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panamajames
Joined 2012
Posts: 5096

10 years ago

Playa Blanca - More News

10 years ago

Police defy Anton Mayor at Playa Blanca blockade
Thursday, 05 September 2013
Playa Blanca was blocked today. Police were helping block residents from entering and leaving.
This is because there is a HOA issue with the condo's. This is a violation of individual rights. Suppose this was an emergency I asked? I received no reply
I had an argument with the ones guarding the gate and had to go through an unpaved dirt road with my car- that was partially washed out, to exit the resort, I was told that a few hours later
The Mayor of Anton showed up and cars were allowed to go through the gates then after the Mayor of Anton left, they blocked the entrance and exit again.

I am going to write to the US Embassy and also suggest Canadians who own property here also write to the Canadian Embassy. Supposedly Martinelli is aware of the problems here at Playa Blanca but has done nothing to help investors in his so called "democratic country"

I challenged the guards, the HOA people, the resort security and the policia by asking if Noreiga is back in power. It appears that Panama is an unfriendly place to invest since laws are ignored, we gringo's are enticed to invest our money into this country where the laws are different for Panamanians and we "foreigners"

Granted, the Canadian and US Embassy will likely not involve themselves in this ridiculous shake down of investors, but no harm in documenting how we are treated in this country.
robchocolate
From robberies, where the criminals are captured then let go, to the treatment of residents, the more we expose the real truth about Panama, the better chance we have of bringing positive change.
There was a time when the concept of a gated community was to keep strangers out, not for keeping residents out because they won't pay an "administration fee" the developers have imposed - and which has been declared illegal? Wow - how times change.

This is the same developer who shut off the residents water, refused to allow elevator maintenance trucks in, etc - until the residents paid what they are claiming is an illegal monthly fee.
PB Resident:
I like living in a gated community, especially here in Panama. Problems with the resort owner are one thing but crime is another and I'll go with the former. Better to have security all around than not.

Panama is wide open to crime against home owners who live in non-gated communities and have no roaming security guards. We know they can capture the criminals but they let them go. The crimes, and robberies committed were all in non-gated communities,
KP5

No you’re wrong there PB Resident. The gated communities just keep quiet about it. !!!!!!
robchocolate
Not to burst your bubble, but more home invasions, armed assaults and attacks have happened in "gated communities' than anywhere else in Panama.

Coronado has experienced a rash of violent attacks this year and last. Rio Mar's offices were robbed recently and Playa Banca had three robberies in March alone.

Gated does not necessarily mean safer. It is a simple smile and wave that gets any gringo into any gated community in Panama - except perhaps Bijou and Buenaventura (which has a robbery this year).

Every resident is responsible for their own safety - do not count on the developer to protect you. Motion detector lights, stoning lights and sound alarms, dead-bolt locks and bars - and a dog - are the first line of defense.

NHN is selling air horns where you can blast the assailants ears out - and alert your neighbors to the danger.

This is where gated communities are best - get to know your neighbors - have their phone numbers programmed into your speed dial - and let them know - if they hear the air horn - do not hesitate to call the police - or the NHN HOTLINE.

Rob Brown – Founder - NHN
PB Resident:
No, I disagree. Coronado has many entrances. Playa Blanca has one and they do use walkie talkies to let the guards know where you are going. I know this because I have been in a car with friends and they take license numbers as well.

Workers on the premises committed the crimes in empty condo's at Playa Blanca.

My dog gets loose and the guards are on it immediately. I did not have to go ask them to look for her. They spoke to each other and brought her back in a golf cart. She was on the other side of the resort. I have absolutely no complaints about the gated security here. The majority of us do not.

Anyone can get into Coronado. No names taken, no questions, they just open the gates and let us through.

joe Pearson
I have been so excited up until now about looking forward to retiring and investing in Panama. However, the more I read, the less inclined I feel to do that. Maybe it will improve over the next couple of years, which will be my time frame. If it doesn't then maybe Belize, Costa Rica or Ecuador will fit the bill.

William Russell

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