Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! The latest economic statistics are in, and Panama’s growth continues. Panama was ranked #1 on a global “well-being” poll. A locally made film gets nominated for an Oscar, and the VP is in Cuba. Here’s the latest.
Panama Ranked #1 in Global Well-Being Poll
It seems that every other year, Panama is ranked at the top of the list as far as quality of life and happiness. This year, they hit #1 again. In a recent poll by Gallup on the health and wellbeing of nations, Panama was ranked on top. They found that overall, Panamanians tend to be happier with the life they have, and more optimistic than most people all over the world. The 2nd place country was Panama’s neighbor Costa Rica, with the US landing in 12th overall.
Panamanians truly stand out for positivity: 61% are “thriving” on at least three measures of wellbeing, Gallup researcher Dan Witters says. The next closest country is Costa Rica at 44%. Six of the top 10 countries are in Latin America.
“That’s not a big surprise, based on what we know and have measured in the past,” Witters says. A previous Gallup poll found Latin Americans in general and Panamanians in particular have the most upbeat attitudes, based on things such as smiling and laughing a lot and enjoying life.
Source: USA Today
Panama’s Economy Grows 6.3% in First Half of 2014
According to official statistics from the Ministry of Finance in Panama, the country’s economy grew 6.3 per cent during the first 6 months of 2014. This is great news, and follows a 5-year trend of consistent growth in Panama.
Major growth sectors in the first six months of 2014 were fishing, construction, mines and real estate, while hotels and restaurants, agriculture and utilities had a lackluster performance compared with 2013.
The economy could grow 7 percent for 2014 as a whole, the ministry said.
The national banking system’s net profit reached $616.8 million, a gain of $56.5 million over one year earlier, according to the report. Bank deposits increased from $61.9 billion to $62.66 billion.
Source: Fox News Latino
For First Time Ever, Panama Joins Oscar Race, with ‘Invasion’
This past year’s Panama International Film Festival was a huge success with local and regional filmmakers and critics. Now, Hollywood is noticing as well. One of the festival’s favorites, “Invasion”, has been nominated for an Academy Award in the foreign language category. This will be the first Panamanian-made film in history to be nominated for an Oscar.
“Invasion” delivers telling anecdotes – including details of the incompetence and slaughter of women and children by the invaders, or U.S. airborne units parachuting onto a Panamanian beach, sinking to their knees and having to be helped out of its mud by their supposed enemy, the Panama Defence Forces. It also captures the complexities of the past: Many Panamanians wanted Noriega out but opposed an invasion.
“Invasion” also examines what appears to be near collective amnesia about exactly what happened. One example: Benaim receives no conclusive answer to such a simple question as how many Panamanians died in the invasion, a statistic which could embarrass the U.S. whose government presented the operation at the time as a swift, clinical exercise in modern warfare.
Source: Variety
Panama V.P. in Havana to Discuss Cuban Attendance at America’s Summit
Panamanian Vice President Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado visited the Cuban capital this week do open discussions with the Caribbean nation regarding their potential participation in the 2015 America’s Summit. Due to the country’s political positioning, and history, it is traditionally left out of the summit. That may change next year, as hopes of warming relations are high between both Panama and Cuba.
“Relations between Panama and Cuba are historic and the object of this visit is to solidify those friendly relations, which during President (Juan Carlos) Varela’s term in office we wish to relaunch and strengthen,” De Saint Malo, who was greeted by Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra, said.
The Panamanian government, host of the summit, announced two weeks ago its intention to formally invite Cuban President Raul Castro, so that Foreign Minister De Saint Malo’s trip has raised great expectations.
Source: Global Post
