I learned some valuable lessons on a recent Central American Nation of Panama trip.
Iguanas ran about like they owned the place. Panama city is a modern bustling metropolis like any western city. The people are warm and welcoming. Whatever you do, never cut down a tree without first receiving permission. Not every issue requires armed police to sort through problems, among others.
My first lesson began before our Copa Airline flight lifted from the tarmac at JFK international airport. Immediately across from my row 22 seat, two women passengers got into a heated exchange about what I had no idea; they were speaking rapidly in Spanish. A teenage boy occupied the window seat.
I could pick up a few words from the back and forth of the rapid exchange and pieced together the remainder to form my own conclusion thereafter. The woman in the aisle seat closest to my seat, also an aisle seat, was a little on the large side; the other lady with whom she beefed was squished between her and the teenage boy on the large side seated in the window seat.
The tiny woman in the middle was small in stature only, she was not about to cower in fear from the big girl, and she let her know about it. I surmised then that her discomfiture was from the hefty isle lady’s incessant movement, as she had bumped me a couple of times without even an acknowledgment from her that she had bumped into someone.
Regarding her bumping me, I thought it was par for the course when you flew coach class and did not get a window seat. I was a tiny bit unhappy, but I was good.
There was no escalation, and no heavily armed police called on board the flight. There was no punitive action taken against either woman.
A moving shot at some of the magnificent buildings that adorn downtown Panama City
Unfortunately, the disagreement got so heated that it caught the flight attendants’ attention. I thought both women would be removed by armed police from the flight and whispered my thoughts to my wife.
The two attendants calmly asked the big girl to move to another seat which she did obligingly, then they dutifully brought water to both ladies and calmly talked them down, and everything became calm.
The attendants spoke fluent Spanish, so I assumed they were Panamanian citizens.
There was no escalation, and no heavily armed police called on board the flight. There was no punitive action taken against either woman; a small container of water for them both and two calm professionals were all it took to restore calm.
Based on the success of these transits and others involving similarly-sized ships, the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) in May 2021 formally increased the maximum length and beam for ships passing through the waterway to 1,215 feet long 168.14 feet wide. The previous maximums were 1,205 feet and 161 feet, respectively.
The canal is the main source of trade by connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean; this is a short and cheap transit route for ships in charge of transporting goods. In addition, it is considered an important reason for the amount of traffic it has, which increases daily, such as the transport of oil, food, and industrial elements, among others that are of great importance for the world’s maritime trade. ( Source; Wyzant.com).
Panama city is a modern bustling metropolis like any western city, but there are also strict rules we were told by our guide, that took us on tour to a village of one of Panama’s indigenous tribes, which still live as they have for hundreds of years.
We got to the tribe by boat.
For example, we learned that the unauthorized cutting of trees could get one landed in prison for up to four years.
Panama depends heavily on its annual rainfall; therefore, the trees, forests, and jungles are critical to its survival.
According to the FAO (2015), of Panama’s 7.4 million hectares (ha) of land area, 4.6 million ha are covered with forests1,2 (about 62%).3 Panama’s primary4 and secondary forests are among the biologically richest tropical forests worldwide due to the country’s topographic and climatic diversity.
These forests form part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and are particularly important for migrating bird species between North and South America5. Panama’s Darien region, which borders Colombia, contains over 41% of the country’s mature natural forests6. This area is not only one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth but also home to several indigenous groups7. Most of Panama’s timber production originates east of Panama City in the Darien region.8 https://forestlegality.org/risk-tool/country/panama.
Jay, our guide, was liberal with his time; I thank him for answering all of our questions.
We were treated to a dance by the women and children before we left the village. We said goodbye to the indigenous people and their village and ultimately to Panama. Still, one thing is certain, given the opportunity, we will be back in that lush green country.
We are grateful to Jay, our tour guide, and the Panamanian people who treated us kindly; we are indebted to you for your graciousness.
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Mike Beckles is a former Police Detective, businessman, freelance writer, black achiever honoree, and creator of the blog mikebeckles.com.