Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Panama Charges 17 People Linked to Odebrecht Bribe Case
Panama prosecutors said on Tuesday they had charged 17 people, including several businessmen and former government officials, with money laundering as part of the case of millions of dollars worth of bribes paid by Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht S.A.
Attorney General Kenia Porcell declined to name the accused, but local media reported they included three former officials from the administration of Ricardo Martinelli, who is currently living in the United States and is being investigated separately for corruption at home.
Brazil’s Odebrecht, which became one of the most important government contractors under Martinelli, verbally agreed this month to pay $59 million in payments for bribes it paid in Panama to win business between 2010 in 2014.
Source: VOA News
7 Hipster-Friendly Hotels In Panama City
Panama is full of fantastic hotels and hostels, and Panama City is the mecca of unique lodging in the country. If you dream of staying somewhere full of reclaimed wood, craft cocktails, man buns, and gourmet coffee shops, then Panama’s your place. Here’s a look at the best 7 “hipster-friendly” hotels in Panama City, Panama.
Tantalo
Tantalo is located in the hip historic area of Casco Viejo and was one of the first boutique hotels in Panama City to focus on designing creative spaces for their guests. Each room has been uniquely designed by local artists using inspiration from the tropical city life around them and throughout the hotel are items that are upcycled into lighting, furniture, and decor.
The main floor restaurant features an amazing 4-story live plant wall that utilizes reclaimed rainwater surrounded by mesmerizing murals covering all the walls. Be sure to visit the hipster-friendly rooftop bar for a fantastic view of the city skyline and a craft cocktail.
Source: PTY Life
Lawyer: Panama to allow ex-dictator Noriega house arrest
A lawyer for Panama’s jailed ex-dictator Manuel Noriega says a court has granted him house arrest so he can prepare for brain surgery. Attorney Ezra Angel announced the ruling Monday. The 82-year-old former strongman needs to have a benign brain tumor surgically removed.
A court had ruled in October that Noriega be allowed to prepare for and recuperate from the procedure at a public hospital rather than prison. But Angel has argued that Noriega should be allowed to recuperate at home. He said last year that neither prison nor the hospital would be adequate.
Noriega ruled Panama from 1983 until a U.S. invasion ousted him in 1989. He’s been behind bars in the U.S., France and Panama since then. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: The Washington Post
Building the Ultimate Panama Road Trip, A Step-By-Step Guide
Panama is a small country, geographically speaking, which makes going end-to-end a reasonable goal for adventurers. You can literally travel from one border to the next in less than a full day. This makes Panama perfect for road trips, and allows for seeing so much the country has to offer, without ever having to board a plane, or go long distances. Road trips are fun, and if you plan them out right, can be an extremely efficient way to see the most of Panama, and get to know its people. All you need to do is set your goals for what you want to get out of it, schedule the right amount of time, and be prepared for surprises all along the way. Here are some pointers to get you on the right track (or better yet, road)!
Check out a variety of terrain/attractions
Variety is the spice of life, and it’s no different when you’re planning the ultimate road trip through Panama. Of course, everyone has their tastes when it comes to traveling, and that’s fine. Some people love the beach, others love the countryside and mountains, and others like cities and urban areas. That being said, you won’t get a full picture of Panama, especially on a road trip, if you don’t get a little slice of each. Luckily, Panama has all of the above, and none of it is very far from the others. This means, you can be in Panama City for breakfast, have lunch on a Caribbean beach, and end your day high up in the mountains, all in a matter of 10-12 hours, and all by road.
Source: International Relocation Firm Blog
