Skeletons and coffee to go

If you are into word association and mention Panama almost anywhere in the world, the knee jerk reaction will be “Canal.” In some circles it might be closely followed by “Noriega” or, in liberal circles, “US Invasion.” But among java sipping aficionados “coffee” is the name, literally on the tip of the tongue.

When someone in Vancouver, Canada is willing to pay $15 or more for a midget cup of black coffee, or 12 pounds or more in London, albeit in upscale surroundings, you know that something is happening. Panama coffee is the thing, for what used to be called the “In” crowd.

The prices are related to the high end beans, that are auctioned off at over $150 a pound. But the name Panama is also being attached to sales of less exotic beans. Coffee chain giant Starbucks which woos customers from the US and Canada to Europe and Japan, is dispensing Panamanian coffee at only $5-$6 a cup cappuccino or the “grande” cup, which will empty your wallet.

So all hail to our coffee growers. Without government bail-outs because of un-filed claims for European discounts, or loans from foreign banking consortiums for widening a canal, when the ships its intended for are not being built, are developing a world wide reputation for quality and are helping to maintain the economy.

Ironically Panama itself doesn’t have a coffee shop tradition. No major chains like Starbucks, Second Cup, No giant networks of donut shops where people line up round the clock for a pulse raiser.

A valiant effort by the owners of the Subway franchise, to attach North American style coffee lounges doesn’t seem to be paying off. On my last half a dozen visits, I sat alone, as I sipped a high quality brew and scanned the papers.

Which is a pity, because coffee shops have a long history in Europe and where places where political plots, coups, assassinations and assignations were planned and Dr Johnson, trailed by Boswell, kept his creative juices topped up in a famed London coffee shop.

SKELETONS At the latest meeting of my shadow cabinet of political junkies the subject of closet skeletons came up. It was noted that none of the major contenders for Panamanian political office does much skeleton rattling. This was put down to the fact that they all have big ones of their own, often connected to the dictatorship, from political to business ties. At the risk of mixing metaphors, they prefer to let sleeping dogs lie. As one of the “cabinet” said: “Everyone already knows.” Another added: ”And nobody cares.”

CHANGE. Many potential voters hold their noses when asked which of the presidential candidates they would vote for. The inner circle unanimously agreed that local politics needs a real breath of fresh air. A new generation of movers and shakers who actually want to do things for “the people” rather than for themselves or their power ambitions. And they need to be people with no connections to the days of Noriega.

How far away is that? If the PRD (Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Party) fails in the upcoming election, there should be a big shake up. But it is unlikely. There may be murmurings but be sure that the old school will still be around in five year’s time.

“Change”, Obama style, is further off. But one day maybe?

RAISING THE ANTE. Only a few hours after the announcement that a prominent New York financier had been charged with fraud involving over $400 million dollars, the amount was trumped by news of the arrest of a European group, involved in a 420 million pounds scandal, almost double the amount. Do I hear any advance on that?