Tonight the Panamanians voted 79% in favor of expanding the Panama Canal to increase lock size to accomodate super size ships. The estimated cost is $5.25B with an estimated completion date in 2014. Critics suggest that costs will balloon to $10B and take years longer. Same critics also warn that corrupt govt officials will likely start stealing whatever money they can when that much money is floating around. My opinion...no doubt there is risk of corruption, ballooning costs and schedule slips...but world commerce needs a modernized Panama Canal to ensure all of the world's largest ships can cut through Panama rather than travel the long way around, or unload and ship via rail or truck to other ships waiting on the other side of the isthmus.

What will this mean for mongering in Panama?...Well, the planned major expansion of the Panama Canal means more jobs...maybe an increase from the current 8,000 to as many as 40,000. More jobs means more spending in the local economy...more spending in the local economy no doubt will cause some inflation. But, this influx of money may stimulate the migration of more hookers from Colombia and Cost Rica. Hopefully, we will see a greater variety of women in Panama...and hopefully any inflation from the influx of spending will not inflate the going rates in Panama.

I guess we'll see over the next couple of years.

AJ

I am looking forward to that AJ. All of us with vested interested there will be in for the ride and hopefully having fun along the way.

Mr. Garak