Bocas Unidos Foundation

Bocas Del Toro - Wouldn't It Be Nice...

Sunday, February 03 2008

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just got back from spending another couple of days in Bocas del Toro as part of the continuing investigation into real estate and land fraud issues. When I took down the earlier articles about frank delape and Six Diamond Resorts International I received a whole bunch of email. The messages from habitual readers and people who know me simply said "we're waiting to hear the rest of the story." There were a few screaming rants from people who don't know me, accusing me of having "sold out" to the "other side." I couldn't answer any of those emails because I was up in Bocas. Now that I'm back, allow me to elaborate a little... (more)

This Is Superbowl Sunday: Later today the New York Giants will be playing the New England Patriots in the Superbowl. Being an avid Giants fan I'll be watching the game with friends and hopefully thinking about something other than problems with land and real estate in Bocas del Toro. Consider this "break" to be like half-time in a football game. Go get a beer, take a leak, grab some nachos, or whatever. Once Bruce Springsteen gets done signing the game will be right back on again. Personally, I'm hoping for another "wardrobe malfunction" but that's just because I also consider myself to be "pro-hooter." But, I digress.

Like Watching Grass Grow: At this point in my investigations into questionable land deals in Bocas del Toro I am forced by the circumstances to continue forward slowly and cautiously. And, for the record, it is not because I have either been intimidated into silence or bought off by anyone. Rather I am continuing to dig and it now appears that I'm getting down through another layer or two of bullshit and I'm getting closer to the truth and reality of what really had been going on up there.

Much Remains To Be Done: Everyone is still somewhat skeptical, and the details still have to be fleshed out, but I am confident at this point that most of the heavy lifting will be done within a couple of weeks or so. The people who have been involved in these conflicts are now talking directly between themselves, comparing notes, and they are figuring out just exactly who got screwed and who was doing the screwing. Pitching or catching? It's not quite clear right now in a lot of cases. But that's being resolved as we speak.

About Removing The Articles: A word about the decision I made to pull down the articles I have published so far about frank delape and the problems that have been going on in Bocas del Toro; for now, it's the right thing to do. Why did I do it? Because I came to the conclusion that it is the right thing to do, for now. Let's get one thing absolutely crystal clear - there is only one owner and editor of this website and that would be me. This is not the first time I've investigated a dispute or controversy, and usually one side or the other gets pissed off at me along the way. So friggin' what? My friends and people who know me well understand I'm not the kind of guy who is easily intimidated. And so far I have been completely and totally unimpressed with attempts to intimidate me or to control what I publish on this website (from any source). In short, it didn't happen that way. I ask you to simply hang tight, wait a couple of weeks, and you'll see what I'm talking about when the time comes. But for now, I have to keep a lid on it. Patience, padawan...

What's Good For Bocas: What matters most to me is that in the end of the day there is a more stable and reliable governmental system for land titling and ownership, in Bocas as well as in other parts of Panama, sufficiently hardy to withstand multi million dollar foreign direct investment. If all of these knuckleheads were not fighting over who owns what then maybe they could get around to actually building something, enticing international retirees and "residential tourists" to move here (Bocas or elsewhere in Panama) and to have a degree of confidence in what they are buying, from anyone. Unfortunately, that's not the case on the ground right now, and it's especially not the case in Bocas del Toro. It needs to be fixed, one way or the other. And I continue to call upon the national government of Panama to go up there and fix it. And hey, where the hell is the "Presidential Task Force" I was promised a couple of weeks ago? I'll be making that call on Wednesday.

Bilingual, Two Degrees, $1.15 an Hour: Yesterday I met an incredibly talented young woman; smart, funny and friendly - who has two teaching degrees and who is bilingual Spanish - English. She's hoping to be assigned by the Panamanian Ministry of Education to a teaching job which would stabilize her income and help her take care of her ailing mother in Bocas del Toro. Currently the best job she can get is paying her about $1.15 an hour as a receptionist in a hotel. More investment brings more construction, construction residents, residents bring consumption, consumption means services, and there is all of a sudden a whole lot more money rotating around the local "micro economy" of Bocas del Toro. But it's not going to happen, they can't take it to the next level with the rules of engagement remaining as they are right now. The money people want to get there but significant obstacles remain to be bulldozed (with extreme prejudice) on the road to Utopia. Personally I don't care so much about the rich guys who have been fighting amongst themselves - but I really do care personally about the humble, hard working and honest people who will truly and honestly benefit from the development when it eventually happens. I think it sucks that there are unscrupulous people effectively creating roadblocks to development. But I also have faith that eventually the development will occur - wouldn't it be nice...