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Panama Fact Sheet
Panam Fast Facts:
Population: 3.22 millionGDP: $23.09 billion (2008)GDP per
capita: $6,784 (2008)
Currency: Panamanian Balboa(USD is also accepted, 1:1 ratio)
Capital: Panama CityMeaning of Panam: abundance of fish,
trees, and butterfliesPoverty rate: 28.6% (2006)
Expected: 11% by 2009(fastest growing country in LatinAmerica in
2009 ~IMF)
A Short History of Panam Member of World Trade Organization
1501 First Europeans reach Panam; 1513 Vasco Nuez de Balboa
crosses the isthmus
1538-1821 Panam is part of the Spanish Empire
1821 November 10, 1821: el Grito de La Villa de Los Santos:
Panamanians declareindependence from Spanish Empire
1821-1903 Panam is a department of Colombia, and remains so
despite attempts to secede;1903 successfully declares independence
from Colombia with US support inexchange for granting US sovereign
rights over the Panama Canal zone
Government & Politics: History
1903-1968 Constitutional Democracy dominated by commercial
elite
1967 Contested elections; after winner takes office in 1968,
Panam enters a longperiod of military rule, starting with its first
military coup in history; throughoutthe 1970s and 1980s the
US-supported regime oppressed dissidents and benefitedfrom money
laundering, drug trafficking, and smuggling, though they
alsoexpanded social services to Panamanians
1987 Cruzada Civilista (Civilian Crusade) starts civil
disobedience against regime,
draws international attention
1989 US invades to re-establish democracy, secure the canal,
combat drug trafficking,and protect human rights (Operation Just
Cause); regime change occurs, civilianconstitutional government
restored
2004 Election of PRDs Martin Torrijos; improvements in fight
against corruption,government transparency
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Panama Fact Sheet
Political StructurePanama is a presidential representative
democratic republic. The president is head of State andhead of
Government. Executive power is with the Government, while
legislative power is withboth the Government and the Legislature.
The Judiciary is independent from the other twobranches. The
president appoints the judiciary.
National elections are universal, and the voting age is 18.
Panamas National Assembly iselected by proportional representation
in fixed electoral districts.
Since the US invasion, there have been three peaceful transfers
of power. The most recent wasMay 3, 2009, when Ricardo Martinelli
was elected to the presidency. He is a businessman (theowner of a
supermarket chain), president of the Democratic Change party, and
won the electionsin a landslide with more than 60% of the vote.
CultureCultural influences are primarily Caribbean and Spanish,
and 93% of Panamanians speak
Spanish. In ethnic groups, Panama is 50.1% mestizo, 22%
African/Mulatto, 8.6% European,6.7% Native Central American, 5.5%
Asian, and 7.1% other. The majority of the Asianpopulation are
Chinese people who immigrated either in the 19th Century during the
constructionof the Panama Railroad, or in the 1970s. Most of the
West Indian population of Panama arrivedduring the construction of
the Panama Canal. Regarding religion, 75-85% of the population
isRoman Catholic, and 15-25% are evangelical Christian.
Tourism
Panamas Law No. 8 is a landmark law for tourism investment in
Latin America. In SpecialTourism Zones, Law 8 offers incentives
including: 100% exemption from income tax, real
estate tax, import duties for construction materials and
equipment, and other taxes.
Ember
The ember people live in northwestern Colombia and southeastern
Panama, and have apopulation of about 60,000. The word ember
literally means the people of corn.
Principle activities include gardening, fishing, hunting, and
gathering. An important aspect ofthe Embera life is a connection to
thejai spirits throughjaibans, non-hereditary shamans wholearn
about the magical spiritual power that regulates life, health,
livelihoods, and nature.
Dachizeze is the highest god, Tutruca below him, and Caragabin
this world. Caragabhelpedcreate the world; he knocked down the
treeJenenfrom whose roots sprung the seas and rivers.The snake,Jep,
is a symbol for access and transport between lower and higher
worlds, andwhen someone is bit by a snake it is said they have been
hunted by those from the world below. Thejaibans continue the work
ofCaragabin promoting the continuity of theinteractions in nature
that created the world.
Useful sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama,
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ember
