President Varela in Boquete

[olga suarez]

President Varela in Boquete, where he stated he already has the design of the future Panamonte Bridge and in the next weeks he will outlines the requirements for bidding out the project which is a result of hard work by the Alcalde and a formal request of residents.He also visited the school construction site

[El Gato]

An informational post is attacked and the poster insulted. Right out of the liberal regressive play book.

They should use the bridge money to improve the conditions in bajo it is badly deteriorated.

If the "residents" want a bridge maybe they should organize a fund raiser and build it themselves.

[Good Morning Boquete]

You wrote:

"They should use the bridge money to improve the conditions in bajo it is badly deteriorated."

How so? 

Alto Boquete is in dire need of improvements.  I have a friend whose property borders several of their neighbors via a small river bed that's dry most of the year and it's where their neighbors dump all of their trash since they're too poor to afford trash collection.  In fact several of those neighbors don't have adequate septic systems, just holes in the ground.  True third world, you won't see that in Bajo.  Alto Boquete is in dire need for subsidies for trash collection and an adequate sewer system.

[BOB G]

Obviously I don't know details about every person or family in Alto Boquete.  But I do know that trash collection costs about $3 per month, which just about anyone can afford.  That cost is only one percent of a $300 per month income.  The lower 89% of Panamanians have incomes averaging $700 per month, so obviously there are some below that average who may actually be making $300 per month or less.  I wonder how many folks in that category have smart phones?  I lived here for over seven years using a cheap "dumb" phone.  I know other expats who still have them.  The absolute lowest minimum wage is for agricultural workers.  They make around $202 per month.  Trash collection would cost 1.5% of that salary.

For around six years back in the US I served on a church benovelence committee which existed to help people with short-term financial problems by helping with groceries, electric bills, gas for transportation, etc.  It was interesting to see how many people "in need" had luxury additional phone features or had nicer cars than some of us on the benovelence committee.  They would spend money on unnecessary items and then want help with groceries or disposable diapers.  If we had not had controls on the groceries, they would have bought high priced items instead of basic nutrition items.  They would also go to two or more churches with the same stories and ask for help for the same things.  He had a cooperative system run by a Catholic church to which we reported the SSN's of people given help so that they could be screened out of the next church they visited. 

Some of the best help you can give to poor people is to show them how to manage their assets.  I have a Ngobe gardener who seems to be able to manage money better than some Gringos I know.  He works a regular job for a coffee company, works for me as a gardener and does a little buying and re-selling on the side to make extra money.  He is in his late forties and made the effort to go to night school and graduate from high school last year. 

I have no problem with programs that help the needy with food or in other ways, but I believe much better improvements could be made by having volunteers help people understand and organize their finances.

It may be that the once-a-year payment system for water and trash collection are difficult for lower income people and should be modified to allow three payments per year to coincide with "13th month" payments in April, August and December.

[HollandAmerica]

I agree Bob. I saw this in my rental units inTexas as well. They had problems paying rent every month, but meanwhile they always owned a large (50") flat screen TV and had the nicest big truck parked up front.

I have noticed the same in Boquete although I do not blame them for this. It is just the environment we live in. Everyone is told to own a nice TV, a smart phone, a tablet, etc. Advertising and peer pressure is what creates this.

Cost of living for locals does not have to increase if they would live how they did 20 years ago. People expect a higher standard of living including what to eat, what clothes to wear and what kind of technological devices to own.

Again who can blame them. Advertisements are powerful and people the world over are being told they deserve everything. 

[El Gato]

"How so?" 

The Sidewalks are disaster and take a look at trash collection down there.

They could also put some money into the fairgrounds to make it nicer.

Maybe a homeless shelter for the unfortunates who live in the streets.

"True third world, you won't see that in Bajo."

The Panamanian septic system consists of a settlement tank and a “hole in the ground”.

I imagine that is what all of "bajo" has.

GMB, where does your waste go? Please explain.

I take it you live in bajo since you defend it. As much as you want this to become the U.S. it wont. Get out see the country, learn Spanish.

I prefer the quiet and open space of suburban life.

[Robert Berding]

Hola El Gato. Soy Holandés. Estoy 100% feliz en Jardines de Boquete. He encontrado tal vez 3 Gringos que hablan Español con fluidez durante los 2 años que vivo aqui. Todos mis vecinos son Panameños. He trabajado 13 años en España y  hay un montón de Holandeses, Alemanes, Ingleses e.o. que nunca aprendieron Español y viven en sus comunidades como la gran mayoria de Los Gringos aqui en Boquete.Cada uno lo suyo.

Mí esposa y yo estuvimos 2 veces en Mike's Global Gringo grill. Nunca más.

Robert & Helen + 3 doggies.

[Good Morning Boquete]

I used to reside in Alto Boquete which was very peaceful until they completed the expansion of via Boquete.  After that the incessant noise from trucks beginning at 5:00 AM or so was disturbing.  I was almost a 1/4 of a mile away from via Boquete.  And the air brakes the trucks use are really annoying.  And of course the drag racing in the middle of the night.

Closed septic systems are required in Bajo, it seems that it's anything goes in Alto.

Sidewalks?  At least Bajo has them.

[El Gato]

When did they make and enforce the code on "closed septic systems" in bajo?

Do you have a "closed system" GMB?

If the sidewalks are adequate why do the people walk in the street in Bajo?

You shouldnt throw stones there are plenty to go around.

I made a funny comment and you want to turn this into a battle.

Just the facts.

[Good Morning Boquete]

Esther,

You are correct.  This last week was so pleasant without people being attacked. 

It was good while it lasted.

[Kelvin Schartz]

Right on Esther. Olga's right wing opinions should not IMO be a part of Ning. We get it. She doesn't like Varela. Her Miami Cubano friends are from the moneyed class that fled Cuba. Batista lovers. The Cuban revolution was won by the poor. Almost impossible to comprehend. Batista/American Mafia and their American-funded army were driven out by the poor! Jesus must have had a hand in this.