The Sounds of Bugles and Drums in Panama

Today is November 14, 2009.   We are in the middle of the Month of the Motherland—Mes de la Patria. A month in which the Panamanian people  honor their country.  Even through Panama is a young nation, it has a very promising future.  It only regained full control of its territory on December 31, 1999, when the United States turned over the Panama Canal Zone to the Republic of Panama.  That was only ten years ago.

Even as we speak, Panama is engaged in several mega projects in an effort to push itself into a full developed country.  It’s not going to be an easy task, but the determination is there.  So far its results have been more than satisfactory.  Let me explain.

Since Noriega was incarcerated in December 1989, Panama has returned to embrace Democracy.  There have been five president democratically elected in Panama, (e.g., Guillermo Endara Galimany, Ernesto Pérez Balladares, Mireya Moscoso, Martín Torrijos and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli).   In general terms, there is a separation of powers within the state:  Executive Branch, Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch.  With some imperfections, they are separated and trying to coordinate their activities to fulfill the needs of the people.  More is needed to perfect this union, and President Martinelli has promised to modernize the Public Administration.

During the last two decades, Panama has had one of the highest economic growth in Latin America, even though there was a global recession going on.  Fortunately that economic meltdown has left this country almost unscathed.  Direct foreign investment has remained high, surpassing a billion dollars a year.  Below are major public investments to be finished during the next five to ten years:

• Expansion of the Panama Canal – $5.25 billion.
• Construction of the first phase of a Metropolitan metro:  $1 billion.
• Construction of the final phase of the Coastal Strip which will connect the South Corridor to the Bridge of the Americas.
• Expansion of Tocumen Airport to accommodate more planes at any given time.  Operating capacity will by enhanced by approximately fifty percent.

For a small country, these are very significant public investments.  It’s an economic endeavor in the right direction to plunge Panama into the Twenty-First Century.

When I saw those enthusiastic students marching last week, I saw a whole young country in motion.  Students are the fresh blood of any country.  They are the ones responsible to assume the responsibilities of the old generation who has accomplished its share.  One generation passes the baton to the other generation and the country keeps on moving towards a more promising  future.  Those parading kids represents our country in motion.

Below are the last photographs of the “November 3rd. Parade Series”. Here we go.

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Omar Upegui R.)

As the sounds of bugles and drums die out, Panama is preparing for its next big day in November:  the Shout of Independence at La Villa de los Santos on November 10th.  In Spanish it’s called, “El Grito de la Independencia” by a humble  22-year-old woman called Rufina Alfaro. Shouting “Viva la Libertad”, together with a small group of local soldiers, she took a Spanish garrison at la Villa de Los Santos.  It was the beginning of the independence of Panama from Spain in 1821.

I went to the November 10th parade and shot several pictures.  That will be the theme for my next pictorial series.  It’s a total different perspective with a countryside touch.  I invite you to come to Lingua Franca for a new view of the Panama from the countryside.   Good Day.