August, 2000

The Panama Canal has never been a money making activity, even during the days of American control.   Now that the Panamanian government has full control, various projects have been initiated to try to make money from the services associated with facilities in the old Canal Zone.  These include retailing electricity.  Also, former Navy facilities are being looked to for things such as repair and maintenance of vessels.

Tourism still continues to be a hoped-for source of economic growth.  There is considerable bickering between different parts of the power structure in Panama as to who gets to do what. This is particularly complicated by the fact that much of the old Zone has been set aside as a quasi-autonomous authority.

At any rate, the Amador peninsula continues to be looked at as a prime site.  A World Aquarium has proposed for there in addition to other facilities.  This is supposed to also include a cruise terminal.  So far, one hotel and a yacht club are the only tangible things, although there has been some nice re-landscaping along the Causeway.

The architect, Frank Gehry, has proposed a major development for the Fort Sherman and Fort San Lorenzo area with an emphasis on ecological issues.   Mr. Gehry is a prominent, but sometimes controversial architect.  His most  famous project was a museum in Bilbao, Spain.  Where I live, in Cleveland,  he has designed a building for a local university, which I think looks an  onion that has some of its layers peeling off.  He is quoted as saying that  he likes to do designs that start a few good bar fights.

In the meantime, a cruise ship terminal is being worked on in Colon.  I can't imagine that the tourists would be mainly occupied in the city of  Colon, as such, the Free Zone, aside.  They would have to be bussed to other  areas.  About 250 cruise ships transit the canal every year.  However, most  of them don't stop.   (I'll be on one, myself, in October on the way from Los  Angeles to Fort Lauderdale.  I'll wave as I pass by.)

For the graduates of Saint Mary's School, there is news that the school  still exists.  It has a new building at Albrook and is still thriving.  I  also hear that a school has been or is being set up that will offer classes  in English.

So far, at least 20 companies have located at Fort Clayton, which is now a   techno-park.  They appear to be mainly telecoms, banking, and business type   firms.

The Hanta Virus outbreak has been in the news off and on.  As I mentioned in past article, this even led to Carnival being cancelled in some  areas.  It has been suggested that the continuous deforestation was a  partial factor.  The habitats of predators which  kept down the rat  population were destroyed.  The rats, in turn, carry the virus.