| e of the most common questions I get - "Is Panama | | | | Panamanian?"Most agree that the 7 indigenous tribes |
| a safe country?" Yes, without a doubt. In fact | | | | probably have the best claim. For the rest they are all |
| Panama has been ranked one of the safest tourist | | | | immigrants of one sort or another. As a result it is |
| destinations in the world right along side Canada.Let | | | | difficult to tell the Panamanians from the visitors. You |
| me give you some personal examples and then let | | | | may see someone who looks very much like an |
| me give you some additional reasons why I believe | | | | American, a Canadian, maybe they are from India or |
| Panama is so safe. For some time we lived near the | | | | China - the reality is they could all be Spanish |
| village of Boquete in the highlands region. It was a | | | | speaking 2nd or 3rd generation Panamanians. Because |
| daily scene - young children and young women | | | | of the multicultural mix of the country no one really |
| walking many miles to work or school. My wife and I | | | | stands out as a foreigner - or different. So, when |
| are exercise addicts and you might recall we were in | | | | you or I arrive in Panama we are immediately |
| the health club business. At that time there were no | | | | accepted - we tend to blend in. The US dollar |
| health clubs in the area so I purchased a used | | | | contributes to safety as well. Often when traveling in |
| mountain bike. I just found one so my wife and I had | | | | foreign countries we are taught to keep our dollars |
| to share. Each morning I would go out around 6am | | | | out of sight - it's just too tempting to the locals. In a |
| and then about 7am my wife would go. She would | | | | country where the local currency may be devalued, |
| cycle through town and out of town on the quiet | | | | the US dollar has a certain allure. But in Panama |
| winding country roads for about 10 km. Not once did | | | | everyone is using the same money be they a |
| she feel unsafe. At the time my boys were just 11 & | | | | farmer, banker or tourist. Another Safety issue many |
| 9. They would walk out to the road and grab one of | | | | investors fail to consider is the weather. In recent |
| the local taxis, pay 25c each and get a lift into town | | | | years hurricanes throughout the southern US and |
| where they would buy 25c ice cream. Honestly, I | | | | most of Latin America have brought this issue to the |
| would not have had that much comfort and trust | | | | forefront. As you saw in my last Letter about |
| back in our home town in Ontario Canada. In fact I | | | | Safety, Panama lies in a unique region where violent |
| wouldn't have done it there. So what makes Panama | | | | weather is almost unheard of and it is the only Latin |
| so safe? First, I believe we need to look back at | | | | American country which is Hurricane Free - that's |
| Panama's history. Panama is a peaceful republic and | | | | right, records dating back to 1851 show that Panama |
| for most of the past century has been under the | | | | is in a safe zone where hurricanes never hit. As |
| watchful eye of the United States. Today's Panama | | | | investors from Florida to Texas can attest rising |
| was born of a multi-culture mix of peoples from | | | | insurance rates can take a dramatic bite out of your |
| around the world thanks to the Panama Canal. To | | | | return. In Panama your vacation and your investment |
| this day the people debate "Who is the true | | | | will never get blown away! |