Hello, I would like to personally take the time to tell you what it is really like to retire in the Republic of Panama.

The country is not safe for United States Americans. You will not get treated well unless you are paying and can afford to pay big money. The system is corrupt, drugs are rampant, and the police are out of control. People are again dying of dengue. The object poverty is staggering. Simply put, stay and travel in the USA.

There is a Panamanian law numbered 651, which states that police are immune from prosecution. Further the police can put you in jail without charging you for two years, and god help you if you are poor.

I was put in the hospital after a soccer match in which the USA beat Panama, and robbed twice by the police while I was living there. The last time I was robbed by the police was near the metro mall in late 2013, which just so happened to be after I picked up money from Western Union.

Do not buy into the hype, if you get into trouble, even a fender bender you better have perfect insurance, money, and connections, or your going to be in trouble.

Try to look up some of the bad things that happen to non-Panamanians like the US American couple who were killed in there home and what the police did to catch the murders, nothing. What about the cops that shot into a car killing two children this year from India, nothing. People down in Panama sometimes just disappear. How hard do you think the Panamanians are going to look for you?

And who do you report it to that you were robbed by the police. The same corrupt police system, it is better to be glad you walked away with your life.

It is true that some of the cost of living are pretty cheap in Panama. But it is not worth getting killed over. If you doubt my veracity, simply contact me I can provide you with the email traffic from the US Embassy, as well as my retirement visa, and cedula numbers.

Again stay away, travel in the United States. Panama is not safe. If you do go there enroll in the US Dept of State STEP program and have all the embassy emergency numbers on hand.

Thanks for your time.