I think there are two Panamas. In Panama City (PC), most people seems pretty happy with the government. Investment is flooding in, the government are buying back previously privatized infrastructure, the economy is booming (12% last year, heading for 7% this year), and they can't find enough workers.
In the Interior though, it's a different story. The people feel that the government has forgotten them and is only interested in PC and the Canal expansion. Here in Chiriqui they have sold mining and hydroelectric rites to foreign companies, yet the land these developments are on are indigenous homelands, and they are understandably not happy. The Interamericana has been regularly blockaded, and they are steadfastly refusing to budge. The trouble is, the government has already taken (and presumably spent) the money. Chiriqui, which is the farming heartland and food bowl of the country is desperately short of water (existing hydro plants), and is also beginning to challenge PC as the prime tourist draw card.
Conversations here almost always involve politics. Whereas Australian politics is a bit like Richie Benauds wardrobe (the cream, the white, the off white, the beige, or the bone? - except for the nutbag greens) here there are real distinctions in the various parties and their ideologies. While most of Latin America has shifted to the left, Panamas most recent election brought in a right minded government, but one that has since introduced some leftish policy.
Chiriqui (and some other provinces) have long harboured secessionist desires, and though I don't believe it will ever come to that, it will be interesting to watch from afar...
DISCLAIMER - ten days in country, borderline Spanish comprehension, makes the above comments and thoughts pretty much meaningless really. I just wanted to record it for my own future recollection...
Hasta!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Bouquette, Panama
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