Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup. Panama’s Metro is set to expand once more. Noriega is taking on video game manufacturers. Venezuela is ready to do business in Colon, and we tell you why resorts are all the rage on Panama’s Pacific beaches. Here’s the latest:
Panama Metro Line 2 Project Management Deal Signed
Plans for the construction of Panama’s second metro line are moving ahead quickly, as this week a deal was signed, appointing a project management team. Line 2 will further connect the central parts of Panama City with more outlying areas, including the area of Tocumen, where the international airport is based. While no concrete time frame has been set, it is assumed that it will take around 4 years to complete, much like the first line.
A consortium of Barcelona Metropolitan Transport, Ayesa, Spain, and Louis Berger, United States, has been awarded a US $32m five-year contract by Metro Panama to provide project management, coordination and technical assistance on the construction of the second metro line in Panama City.
The 23km 15-station line will run on a mostly-elevated alignment from an interchange with Line 1 at San Miguelito serving the districts of December 24 and New Tocumen before terminating at La Doña.
Former Panama Dictator Manuel Noriega sues Activision over ‘Call of Duty’ game
In unexpected news this week, former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega announced that he would be suing video game producer Activision, over accusations that they used his name and likeness without his permission. Noriega, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in Panama is seeking damages, although an exact figure hasn’t been released yet.
The lawsuit claims: “In an effort to increase the popularity and revenue generated by BLACK OPS II, defendants used, without authorization or consent, the image and likeness of plaintiff in BLACK OPS II. Defendants’ use of plaintiff’s image and likeness caused damage to plaintiff. Plaintiff was portrayed as an antagonist and portrayed as the culprit of numerous fictional heinous crimes, creating the false impression that defendants are authorized to use plaintiff’s image and likeness. This caused plaintiffs to receive profits they would not have otherwise received.”
Panamanian Traders to Restore Business with Venezuela in Panama Free Zone
After months of a diplomatic dispute that caused an economic freeze between Panama and Venezuela, tensions are thawing, and the two countries are ready to do business again. This time in the port of Colon, Panama’s Free Trade Zone, that sits at the Caribbean mouth of the Panama Canal.
The president of the Colón Free Zone Users Association (AU) of Panama, Luis Germán Gómez is optimistic about the situation of Venezuelan businesspersons following the restoration of the Panama-Venezuela relation, which would allow resuming the trade relation and the negotiations over debt.
He added that the association is looking for new clients in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in order to try to “compensate the loads” of the crisis resulting from re-exports towards Colombia and the millionaire debt incurred by Venezuelan businesspersons.
Panama’s Beach Boom: How big resorts are drawing tourists in 2014
Tourism in Panama continues to grow, and the Pacific Beaches are a hotbed of new development. Areas where small beach towns once stood, are now mega resorts, with the infrastructure to match. Find out why, and what’s in store for resort tourism in the future, in our latest blog post.
Major hotel chains such as Sheraton, Wyndham, Hyatt, and Riu have all opened resorts in Panama’s Pacific Beaches region. The newest of the lot, the Hotel Riu Playa Blanca, boasts a 5-star rating, over 500 rooms, and 24-hour all-inclusive food and beverage service to its guests. It was finished at the end of 2013, and has already gained the reputation of being one of the top hotels of its class, in the region. And it’s not alone.
Each of these mega resorts has been built to handle large volumes of people, with a business model of “more is better”, making it affordable to many locals, and international tourists alike. During the off season, April-Oct., rooms at many of these resorts can run as low as $75 per person, including all food, drinks, and hotel services.
Continue reading about Panama beach resorts
