The country of Panama is a constitutional democracy with three branches of government.

85% of the country is Roman Catholic.

There are 3.2 million people in Panama.

The country of Panama is slightly smaller than the US state of South Carolina.

In this newsletter; New hotels, Big Boquete Development Revealed, Boquete Meadows Customization, Condos Ready.

La Prensa reported the Meridian a 49 story Obarrio neighborhood condo project was cancelled.

It was previously thought that Los Faros de Panama was reduced to just a hotel and shops but now the full project has returned.

Enrique Iglesias purchased a penthouse condo at the prestigious Plaza Costa Del Este project located in Coste del Este. This is a small upstart community located five minutes outside of the city on the way to Tocumen airport. Coste del Este is chock full of new high-rise developments.

Panama Legal's website always seems to be up to date on all of the latest expat issues. Here is another example. The US has had a bill up for vote last year referred to as H.R. 3056, "Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007". In summary, the US seems to be looking for ways of making it more difficult for people to leave, or 'expatriate'. Here is an excerpt of the article:

Members of cooperatives and workers celebrated withdrawal of the Banana Transnational company Chiquita Brand from Panama, which has controlled fruit business in the country for the last 80 years.

The law reducing the term of the tourist visa to 30 days is still on the books BUT the immigration authority enforcement division has informed us that the policy since 1/1/08 is to allow the USA and Canadian visitor 90 days.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the largest modernization plan in the 92-year history of the Panama Canal on Sunday, backing a multi-billion dollar expansion that will allow the world's largest ships to squeeze through the shortcut between the seas.