisaje. Este uso alterno del río crea un impacto local que simplemente no es "mitigable"
ya que la riqueza, actividad tradicional, y orgullo del área proporcionada por el río se la roban unos cuantos utilizando como escudo el "progreso" a millas de distancia.

En unos cuantos años, los millones de dolares que predicaba el gobierno como inversión para el área dejan este alterado, desolador paísaje que solo genera una fracción de los empleos directos de las actividades alternas.

Este es tan solo uno de los tantos proyectos en vías de desarrollo a lo largo de nuestro amado país que es de todos y no de la mayoría que habita en las ciudades, la que a sus espaldas apadrina este inmoral paísaje.  Solamente en el Río Chiriqui Viejo ya hay concesionados al menos 4 proyectos mas como este los cuales estan en  diferentes etapas de desarrollo.

Siento impotencia, frustación y rabia siendo solo un visitante del área. Este no puede ser el Panamá que queremos para nuestros hijos !
 

 
III. AGENDA for February  2011                                                  TOP
DATE TOUR  NOTES Price exclusive for members
offer subject to availability
Oct 22, 2011 Regular price $ 95.00  $ 55.00
Oct 23, 2011 Chagres Challenge Regular price $ 165.00

 $ 125.00 per person

For reservations please call us at Phone 260-0044,  Cel 6679-4404 or email us at . Payment is required at least five days prior to tour date.  Trips departs from our office HERE

 Note:  Listed prices for above dates are good only for residents of Panama that had joined "Atrevete a Vivir !" Ezine previous to current month.  Tour participation is subject to availability and our own Terms and Conditions.

If a member is interested in a particular destination or activity we welcome suggestions. This ezine is also available to post members available preplanned trip into the outdoors. 

IV Suggestions                                                                TOP

We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate.

The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.

For this purpose, HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. EuropaCorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because Home is a non-profit film.

HOME has been made for you : share it! And act for the planet.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Expats Paradise - Panama - v2 from Brian Gill on Vimeo.

 

You are cordially invited to join us as we look for our own piece of paradise to retire to someday. We'll circumnavigate the globe to explore our options and we want you to come along and have fun too.

Everyday Paradise Productions, LLC
1941 Pearl St. #301 Boulder, CO. 80302

Brian Gill, Creator & Executive Producer

 

Foundation with the mission to create a trail along Panama, from Costa Rica to Colombia

New portal on Kuna Yala, recently renamed Guna Yala

 Portable Solar Power

Aventuras Panama's  Resources  around 2,200 links to websites related to adventure, paddling, Panama, and the outdoors.

V Videos and Pictures                                                                                    TOP

 
   
       
   

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TransPanama | Panama: Latin America's FDI Leader | casa romero boquete panama | Chiriqui Viejo River Abuse| HOME, the film | Guna Yala

 

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