Not a Big One; Gasoline: Subsidy on 95 Octane Terminates; Passports: APAP Announces Special Hours of Operation; Protected Areas: What Would Be the Fees for Their Use?; Walt Whitman.

Friday, April 21, 2023

Not a big intro tonight.  I’ve been swamped with memorizing information for a test next week, working on growing our CCTV company, working on this MASSIVE wood project that literally measures 11 feet wide and 10 feet high… …yeah, it’s a monster.  That and everything else we have on the corporate plate.  Oh, and did I mention that the pipes to the boys bathroom burst?  Yep, that happened last weekend, so instead of only fixing it, we’re remodeling the bathroom entirely.  That’s quite the chore.

We have a lot of interesting information from this last week.  Enjoy your weekend!


TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:

Yoli’s Wisdom

CERRO PATACÓN: CLEANING AUTHORITY WITHDRAWS FROM NEGOTIATIONS WITH ECOLIMPIA

Cerro Patacon.

The Home Waste Authority (AAUD) has publicly announced through an official statement that it has withdrawn from hiring the Ecolimpia Consortium for the operation of the Cerro Patacón landfill for two years.

Cerro Patacón: Ecolimpia will no longer be the consortium in charge of the landfill

The Waste Authority explains that the hiring of a consortium for the management of Cerro Patacón must encompass a complete operation, efficiently providing the service of management and final disposal of the waste received daily at the Cerro Patacón landfill.

Cerro Patacon.

Due to several negotiations and the counterproposal of the Consortium that only includes a partial operation of the landfill, not taking into consideration elements such as “total landfill security”, “management of the leachate plant”, “management of gas capture” and “rehabilitation of access roads to the areas where the operation is carried out”, which they call environmental liabilities not attributable to the Consortium; whose management involves an additional cost. The AAUD put an end to the negotiations and will open a new online quotation for the management of the landfill.

Until a new online quotation is made to select the company that can provide and comply with the requirements, the Waste Authority will continue to be in charge of the operation of the landfill.

READ HERE: CERRO PATACÓN: AUTORIDAD DE ASEO DESISTE DE LAS NEGOCIACIONES CON ECOLIMPIA


EXTENSION OF THE METRO TO VILLA ZAITA IS 50% COMPLETE

The project has an extension of 2.3 kilometers from San Isidro to Villa Zaita.

The Panama Metro announced that the extension of Line 1 to the Villa Zaita sector has a construction progress of 50% after concluding the lifting of the “U” beams.

In a statement, the Panama Metro administration reported that the current work is focused on the installation of the roof cover in the technical rooms of the Villa Zaita station and at the bus interchange.

It is specified that the phase to place the concrete structures that will be the base for the daily circulation of the trains (U beams) was completed with the lifting of 158 beams in the 2.3-kilometer project.

These beams were installed from 10:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., for which traffic was diverted and normalized once the work was completed.

The Panama Metro advanced enough so that in the coming months, the work will focus on the Villa Zaita station, completion of the relocation of public services, and civil works.

It is emphasized that the extension to Villa Zaita will benefit around 300,000 people and the project includes a terminal station, with a capacity for more than 10,000 passengers during peak hours.

READ HERE: EXTENSIÓN DEL METRO HASTA VILLA ZAITA TIENE UN 50% DE AVANCE


GASOLINE: 95 OCTANE SUBSIDY ENDS

Subsidy: 95 gasoline ends today and changes the price of fuel.

After the Cabinet Council approved the extension of the fixed price of B/.3.25 per gallon for 91 and 95 octane gasoline, and diesel, from April 2 to 21, and from April 22 to May 31, this benefit will only apply to 91 octane gasoline and diesel. Tomorrow, the subsidy for 95 octane gasoline will end.

Meanwhile, the National Energy Secretariat announced the new maximum prices for the sale of gasoline and diesel in Panama, which will represent an increase of 0.10 cents, and the price of fuel derivatives per liter will be the same in the provinces of Panama and Colon.

These gasoline and diesel prices will remain valid for 15 days, from April 21 to May 5, 2023. The cost of gasoline in Panama and Colon is:

  • Gasoline of 95 octane will be B/.1.173
  • Gasoline of 91 octane will be B/.1.057
  • The price of a liter of diesel in these provinces will be B/.0.930

Let’s remember that starting on Saturday, April 22nd, the 95-octane gasoline will no longer be subsidized by the state and will be sold at a regular price of $1.17 per liter or $4.44 per gallon, which is 38 cents more compared to the previous price ($4.06).

The subsidy began in July 2022, following strong protests from social movements. Fuel prices were fixed at $3.25 per gallon, and the state assumed the difference for fuel distribution companies.

However, after several extensions to the subsidy, in the latest extension of the benefit, it was decided to only maintain the fixed price for 91-octane gasoline and low-sulfur diesel.

READ HERE: GASOLINA: SUBSIDIO EN LA DE 95 OCTANOS TERMINA


PANAMA CANAL RESTRICTS NEOPANAMAX DRAFT DUE TO DROUGHT

Panama Canal applies fifth adjustment of the current dry season.

The drought that threatens water resources in Panama has forced the Panama Canal to implement a temporary adjustment of the water level for Neopanamax vessels transiting the interoceanic route starting from this Wednesday.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) explained that the lack of rainfall has led to low levels in its system of lakes. This is the fifth adjustment of the current dry season, as a result of which vessels that transit will be offered a draft of 47.5 feet instead of the maximum allowed, which is 50 feet.

During the month of March, Neopanamax vessels represented 27.76% of the transit of ships through the interoceanic route, 44.7% of them being container ships, 25.4% gas carriers, and 13% bulk carriers, among others.

This is a measure that has been implemented in the past when it has been required due to drought, which forces these vessels to reduce the volume of cargo they carry. The administrator of the Canal, Dr. Ricaurte Vasquez Morales, explained that the lack of rainfall has impacted the availability of water resources and that the Canal is forced to make these adjustments.

On March 19, in order for shipping companies to take the necessary precautions, the Canal communicated to its clients the measure of future reductions in draft depending on the availability of water resources.

Since January 3, the Canal has implemented a series of water-saving measures in its operations, to provide adequate supply and to provide reliable and competitive draft to customers during the dry season.

Consumption

The low levels in the raw water intakes are also affecting the operation of several water treatment plants of the National Aqueduct and Sewer Institute (Idaan). The director of Idaan, Juan Antonio Ducruet, has requested the rational use of potable water, which has been affected by a difficult dry season in 2023.

READ HERE: CANAL DE PANAMÁ RESTRINGE CALADO DE NEOPANAMAX POR SEQUÍA


FDA SIMPLIFIES USE OF BIVALENT VACCINES

On Saturday, February 4th, the vaccination process with the bivalent dose began for the general population throughout the country.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has modified the emergency use authorizations for the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to simplify the vaccination program.

The FDA update includes offering the bivalent vaccines for both the original SARS-CoV-2 strains and the Ómicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants to the entire population starting from 6 months of age, including for additional or booster doses. Meanwhile, the monovalent versions of the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States.

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The director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, indicated that at this stage of the pandemic, data supports the simplification of the use of authorized mRNA covid-19 bivalent vaccines, and the agency believes that this approach will help promote vaccination in the future.

He maintained that there is evidence available that the majority of the US population aged 5 and older has antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid-19, either from vaccination or infection that can serve as the basis for the protection provided by bivalent vaccines.

The FDA states that covid-19 remains a real risk for many people, and we encourage people to consider staying up-to-date with vaccination.

In Panama, during the last epidemiological week from April 9 to 15, 743 new cases of covid-19 were confirmed out of 15,097 tests that were carried out, according to data from the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the Expanded Immunization Program of the Ministry of Health highlights that from January 21, 2021 to date, 8,872,417 doses have been administered. Of these, 3,532,204 are first doses; 3,173,666 are second doses; 1,757,148 are first boosters, and 258,720 are second booster doses.

Additionally, 130,470 doses of the bivalent vaccine have been administered to people over 12 years old, and 2,719 doses to children aged 5 to 11 years old; with a total of 133,189 bivalent doses administered to those aged 5 and older, throughout the country.

READ HERE: FDA SIMPLIFICA USO DE LAS VACUNAS BIVALENTES


VACCINATION IN THE AMERICAS BEGINS ON SATURDAY

Vaccination of the Americas begins on Saturday.

From April 22nd to 29th, the national vaccination scheme will be carried out by the Ministry of Health (MINSA) in preparation for the Vaccination Week in the Americas, including the bivalent vaccines against covid-19.

Through the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI) and with the coordination of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), induction sessions are being held for personnel in the 15 health regions, public and private hospitals across the country, where the scheduling criteria are explained, said PAI coordinator, Itzel de Hewitt.

Hewitt explained that nursing staff will be deployed to schools and shopping centers for vaccine administration. It is important to present the vaccination card.

Vaccination of the Americas will take place at Parque Omar.

Confirmed the launch of the Vaccination Week in the Americas will be this Saturday, April 22 at Parque Omar, with coordination from the First Lady’s office. The opportunity will be suitable for the development of various integral health activities such as Papanicolaou tests, ophthalmological exams, blood pressure and glycemia tests. Additionally, vaccination campaigns will be carried out for children, adults, and pets.

Panama implements a scheme that protects against 30 preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio, pneumococcus, influenza, chickenpox, measles, and mumps, and consists of about 25 vaccines.

To date, the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI) highlights that they have received 212,400 vaccines for adults aged 12 and up, and 72,000 bivalent pediatric vaccines, which are applied from 5 to 11 years, adding up to a grand total of 284,400 doses of bivalent vaccines received to continue countering and cutting the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in Panama.

Likewise, it is reported that on the night of Tuesday, April 18, a new batch of 1 million influenza doses was received, which will reinforce the Vaccination Week in the Americas campaign starting on April 22.

READ HERE: VACUNACIÓN DE LAS AMÉRICAS INICIA EL SÁBADO


MAYOR’S OFFICE AWARDS CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUERTA SUR PROJECT

Integral Mobility Center of the Historic Center.

The Municipality of Panama awarded the consortium Gadpin, made up of the companies GA Desarrollo de Infraestructura e Ingeniería and Pinturas Garantizadas, the contract for the construction of the “Integral Mobility Center of the Historic Center”.

The company, the only one to submit a bid to the public tender, surpassed the evaluation commission’s analysis, composed of Alfredo Graell, Jeremías Acevedo, and Obeth Ponte Ponce, obtaining 99 points.

The investment, with a amount of $3.8 million to be financed with funds from the Decentralization Program, consists of the construction of a multimodal terminal in the Puerta Sur area, connecting Cinta Costera 3-Barraza.

“The development will have a direct impact on the flow of national and international visitors from El Chorrillo, Santa Ana, and San Felipe to places of interest such as the Old Town, Amador, the city center, and the flow towards the interior,” details the Municipality of Panama.

This is a joint project between the Municipality of Panama, the Office of the Old Town of the Ministry of Culture, and the Land Transport Authority (ATTT), which, in addition to improving vehicular flow, will promote commercial flow to these sectors.

The initial project consists of 225 parking spaces, 18 for buses, expansion of vehicular and pedestrian roads, pergolas, resting areas, public restrooms, interconnection to nearby streets and stops, vertical and horizontal painting.

It includes improvements to the Barraza multifamily homes with access, stairs, handrails, and ramps, restoration of the recreational area between the project and the Jesús ‘Master’ Gómez Gymnasium, two new synthetic fields, and a ‘school playground’ type playground.

The sanitary aspect includes the repair of the storm and sewage system and the expansion of streets 16 and 17 for emergency vehicle and waste collection flow.

The objectives of this municipal project are to reactivate the economy, create entrepreneurship possibilities, generate employment opportunities, stimulate internal and external tourism, as well as promote Panama as a destination abroad.

READ HERE: ALCALDÍA ADJUDICA CONSTRUCCIÓN DEL PROYECTO PUERTA SUR


MIAMBIENTE DETECTS ILLEGAL MINING IN SABANITAS, COLÓN

During the inspection, a water pump, along with other tools for carrying out this illegal activity, was found.

The Ministry of Environment (Miambiente) reported on Saturday that it detected tools used for illegal mining in the Rita River area, in the district of Sabanitas, province of Colón.

In a statement, the agency explains that technicians from the ministry, agents of the Tourist and Rural Environmental Police, and personnel from the Superior Environmental Prosecutor’s Office responded to a report of illegal mining (gold extraction) in this location.

It is detailed that after the inspection carried out, a water pump, along with other tools to carry out this illegal activity, was found. These tools were removed from the site and put into custody of the authorities. No persons have been reported detained at this time.

The authorities warned that these activities affect the environment of the region.

Miambiente emphasized that illegal mining has a significant environmental impact due to the movement of materials within the water sources. In addition, it causes damage to nearby forests and is a potential source of contamination of the Aguas Claras river due to the use of hydrocarbons for the operation of the pumps.

The regional director of Miambiente in Colon, Porfirio Justavino, reported that the institution continues to respond to environmental complaints. He also stated that patrols and inspections are being carried out in protected areas, coastal and forested zones, and populated areas of the district of Colon in coordination with personnel from the Environmental Police and the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office.

READ HERE: MIAMBIENTE DETECTA MINERÍA ILEGAL EN SABANITAS, COLÓN


ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE CERTIFICATE, PUBLIC REGISTRY: HOW TO REQUEST IT?

Electronic signature certificate, Public Registry.

To request a qualified electronic signature certificate from the Public Registry, interested parties must enter the http://firmaelectronica.gob.pa website and then go to the requirements section, there they must choose the certificate according to their profile, this being the National Directorate of Electronic Signatures, responsible for issuing the document.

Electronic signature certificate: Requirements

The Public Registry, through the National Electronic Signature Directorate, explains that both Panamanian nationals and foreigners registered with the Electoral Tribunal of Panama must meet various requirements to receive the certificate, which are:

  • Valid and current personal identification card (for Panamanian nationals)
  • Permanent resident card issued by the Electoral Tribunal (for foreigners)

Requirements for foreigners not registered with the Electoral Tribunal of Panama:

  • Valid passport
  • Current certification of immigration status issued by the National Immigration Service (for foreign residents)
  • Current certification of immigration movements issued by the National Immigration Service (for non-resident foreigners).Certificado Electrónico para persona natural:
  • The requirements indicated in section A.
  • The requirements indicated in section B “Requirements for foreigners not registered in the Electoral Tribunal of Panama.”
  • Confirm email address.

Certificado Electrónico para profesional (con idoneidad):

  • Valid and current personal identification card
  • Legible copy of the certificate of suitability issued by the competent authority.
  • Confirm email address.

There are also other certificates issued by the entity, such as collaborator of a legal entity, representative for a legal entity; as well as the electronic certificate for electronic invoicing. The steps to follow to proceed with these procedures are available on the official website.

Electronic certificate: Does it have a cost?

According to the department, for all cases, once you have the confirmation email validating the documents submitted according to the electronic certificate profile, you will be asked to provide proof of payment, the costs of which we indicate below:

  • B/. 50.00 for natural persons, professionals, collaborators of legal entities, and electronic invoicing.
  • B/. 50.00 for cloud-based electronic signatures (natural persons, government officials without special rates under agreements).
  • B/. 150.00 for legal representatives of legal entities.

Interested individuals should schedule an appointment by clicking on “SOLICITAR” on the website or by emailing servicios@firmaelectronica.gob.pa .

READ HERE: CERTIFICADO DE FIRMA ELECTRÓNICA, REGISTRO PÚBLICO: ¿CÓMO SOLICITARLA?


THREE CHILDREN AND TWO WOMEN ARE BEATEN AND SUFFER BURNS AFTER RELIGIOUS RITUAL IN NGÄBE BUGLÉ REGION.

The Senan said it rescued about 13 people.

On Friday, April 14th, the Public Ministry confirmed the detention of three adults in the Ngäbe Buglé region who allegedly belong to a religious sect and are being investigated for their alleged involvement in the assault of several people, including minors.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bocas del Toro began the investigation after five people, including three minors, were injured with blows and burns in an incident that occurred on Wednesday, April 12th, in the community of Isla Peterson, Kusapín.

The Chief Prosecutor of Bocas del Toro, Julio Vergara, explained that the investigation is for the alleged commission of the crime against life and personal integrity and that it began on Wednesday, April 13th.

“This group of people, who began a religious ritual of the religion known as mama tata, attacked people, including adults and minors, through blows and burns,” Vergara said in statements released by the Public Ministry.

He added that community residents reported that about 50 people participated in this activity, of which 19 were taken to receive medical attention. He confirmed that three people are currently detained and did not rule out the possibility of arresting others.

Earlier, it was reported that authorities were alerted to the events after some of the victims were taken to receive medical attention at hospitals in the region.

In the morning, the director of the National Police, John Dornheim, said that there were at least 10 people affected, including adults and minors.

“We will wait for the investigations to continue to be more precise and have a report closer to reality. It is the first approach that the units had to the place; some people arrived on their own, which causes us to go to the place,” Dorheim said.

This is not the first time that acts of violence related to the activities of alleged religious sects have occurred in this part of the country. One of the most tragic cases occurred in January 2020 when seven people, six of whom were minors, died in the community of El Terrón, Santa Catalina district, in the Ngäbe Buglé region.

In November 2021, seven people, allegedly belonging to an alleged religious sect, were found guilty of these homicides.

For its part, the National Aeronaval Service reported that it, along with regional authorities, rescued 13 people and detained 6 others for this incident, members of this alleged religious sect.

READ HERE: TRES NIÑOS Y DOS MUJERES SON GOLPEADOS Y PRESENTAN QUEMADURAS TRAS RITUAL RELIGIOSO EN LA COMARCA NGÄBE BUGLÉ


NASA PROGRAM ‘SHE IS ASTRONAUT’: HOW TO APPLY?

NASA’s ‘She’s an Astronaut’ Program: How to Apply?

The She Is Foundation website is the founding organization of ‘She Is Astronaut’, a program in which girls between 11 and 16 years old can participate to develop their skills and talents, as well as to improve their knowledge in science, entrepreneurship, and astronomy.

How can I apply?

To compete, it is necessary that interested young women meet the requirements requested for this 2023.

  • Girls between the ages of 11 and 16.
  • Not being a first-degree relative of a public servant or elected public official or appointed by popular vote or decree.
  • The family must be in a situation of extreme poverty, moderate poverty, or demonstrable vulnerability.
  • Receiving academic training in a public educational institution.
  • Demonstrating excellent academic performance.
  • Having availability of time to comply with all classes and activities.
  • Signing a Letter of Commitment.
  • Not having participated in any of the virtual or face-to-face missions of the She Is Astronaut program.
  • Having a responsible tutor who will provide support to the crew member during the program’s virtual phase activities.
  • Completing the application form completely and truthfully.

How long do you have to participate?

Registrations for Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic began on April 1st and will end on May 1st of this year.

The goal of these activities, involving women from a young age and during their adolescence, is to empower girls to become agents of change in their communities.

Since its founding in 2016, She Is Astronaut has benefited more than 16,000 girls from countries such as Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.

READ HERE: PROGRAMA DE LA NASA ‘ELLA ES ASTRONAUTA’: ¿CÓMO POSTULARTE?


PROTECTED AREAS: WHAT WOULD BE THE FEES FOR THEIR USE?

The Isla Cañas Wildlife Refuge, in Los Santos.

The Ministry of Environment has started a consultation process in order to restore fees for the use of the country’s protected areas.

According to the entity, a substantial increase was considered in 2020 compared to the fees established in 2008, as a necessity due to the increase in administrative and maintenance costs of protected areas.

However, the Department of Environmental Economics of the Environmental Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Environment conducted an analysis that recommends establishing the costs that date back to 2008.

Sarigua National Park.

“To promote the dynamization of the national economy in all its sectors, including those associated with ecotourism and recreation, it is necessary to implement public policy strategies and measures,” indicates the environmental entity.

In this context, it emphasizes that restoring admission fees to protected areas from 15 years ago can “encourage” investment in activities related to the tourism sector, generating employment and other sources of income for Panamanians.

“The decision to keep admission fees to protected areas low can also promote domestic tourism and benefit those segments of the population most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” it concludes.

Those interested in this citizen consultation will have until May 3rd to submit their comments to the Ministry of Environment.

The prices for the use of protected areas range from $3 to $5 for nationals and from $5 to $20 for foreigners on average. The fees also vary depending on the protected area, whether it is terrestrial or aquatic.

For example, to enter the Baru Volcano National Park in Chiriqui, a fee of $3 for nationals and $5 for foreigners is established. In 2020, the established amount was $4 for nationals and $5 for foreigners.

Volcan National Park.

In the case of aquatic reserves such as Isla Iguana in Los Santos or Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro, the fees are $4 for nationals and $10 for foreigners. Previously, it was $6 for nationals and $20 for foreigners.

According to the proposal, residents of the protected areas are exempt from paying admission fees as long as they can prove it through a certification issued by the competent authority. In addition, national students who are duly identified as such and participate in educational tours will also be exempted from paying fees, for which a request must be submitted to the Ministry of Environment.

The Ministry of Environment data indicates that there are 120 natural reserves in the country and 43% of forests are under protection as part of the National System of Protected Areas.

To get an idea of the number of people who enter protected areas, a report from the Ministry of Environment specifies that in 2021 there were 120,524 visitors to natural reserves nationwide.

The San Lorenzo Protected Forest and Landscape was the most visited, with 28,292 visitors, followed by the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park with 21,330, the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge with 19,855, and the Coiba National Park with 9,729.

Soberania National Park.

También entraron en este informe la Reserva Forestal la Laguna de la Yeguada con 8 mil 826, el Parque Nacional Volcán Barú con 8 mil 808 y por último la Reserva Natural Cerro Ancón con 8 mil 095.

Find the proposal for the public consultation at the following link: https://www.miambiente.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Borrador-de-Resolucion-de-Cobros-Consulta-Publica.pdf

READ HERE: ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS: ¿CUÁLES SERÍAN LAS TARIFAS PARA SU USO?


PASSPORTS: APAP ANNOUNCES SPECIAL HOURS OF OPERATION

Passports: APAP announces special hours of operation.

Due to maintenance work on the update of the passport enrollment, validation, and delivery system, the Panamanian Passport Authority (APAP) has announced that the institution will enable a special schedule for public service at its seven offices nationwide on the following days:

The change in the passport service hours at APAP will begin on Friday, April 28, 2023, as explained in the statement.

Passports: Schedule for Friday, April 28, 2023:

  • The Central Office (in Panama City) and regional offices will only attend until 12:00 noon.

Passports: Schedule for Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023:

  • The Central Office (in Panama City), the regional offices in the provinces of Colón, Herrera, and Chiriquí will attend during normal hours.
  • The regional offices in the provinces of Coclé, Veraguas, and Bocas del Toro will be closed to the public.

Passports: Schedule for Wednesday, May 3, 2023:

  • Public service hours will resume on a regular schedule at all of our offices.

The aforementioned work is essential to improve the security levels of the system and ensure the proper functioning of the institution.

Passport in Panama: What document to bring and how much does it cost?

The entity divides the service depending on the person, whether they are Regular, Retirees, Minors, Naturalized, Diplomats and Consular Officials, and Rentista Retirees.

Passport: How much does it cost for a regular person?

According to resolution No. 03-APAP-JD dated March 13, 2014, the cost for obtaining a Panamanian passport for regular individuals is B/.100.00 (one hundred balboas).

On the other hand for retired people the cost of the passport is $ 50.00 dollars.

As explained by the APAP, for a minor to obtain a Panamanian passport, the parents or legal representative must submit the birth certificate with B/.3.00 (three balboas with 00/100) in fiscal stamps or a youth ID card. Both parents must appear with valid IDs, passports, or migration cards.

READ HERE: PASAPORTES: APAP ANUNCIA HORARIO ESPECIAL DE ATENCIÓN


COFFEE GROWERS PREPARE THEIR LOTS FOR THE BEST OF PANAMA.

This year, Panama’s specialty coffee will be evaluated in three categories.

When the coffee harvest season ends, producers from the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP) prepare their best batches of coffee with the aim of participating in an international tasting.

Hunter Tedman, president of SCAP, confirmed that the activity begins with electronic registration from April 17 to 29, while the reception of selected coffee batches from each owner will take place from May 2 to 13.

Meanwhile, from May 22 to 26, a national panel of judges will conduct a cupping to select the best coffee batches. Then, international judges will taste the coffee samples from May 29 to June 3.

“It is an event that takes time and a lot of effort to organize. It includes a great logistics, from the preparation of the batches by the producers to the invitations to the international judges. We are approaching the final phase and everything is going very well,” said Tedman.

SCAP members consider Panamanian coffee to be at the highest level of specialty, after the impressive results achieved in the last three years, with cups that reached historical values in Panamanian coffee culture and rarely seen in an international coffee competition.

In the 2022 Best of Panama, Geisha Natural coffee obtained 96.5 points, Geisha Washed 96 points, and a variety of the Chicho Gallo reached 94 points, numerical values that are almost unreachable in a varietal coffee.

The participation of 20 international judges and another 18 invited judges from the United States, Australia, Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea, and Bulgaria is expected.

This year, Panamanian specialty coffee will be evaluated in three categories: Geisha Natural, Geisha Washed, and Varietals (includes all other coffee varieties). Each producer will deliver 42-kilogram batches of coffee, of which 25 kilograms will be offered in the BOP’s electronic auction.

Tedman highlighted the significant effort that each producer makes year after year to continue improving the quality of the coffee that Panama offers to the world. A combination of experience, the terroir of the Boquete, Cerro Punta, Volcan, and Renacimiento mountains, the flowering, and the final process of turning coffee into gold. From every 6.2 pounds of cherry coffee, one pound of gold coffee is obtained.

READ HERE: CAFICULTORES PREPARAN SUS LOTES PARA EL BEST OF PANAMÁ


THE ATHLETE BEATRIZ FLAMINI EMERGES FROM A CAVE WHERE SHE SPENT MORE THAN A YEAR IN ISOLATION

The athlete Beatriz Flamini comes out of a cave in which she spent more than a year in isolation.

Elite Spanish athlete Beatriz Flamini, who spent 500 days isolated in a cave with no direct contact with the outside world or natural light, emerged on Friday saying that the experience had been “excellent, unbeatable.”

“I’ve spent a year and a half without talking to anyone, just with myself,” she told reporters after emerging, aided by cavers, from a cave located about 10 kilometers from Motril (Andalusia, southern Spain), where she spent 500 days 70 meters underground.

Flamini had books, artificial light, and cameras to record her experience, although she had no phone or instruments to control time, and was supported by a technical team that left her food in a designated spot in the cave without any contact with her.

“I don’t know what has happened in the world (…) for me, it’s still November 21, 2021.”

“I don’t know what has happened in the world (…) for me it’s still November 21, 2021,” the first day in the cave, “and seeing you all with masks, to me it’s still (the Covid) pandemic,” Flamini, 50, said referring to the journalists, who wore masks for safety.

“There have been many challenges of this kind, but none with all the premises that have been set: alone and in total isolation, without contact with the outside, without (natural) light, without time references,” said David Reyes, from the Andalusian Speleology Federation, who was in charge of Flamini’s safety.

The experience, which will be the subject of a documentary by the Spanish production company Dokumalia, aimed to observe the mental and physical impact of such isolation.

It has been “an extreme endurance test,” estimated the Minister of Tourism, Héctor Gómez, on public television, who said he hopes “this test will be of great scientific value.”

The experience will be the subject of a documentary by the Spanish production company Dokumalia.

“The boat sets sail again on a journey that will last 500 days (…) See you again in April/May 2023,” Flamini had written on Instagram in November 2021, two days before starting her experience.

“There have been difficult moments and it’s true that there have been very beautiful moments, and both have been what has allowed me to achieve” the objective, said the athlete who in the past spent periods of isolation on mountain summits, as reported on Instagram.

Asserting that she “never” thought of giving up, even when she suffered an invasion of flies inside the cave, she said she spent her time “reading, writing, drawing, knitting, being, enjoying.”

“I haven’t spoken out loud to myself, the conversations I’ve had have been entirely internal,” she said.

“I’ve gotten along very well with myself,” she added, smiling.

READ HERE: LA DEPORTISTA BEATRIZ FLAMINI SALE DE UNA CUEVA EN LA QUE PASÓ AISLADA MÁS DE UN AÑO


STATUS UPDATE:

Saturday, April 15, 2022

PANAMA REPORTS A TOTAL OF 1,036,100 DETECTED CASES OF INFECTION AND 8,618 DEATHS BY COVID-19

  • 1,036,100 positive cases
  • 743 new cases
  • 8,618 deaths
  • 560 Home Isolation (0 Hospital Hotels)
  • 52 are hospitalized (52 in ward / 2 intensive care)
  • 1,026,868 clinically recovered.

Coronavirus statistics:

Daily COVID-19 Cases

DateCasesDifferencePercentage of Cases
2023/07/23 - 2023/07/2910476963753.5%
2023/07/16 - 2023/07/2210473213214.6%
2023/07/09 - 2023/07/1510470004856.6%
2023/07/02 - 2023/07/0810465156637.8%
2023/06/18 - 2023/07/011045852190910.0%
2023/06/11 - 2023/06/171043943131211.8%
2023/06/04 - 2023/06/101042631130211.1%
2023/05/28 - 2023/06/031041329109911.3%
2023/05/21 - 2023/05/27104023083510.3%
2023/05/14 - 2023/05/2010393957538.9%
2023/05/07 - 2023/05/1310386426647.4%
2023/04/30 - 2023/05/0610379786545.8%
2023/04/03 - 2023/04/2910373245915.3%
2023/04/16 - 2023/04/2210367336334.9%
2023/04/09 - 2023/04/1510361007434.9%
2023/04/02 - 2023/04/081035357627
2023/03/26 - 2023/04/011034730949
2023/03/19 - 2023/03/2510337813123
2023/03/181030658108
2023/03/171030550123
2023/03/161030427112
2023/03/151030315121
2023/03/141030194144
2023/03/13103005043
2023/03/12103000751
2023/03/11102995674
2023/03/10102988286
2023/03/09102979685
2023/03/08102971191
2023/03/07102962090
2023/03/06102953025
2023/03/05102950555
2023/03/04102945065
2023/03/03102938550
2023/03/02102933591
2023/03/01102924473
DIFFERENCE IN NUMBER PUBLISHED BY MINSA1029171-221
2023/02/281029392110
2023/02/27102928231
2023/02/26102925138
2023/02/25102921363
2023/02/24102915066
2023/02/23102908442
2023/02/22102904214
2023/02/21102902838
2023/02/20102899014
2023/02/19102897622
2023/02/18102895453
2023/02/17102890160
2023/02/16102884150
2023/02/15102879158
2023/02/14102873378
2023/02/13102865523
2023/02/12102863234
2023/02/11102859893
2023/02/10102850567
2023/02/09102843871
2023/02/08102836776
2023/02/07102829177
2023/02/06102821435
2023/02/05102817925
2023/02/04102815487
2023/02/03102806773
2023/02/02102799470
2023/02/01102792493
2023/01/311027831112
2023/01/30102771935
2023/01/29102768443
2023/01/281027641103
2023/01/271027538100
2023/01/261027438117
2023/01/251027321104
2023/01/241027217116
2023/01/23102710151
2023/01/22102705049
2023/01/211027001112
2023/01/201026889115
2023/01/191026774138
2023/01/181026636134
2023/01/171026502163
2023/01/16102633958
2023/01/15102628169
2023/01/141026212126
2023/01/131026086172
2023/01/121025914201
2023/01/111025713221
2023/01/10102549283
2023/01/091025409104
2023/01/081025305118
2023/01/071025187190
2023/01/061024997271
2023/01/051024726358
2023/01/041024368240
2023/01/031024128115
2023/01/02102401376
2023/01/011023937153
2022/12/311023784319
2022/12/301023465346
2022/12/291023119404
2022/12/281022715460
2022/12/271022255165
2022/12/261022090104
2022/12/251021986268
2022/12/241021718360
2022/12/231021358425
2022/12/221020933689
2022/12/211020244236
2022/12/201020008582
2022/12/191019426205
2022/12/181019221320
2022/12/171018901516
2022/12/161018385675
2022/12/151017710731
2022/12/1410169791029
2022/12/1310159501033
2022/12/121014917398
2022/12/111014519608
2022/12/1010139111142
2022/12/0910127691096
2022/12/081011673400
2022/12/0710112731742
2022/12/0610095311245
2022/12/051008286495
2022/12/041007791598
2022/12/0310071931104
2022/12/0210060891260
2022/12/0110048291378
2022/11/3010034511615
2022/11/291001836610
2022/11/281001226513
2022/11/271000713611
2022/11/2610021021105
2022/11/2510009971223
2022/11/249997741210
2022/11/239985641103
2022/11/229974611023
2022/11/21996438350
2022/11/20996088421
2022/11/19995667731
2022/11/18994936624
2022/11/17994312446
2022/11/16993866459
2022/11/15993407571
2022/11/1499283698
2022/11/13992738174
2022/11/12992564307
2022/11/11992257102
2022/11/10992155231
2022/11/09991924260
2022/11/08991664309
2022/11/0799135598
2022/11/0699125765
2022/11/05991192115
2022/11/0499107769
2022/11/03991008172
2022/11/02990836157
2022/11/01990679175
2022/10/3199050477
2022/10/3099042773
2022/10/29990354175
2022/10/28990178118
2022/10/27990060114
2022/10/26989946144
2022/10/25989802138
2022/10/2498966452
2022/10/2398961264
2022/10/2298954899
2022/10/21989449114
2022/10/2098933573
2022/10/19989262109
2022/10/18989153120
2022/10/1798903339
2022/10/1698899449
2022/10/15988945110
2022/10/1498883598
2022/10/13988737109
2022/10/12988628123
2022/10/11988505184
2022/10/1098832153
2022/10/0998826848
2022/10/08988220109
2022/10/07988111105
2022/10/06988006121
2022/10/05987885138
2022/10/04987747111
2022/10/0398763642
2022/10/0298759441
2022/10/01987553108
2022/09/3098744592
2022/09/2998735396
2022/09/28987257128
2022/09/27987129150
2022/09/2698697976
2022/09/2598690397
2022/09/24986806156
2022/09/23986650147
2022/09/22986503167
2022/09/21986336175
2022/09/20986161221
2022/09/1998594067
2022/09/18985873119
2022/09/17985754169
2022/09/16985585218
2022/09/15985367280
2022/09/14985087270
2022/09/13984817323
2022/09/12984494122
2022/09/11984372198
2022/09/10984174314
2022/09/09983860337
2022/09/08983523383
2022/09/07983140393
2022/09/06982747497
2022/09/05982250192
2022/09/04982058296
2022/09/03981762406
2022/09/02981356487
2022/09/01980869614
2022/08/31980255629
2022/08/30979626770
2022/08/29978856296
2022/08/28978560439
2022/08/27978121717
2022/08/26977404762
2022/08/25976642913
2022/08/24975729974
2022/08/239747551077
2022/08/22973678339
2022/08/21973339539
2022/08/20972800919
2022/08/19971881958
2022/08/18970923969
2022/08/179699541157
2022/08/16968797976
2022/08/15967821479
2022/08/14967342563
2022/08/13966779845
2022/08/129659251031
2022/08/119648941119
2022/08/109637751167
2022/08/099626081233
2022/08/08961375441
2022/08/07960934634
2022/08/06960300897
2022/08/059594031046
2022/08/04958357905
2022/08/039574521010
2022/08/029564421099
2022/08/01955343413
2022/07/31954930561
2022/07/30954369800
2022/07/29953569930
2022/07/28952639904
2022/07/279517351052
2022/07/269506831160
2022/07/25949523502
2022/07/24949021548
2022/07/23948473838
2022/07/22947635944
2022/07/219466911002
2022/07/209456891184
2022/07/199445051160
2022/07/18943345534
2022/07/17942811728
2022/07/169420831137
2022/07/159409461182
2022/07/14939764943
2022/07/139388211424
2022/07/129373971713
2022/07/11935684704
2022/07/10934980863
2022/07/099341172007
2022/06/089321101578
2022/06/079305321693
2022/06/069288391762
2022/06/059270771137
2022/06/04925940686
2022/06/0392525492616.9%
2022/06/02924328133817.1%
2022/06/01922990162618.3%
2022/06/30921364162413.9%
2022/06/29919740182818.3%
2022/06/28917912198918.8%
2022/06/2791592388618.0%
2022/06/26915057112518.9%
2022/06/25913932158418.0%
2022/06/24912348182619.3%
2022/06/23910522213019.7%
2022/06/22908392195718.7%
2022/06/21906435208019.0%
2022/06/2090435582618.6%
2022/06/19903529114319.0%
2022/06/18902386205319.2%
2022/06/17900333145114.9%
2022/06/16898882195819.1%
2022/06/15896924208018.7%
2022/06/14894844238919.5%
2022/06/13892455110618.5%
2022/06/12891349138918.3%
2022/06/11889960232319.1%
2022/06/10887637259119.5%
2022/06/09885046279320.5%
2022/06/08882253324421.2%
2022/06/07879009352321.9%
2022/06/06875486169220.6%
2022/06/05873794194220.5%
2022/06/04871852305622.4%
2022/06/03868796329622.3%
2022/06/02865500378922.7%
2022/06/01861711344322%
2022/05/31858268381922.6%
2022/05/30854449184222.2%
2022/05/29852607212321.1%
2022/05/28850484310922.4%
2022/05/27847375367824.1%
2022/05/26843697395124.4%
2022/05/25839746382522.7%
2022/05/24835921387624.3%
2022/05/23832045175820.8%
2022/05/22830287216720.7%
2022/05/21828120320322.7%
2022/05/20824917341720%
2022/05/19821500384222%
2022/05/18817658350620.7%
2022/05/17814152391022.2%
2022/05/16810242179921.4%
2022/05/15808443216620.8%
2022/05/14806277305421.8%
2022/05/13803223324823.3%
2022/05/12799975351421.7%
2022/05/11796461332421.5%
2022/05/10793137330721.5%
2022/05/09789830135922.4%
2022/05/08788471161521.1%
2022/05/07786856267221.6%
2022/05/06784184191920.5%
2022/05/05782265211718.4%
2022/05/04780148183817.9%
2022/05/0377831065214.3%
2022/05/0277765853811.9%
2022/05/0177712070013.3%
2022/04/3077642093212.1%
2022/04/2977548893912.3%
2022/04/2877454987412.2%
2022/04/2777367584511.2%
2022/04/267728307449.9%
2022/04/257720862677.1%
2022/04/247718194816.3%
2022/04/237714864817.6%
2022/04/227710055428.4%
2022/04/217704634877.9%
2022/04/207699765197.4%
2022/04/197694574796.7%
2022/04/187689781845.4%
2022/04/177687942005.1%
2022/04/167685941245.0%
2022/04/157684702716.2%
2022/04/147681993646.3%
2022/04/137678353976.1%
2022/04/127674383715.5%
2022/04/117670671364.0%
2022/04/107669312544.2%
2022/04/097665043274.8%
2022/04/087661772475.4%
2022/04/077661772474.3%
2022/04/067659302534.0%
2022/04/057656773405.1%
2022/04/047653371243.5%
2022/04/037652131593.4%
2022/04/027650542234.0%
2022/04/017648312954.8%
2022/03/317645362934.8%
2022/03/307642433104.5%
2022/03/297639333254.2%
2022/03/287636081253.4%
2022/03/277634832034.0%
2022/03/267632802553.7%
2022/03/257630252904.3%
2022/03/247627353414.8%
2022/03/237623943865.5%
2022/03/227620083654.8%
2022/03/217616431353.7%
2022/03/207615081933.6%
2022/03/197613153114.7%
2022/03/187610042694.4%
2022/03/177607353305.1%
2022/03/167604053004.5%
2022/03/157601053234.6%
2022/03/147597821464.0%
2022/03/137596361754.1%
2022/03/127594612374.3%
2022/03/117592243015.0%
2022/03/107589233104.5%
2022/03/097586133014.6%
2022/03/087583123825.2%
2022/03/077579303625.4%
2022/03/06757568814.7%
2022/03/057574874266.5%
2022/03/047570615227.1%
2022/03/037565394546.3%
2022/03/027560852326.3%
2022/03/017558533556.6%
2022/02/287554982365.6%
2022/02/277552623577.8%
2022/02/267549055437.7%
2022/02/257543626688.1%
2022/02/247536947878.2%
2022/02/237529077348.2%
2022/02/227521739329.2%
2022/02/2175124148110.7%
2022/02/2075076067310.6%
2022/02/1975008795211.4%
2022/02/18749135121913.6%
2022/02/17747916122112.5%
2022/02/16746695132812.5%
2022/02/15745367171413.3%
2022/02/1473977079913.9%
2022/02/13742854120314.5%
2022/02/12741651188115.9%
2022/02/11739770211117.5%
2022/02/10737659242419.0%
2022/02/09735235302820.0%
2022/02/08732207318017.8%
2022/02/07729027161419.9%
2022/02/06727413234521.1%
2022/02/05725068358921.0%
2022/02/04721479430824.2%
2022/02/03717171521024.2%
2022/02/02711691608126.2%
2022/02/01705880560621.6%
2022/01/31700274315026.6%
2022/01/30697124449027.2%
2022/01/29692634700428.9%
2022/01/28685630750230.4%
2022/01/27678128826830.9%
2022/01/266698601048135.5%
2022/01/25659379924136.2%
2022/01/24650138545537.6%
2022/01/23644683716436.3%
2022/01/226375191062936.3%
2022/01/216268901193336.3%
2022/01/206149571235134.3%
2022/01/196026061076336.3%
2022/01/185918431151933.2%
2022/01/17580324546837.4%
2022/01/16574856727836.0%
2022/01/15567578890235.3%
2022/01/14558676953033.4%
2022/01/13549146907433.0%
2022/01/12540072651327.6%
2022/01/11533559410525.0%
2022/01/10529454313923.0%
2022/01/09526315406623.0%
2022/01/08522249480420.2%
2022/01/07517445504321.0%
2022/01/06512402462321.5%
2022/01/05507779437220.0%
2022/01/04503407325916.7%
2022/01/03500148136314.7%
2022/01/0249878597713.2%
2022/01/01497808188812.8%
2021/12/31495920221310.4%
2021/12/30493707 2664
2021/12/294910431348
2021/12/284896951354
2021/12/27488341574
2021/12/26487767563
2021/12/25487204827
2021/12/24486377865
2021/12/23485512719
2021/12/22484793668
2021/12/21484125487
2021/12/20483638252
2021/12/19483386323
2021/12/18483063386
2021/12/17482677447
2021/12/16482230406
2021/12/15481824386
2021/12/14481438382
2021/12/13481056275
2021/12/12480781208
2021/12/11480573356
2021/12/10480217127
2021/12/09480090189
2021/12/08479901338
2021/12/07479563332
2021/12/06479231178
2021/12/05479053222
2021/12/04478831288
2021/12/03478543268
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2021/12/01477990248
2021/11/30477742134
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This is a list of the number of cases per day since the first case was discovered in Panama

END NOTES:

Last week I mentioned that I was enthralled in that horrifically wonderful TV series “Breaking Bad”.  (I’m in the middle of the 5th and final Season). One of the authors mentioned a couple of times, which holds an important part into the grand finale of the show (so I’m certain, but once again, I still have 8 more shows to go until the end.), is Walt Whitman.  Even if you’ve never heard of him before, I’m sure that at some point, you’ve heard of some of his poems, especially ”O Captain! My Captain!”, or maybe “Song of Myself”.

Either way, I’m dedicating this week’s End Notes to the top 10 Walt Whitman poems for your review.  I hope you enjoy them as much as Walter White or Gale Boetticher did.  (Breaking Bad reference.)

1. ‘Song of Myself’.

Where better to begin our pick of Whitman’s best poems than here, with the poem which seems best to embody his call for literary independence and self-expression?

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,
I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death …

When Whitman’s 1855 volume Leaves of Grass was published at Whitman’s own expense – the first edition containing just a dozen untitled poems, although he would continue to expand and develop the collection for the rest of his life – ‘Song of Myself’ headed the collection. This statement of selfhood contains the famous line ‘I am large, I contain multitudes’.

2. ‘I Sing the Body Electric’.

I sing the body electric,
The armies of those I love engirth me and I engirth them,
They will not let me off till I go with them, respond to them,
And discorrupt them, and charge them full with the charge of the soul.

Was it doubted that those who corrupt their own bodies conceal themselves?
And if those who defile the living are as bad as they who defile the dead?
And if the body does not do fully as much as the soul?
And if the body were not the soul, what is the soul?

This is perhaps Whitman’s best-known poem, and also featured in the original 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass. It does what its title (added later) announces, with Whitman writing about his own body and its various components – but concluding that these are also part of his soul, since soul and body are one. We especially like the use of the word ‘discorrupt’ …

3. ‘I Hear America Singing’.

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work …

Although Whitman was a pioneer of free verse and often wrote long, expansive poems, ‘I Hear America Singing’ is just eleven lines long, though Whitman crams a lot into those eleven lines. What better way to continue our brief introduction to one of America’s best poets than with a poem praising the many different people in his nation and the various songs they sing?

Note that Whitman does not deny the individuality of these workers who are grouped together by their jobs: instead, each is ‘singing what belongs to him or her and to none else’. The poem blends individuality with commonality, collective belonging with personal expression. There is something jubilant about Whitman’s celebration of his country’s people and their songs.

There is also an emphasis in ‘I Hear America Singing’ on the strength of the songs the American people sing, and the voices which sing them, and by extension, the American people themselves. Note how the songs are not just ‘melodious’ but ‘strong’ in the poem’s last line, and how he had earlier used the word ‘robust’ and, in the second line, how the song of the mechanics was not only ‘blithe’ but ‘strong’.

4. ‘When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d’.

One of several poems Walt Whitman wrote about Abraham Lincoln, and probably the best, ‘When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d’ was written in the summer of 1865, in the aftermath of the assassination of Lincoln in April of that year:

When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom’d,
And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night,
I mourn’d, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.
Ever-returning spring, trinity sure to me you bring,
Lilac blooming perennial and drooping star in the west,
And thought of him I love …

Whitman’s title, ‘When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d’, refers to the moment he learned that President Abraham Lincoln had died, in April 1865. At the time, Whitman was visiting his mother and brother at his mother’s home in New York; he stepped out the door and observed that the lilacs were blooming. This appears to have been the starting-point for Whitman’s elegy for Lincoln, although he didn’t actually complete the poem until some months later.

The poem’s structure changed slightly over time. The final version is divided into 16 sections, although originally it had 21; Whitman was known for revising his work after its initial publication. An example of the pastoral elegy, this poem wasn’t considered one of Whitman’s best poems by Whitman himself. However, many of his readers have disagreed, and think this among his finest.

5. ‘O Captain! My Captain!’.

Even those who aren’t familiar with Walt Whitman’s poems may recognise this, thanks to its use in the 1989 Robin Williams film Dead Poets Society:

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead …

Like ‘When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d’, this poem was written in the wake of Lincoln’s death in 1865, and is slightly different from much of Whitman’s best-known poetry in that it has a more regular rhyme scheme. The poem became among his best-known, to the extent that Whitman almost regretted writing it later.

6. ‘A Noiseless Patient Spider’.

This short poem is divided into two stanzas. The first observes the ‘noiseless patient spider’ of the poem’s title:

A noiseless patient spider,
I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them …

– and the second considers the poet’s own soul and the way it is undertaking a similar attempt to build ‘gossamer’ bridges between things, much as the spider builds a web.

This connection between the spider’s activities and the speaker’s soul – both of which are patiently yet desperately striving to achieve a link or bridge between themselves and something else – is reinforced by the grammar in the opening two lines.

7. ‘Whoever You Are Holding Me Now in Hand’.

Whoever you are holding me now in hand,
Without one thing all will be useless,
I give you fair warning before you attempt me further,
I am not what you supposed, but far different.

Who is he that would become my follower?
Who would sign himself a candidate for my affections …

This poem addressed to his reader might be viewed as a disclaimer for all of Whitman’s poetry – much as ‘Song of Myself’ can be read as his declaration or credo. It appeared in Leaves of Grass and is charged with erotic, sensual language, suggesting the importance of the physical body to Whitman’s poetics, and the close relationship he envisions between himself and his reader.

Whitman is not desperately seeking followers. Indeed, ‘follower’ is a suggestive word for the poet to use, implying a disciple of sorts and inviting comparisons with religious leaders, even founders or central figures of new religions, such as Jesus Christ. In order to prove ourselves worthy as a ‘candidate’ for the poet’s ‘affections’, we need to show that we’ve got the mettle, the strength, the open mind, the ability to abandon old views and subscribe to new ones, which the poet demands of his readers.

In short, Walt Whitman isn’t simply saying ‘read my poetry’: he’s offering Leaves of Grass as something approaching a new philosophy or religion, almost as if it’s a holy text of sorts.

8. ‘O Me! O Life!’.

Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) …

One of the shortest poems on this list, this poem was also featured in Dead Poets Society: Robin Williams’s character recites it to his class. It contains many of the features of Walt Whitman’s greatest poetry: the free verse rhythm, the alternation between long and short lines, the rhetorical (or not-so-rhetorical?) questions, the focus on the self.

9. ‘Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking’.

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking,
Out of the mocking-bird’s throat, the musical shuttle,
Out of the Ninth-month midnight,
Over the sterile sands and the fields beyond, where the child leaving his bed wander’d alone, bareheaded, barefoot …

A boy watches two mockingbirds nesting on a beach; but one day he notices that the mother bird hasn’t returned to the nest. The cry uttered by the male bird as it calls for its mate awakens something deep within the young boy, in one of Whitman’s most touching poems (although it was branded ‘unmixed and hopeless drivel’ by one reviewer; it’s rumoured that the response published in the same newspaper shortly afterwards, praising Whitman’s poem, was penned by none other than Whitman himself).

10. ‘Pioneers! O Pioneers!’.

Come, my tan-faced children,
Follow well in order, get your weapons ready;
Have you your pistols? have you your sharp edged axes?  Pioneers! O pioneers!

Another tribute to America as a self-made country and to the pioneering spirit of its people, and a nice counterbalance to the more personal and individual poems on this list.

Brett Mikkelson, CII, CPE

Director, B.M. Investigations | M1 Consultants Inc

Mobile (+507) 6674-1183

brett@bminvestigations.com / www.bminvestigations.com

Proud Member of: Council of International Investigators (CII – Past President 2018-2019; Executive Regional Director 2021-Present), World Association of Detectives (WAD), The Fraternal Order of Investigators (Founding Member), Victory Services Club (London), Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA – Isthmian Chapter), Association of Certified Anti-money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Association of Fraud Examiners (AEF – Panama), Business Security Alliance (ASE – Panama).