NEWS BRIEFS: Buses, drugs, floods, sales and prices

METRO BUSES.- It will be another month before the bidding process begins for the Metro Bus stops although some buses are already in service. 

They   will be partly paid for by advertising installed at the stops.  Will that reduce, or increase advertising clutter in the city? The official winner of the financial management contract for Metro Bus, decided but not announced, will be made known early January.

ACRID SMELL OF SUCCESS.-  A  bevy of invitees from the Ministry of Health, the police, Panama University, the National Assembly, and civic organizations attended the burning of 3.5 tons of drugs at the Cerro Patacón landfill, Wednesday, December 29 The bonfire including 3.4 tons of cocaine, marijuana and heroin, brought  the total of  drugs destroyed  this year to 53.5 tons. No word on how much made it way through,

COLOR CHANGE. – The yellow alert issued by Sinaproc  (National Civil Protection System) has been downgraded to “green” as weather conditions improve in Darien, Bocas del Toro, Emberá-Wounaan, and Colón but the public has been told to stay alert. If there is another flood, residents are warned  to move to higher ground and not to cross knee-deep flowing water bodies. The emergency hotline is *335.

HO! HO! HO!.- It was a merry Christmas for Panama’s motor bike salesmen as cash registers jingled. In the first half of December sales were up 26.2 percent to 3,297 units. The worsening traffic problems as major construction projects get underway are a harbinger of good news for motor cycle dealers who are predicting a boom year for 2011. There are currently 28,846 registered bikes with Yamaha and Suzuki dominating.

EVER UPWARD.- Motorists will start the New Year with a bigger hole in their wallets  as gas prices move upwards towards a predicted $4 a gallon in 2011. Starting January 1, a gallon of 95 octane gasoline will increase three cents  91 octane seven cents. Regular diesel will climb five cents, and low diesel, four cents. The prices will stay until January 14, but don’t bet on a reduction then.

A BRIGHT LIGHT.- Electricity rates for most consumer will stay steady in 2011 while  Ensa customers may even see a slight decrease.The government, rejected prices  submitted by two generating companies and called for “more reasonable” prices. Rates will likely rise for customers consuming more than 500 kilowatts per month, so do your bank  balance and the environment a favor, and regulate the air conditioner.