Comments on: The Capital of Latin America http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anonymous http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-13159 Anonymous Sat, 02 Apr 2011 18:33:00 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-13159 you went to the wrong cell phone company, I'm guessing Movistar, but CWP and Claro are pretty cool in termn of service. you went to the wrong cell phone company, I’m guessing Movistar, but CWP and Claro are pretty cool in termn of service.

]]> By: David Landau http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-2973 David Landau Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:44:19 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-2973 Simon: You hit the nail on the head when you said that you come "through" Miami visiting. You don't live here and therefore you don't really know what is going on. You only know what others say or write about Miami. I can tell you that, after living here for two years, you are incorrect about many comments you make about Miami. Perhaps your comments about the airport are true, but an airport does not define an entire city! Miami is not a tax haven! Miami is a destination for flight capital from Latin America but it is not a tax haven. I lived and worked in Europe for many years as an international tax specialist in countries like Switzerland and Luxembourg - they are tax havens! Latin Americans are not hiding their assets from tax authorities they are hiding their wealth from crazy dictators like Chavez. They pay U.S. Income tax on all earnings that they generate in Miami or anywhere else in the America. They are happy to pay U.S. tax on their income from their capital taken out of those countries, including Panama! Simon:

You hit the nail on the head when you said that you come “through” Miami visiting. You don’t live here and therefore you don’t really know what is going on. You only know what others say or write about Miami. I can tell you that, after living here for two years, you are incorrect about many comments you make about Miami. Perhaps your comments about the airport are true, but an airport does not define an entire city!

Miami is not a tax haven! Miami is a destination for flight capital from Latin America but it is not a tax haven. I lived and worked in Europe for many years as an international tax specialist in countries like Switzerland and Luxembourg – they are tax havens! Latin Americans are not hiding their assets from tax authorities they are hiding their wealth from crazy dictators like Chavez. They pay U.S. Income tax on all earnings that they generate in Miami or anywhere else in the America. They are happy to pay U.S. tax on their income from their capital taken out of those countries, including Panama!

]]> By: Garyf http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-716 Garyf Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:38:20 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-716 Agreed on most points, particularly the Miami Airport comment. It is the most pathetic and disorganized excuse for an "major international" airport I have encountered anywhere in 35 years of global business travel. It is a national disgrace for the U.S.A. From the "casino style" layout, to the inefficent imigration, to some of the unfriendliest workers (cattle prodders) I have ever encountered, etc. Makes my blood pressure jumps about 20 points just getting off the plane there. Agreed on most points, particularly the Miami Airport comment. It is the most pathetic and disorganized excuse for an “major international” airport I have encountered anywhere in 35 years of global business travel. It is a national disgrace for the U.S.A. From the “casino style” layout, to the inefficent imigration, to some of the unfriendliest workers (cattle prodders) I have ever encountered, etc. Makes my blood pressure jumps about 20 points just getting off the plane there.

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-707 Cynthia Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:25:32 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-707 Dear Simon We live in and run a small business in Panama. I agree that Panama is becoming the center even with its benefits and drawbacks. A good 50% or more of our foreign guests are looking at Panama to invest (they visit us to first relax) - even now in this financial climate. We still feel that Panama City is vibrant and growing - more slowly now - but growing. Panama is feeling the economic slowdown but less than many other countries. We know and still love Miami, but we avoid it to travel through, and I would not consider a vacation there at present. Interesting article, thanks! I also author a blog which provides information to visitors and residents of Panama: http://destination-panama-blog.com/ Dear Simon
We live in and run a small business in Panama. I agree that Panama is becoming the center even with its benefits and drawbacks. A good 50% or more of our foreign guests are looking at Panama to invest (they visit us to first relax) – even now in this financial climate. We still feel that Panama City is vibrant and growing – more slowly now – but growing. Panama is feeling the economic slowdown but less than many other countries.
We know and still love Miami, but we avoid it to travel through, and I would not consider a vacation there at present. Interesting article, thanks!
I also author a blog which provides information to visitors and residents of Panama: http://destination-panama-blog.com/

]]> By: John http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-703 John Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:59:30 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-703 I have been to Panama several times in the past 3 years to explore my retirement chances there. Thanks to its small size, I managed to seem most of the country from it's capital to the smalles shack on the beach. Finally, I decided not to move there! My findings were... If you get entangled in their corrupt system, you may kiss your money and time goodbye. Almost nobody would give a damn about it. Service mentality is non-existent! You'd almost have to beg for it. Try going to any cellphone store to BUY their service and see if the attendant even talk to you. Infrastructure? Non existant. Noise galore especially in the city. Pollution? Try walking on their glitzy Balboa Ave. and smell the sewage or should I say, swim in it when it down pours? The sewage has no where to go when it rains but up! The only way to be successful in Panama is if you have loads of money (to sustain the bribes) and/or know the elite runing the place. Otherwise, you'd be just a small fish waiting to be caught and fried. Real-Estate is a bubble that's just about to explode. Mainly coz every Gonzalez, Sanchez and their mother have become professional developers! They think that's just the thought of having a bathroom is a luxury in the units they build. Therefore, no need to have the toilet seat aligned, or the doors shut flat, or the electrical outlets splattered all over the place! For this, you'd have to dole out $100s of 1000s of US dollars coz it's Panama!! Enjoy your birds! John. I have been to Panama several times in the past 3 years to explore my retirement chances there. Thanks to its small size, I managed to seem most of the country from it’s capital to the smalles shack on the beach. Finally, I decided not to move there!

My findings were…
If you get entangled in their corrupt system, you may kiss your money and time goodbye. Almost nobody would give a damn about it.

Service mentality is non-existent! You’d almost have to beg for it. Try going to any cellphone store to BUY their service and see if the attendant even talk to you.

Infrastructure? Non existant.

Noise galore especially in the city. Pollution? Try walking on their glitzy Balboa Ave. and smell the sewage or should I say, swim in it when it down pours? The sewage has no where to go when it rains but up!

The only way to be successful in Panama is if you have loads of money (to sustain the bribes) and/or know the elite runing the place. Otherwise, you’d be just a small fish waiting to be caught and fried.

Real-Estate is a bubble that’s just about to explode. Mainly coz every Gonzalez, Sanchez and their mother have become professional developers! They think that’s just the thought of having a bathroom is a luxury in the units they build. Therefore, no need to have the toilet seat aligned, or the doors shut flat, or the electrical outlets splattered all over the place! For this, you’d have to dole out $100s of 1000s of US dollars coz it’s Panama!!

Enjoy your birds!

John.

]]> By: james http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-661 james Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:09:20 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-661 Dear Simon, I have lived in Panama for 8 years and could not disagree more. The crucial difference between Panama and Miami is the rule of law. In Panama there is none. The legal system here is a circus where the judges are influence by money or friendship. If you get ripped off by one of our so called rabiblancos (the rich white elite) you will never see your money again. Black will be redefined as white to assure that they will win. Read the decisions of the supreme court here and you will see that it really is a sham. It is a joke that people compare Miami to Panama City. One is a large city in the world´s richest and most powerful country and the other is a facade hidding a slummy, cultureless, corrupt center of a Banana Republic that has spent most of it´s existence under military dictatorship and in the last administration veered very close to returning to that state. Dear Simon,

I have lived in Panama for 8 years and could not disagree more. The crucial difference between Panama and Miami is the rule of law. In Panama there is none. The legal system here is a circus where the judges are influence by money or friendship. If you get ripped off by one of our so called rabiblancos (the rich white elite) you will never see your money again. Black will be redefined as white to assure that they will win. Read the decisions of the supreme court here and you will see that it really is a sham. It is a joke that people compare Miami to Panama City. One is a large city in the world´s richest and most powerful country and the other is a facade hidding a slummy, cultureless, corrupt center of a Banana Republic that has spent most of it´s existence under military dictatorship and in the last administration veered very close to returning to that state.

]]> By: Laura http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-659 Laura Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:52:15 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-659 Did I miss a perspective on Costa Rica or was it just not mentioned? Did I miss a perspective on Costa Rica or was it just not mentioned?

]]> By: Peter Alves http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-638 Peter Alves Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:42:30 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-638 Good Atricle Good Atricle

]]> By: Patrick Archer http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-636 Patrick Archer Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:42:26 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-636 "entire blocks of condo buildings sitting empty, and former high-powered real estate agents working as pool boys" A good description of Miami today and Panama in the next 12-18 months. Only Ciudad de Panama has horrendous infrastructure, a polluted waterfront and (like Miami) tens of thousands of empty luxury condos that (unlike Miami) the average citizen can't even afford to rent given the median incomes there. As a Miami transplant, I enjoyed your city-by-city analysis and agree that people are finally waking up to the economic reality of "the Magic City." I'm through with Miami, but I don't enjoy Panama for the reasons mentioned above. Plus the "service-oriented" mentality is non-existent and the nightlife, dining and cultural offerings are seriously lacking. Even though it's an overnight flight, my plata is on Buenos Aires. The only negative you mentioned there, political instability, is turning around judging by the Congressional elections on June 28. The pendulum is swinging back to solid, pro-business candidates like Mauricio Macri and the radical socialists are on the way out. http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13938421&fsrc=rss Cheers “entire blocks of condo buildings sitting empty, and former high-powered real estate agents working as pool boys”

A good description of Miami today and Panama in the next 12-18 months. Only Ciudad de Panama has horrendous infrastructure, a polluted waterfront and (like Miami) tens of thousands of empty luxury condos that (unlike Miami) the average citizen can’t even afford to rent given the median incomes there.

As a Miami transplant, I enjoyed your city-by-city analysis and agree that people are finally waking up to the economic reality of “the Magic City.” I’m through with Miami, but I don’t enjoy Panama for the reasons mentioned above. Plus the “service-oriented” mentality is non-existent and the nightlife, dining and cultural offerings are seriously lacking.

Even though it’s an overnight flight, my plata is on Buenos Aires. The only negative you mentioned there, political instability, is turning around judging by the Congressional elections on June 28. The pendulum is swinging back to solid, pro-business candidates like Mauricio Macri and the radical socialists are on the way out.

http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13938421&fsrc=rss

Cheers

]]> By: Sam Taliaferro, Panama http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-632 Sam Taliaferro, Panama Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:49:49 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-632 Hi Simon, I have been living and investing in Panama since 1997 and would agree with your take on things. Recent elections have brought an honest businessman to the presidency who is making things all the better for those wishing to live or invest here. I was the first foreign real estate developer in Panama have been credited with having been instrumental in starting the Panama real estate boom that has now gone bust due to over speculation and the worlds recent distaste for real estate investments. I write a blog called the Panama Investors Blog where I bring to light information about the investment climate here. I have posted a portion of this article with a link to your newsletter on my blog. Keep up the good work! http://primapanama.blogs.com/_panama_residential_devel/ Hi Simon,
I have been living and investing in Panama since 1997 and would agree with your take on things. Recent elections have brought an honest businessman to the presidency who is making things all the better for those wishing to live or invest here. I was the first foreign real estate developer in Panama have been credited with having been instrumental in starting the Panama real estate boom that has now gone bust due to over speculation and the worlds recent distaste for real estate investments. I write a blog called the Panama Investors Blog where I bring to light information about the investment climate here. I have posted a portion of this article with a link to your newsletter on my blog. Keep up the good work! http://primapanama.blogs.com/_panama_residential_devel/

]]> By: Duane http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/the-capital-of-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-629 Duane Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:08:53 +0000 http://www.sovereignman.com/?p=370#comment-629 Hello, Simon, You say, "Santiago is a major success story, but its paper thin financial industry will not be able to support regional capital flows for quite some time. Will you please elaborate on the "its paper thin financial industry" portion of your observation> Thanks, Simon. Hello, Simon,

You say, “Santiago is a major success story, but its paper thin financial industry will not be able to support regional capital flows for quite some time.

Will you please elaborate on the “its paper thin financial industry” portion of your observation>

Thanks, Simon.

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