IL Postcard

Panama Canal Referendum: YES voters are an "expansive" majority

Date: 10/11/2006

Just when we thought support for the Panama Canal Expansion couldn't get any stronger, a new poll is out…and the results are overwhelming. According to the latest study conducted by market researchers Dichter & Neira (D&N), a remarkable 79% of Panamanians plan on voting "yes" in the October 22nd referendum.

D&N polled approximately 2,000 Panamanians between October 6 and 8. Surprisingly, the number of "no" voters went down for the first time since August, from nearly 25% in September to some 21% this month.

And D&N isn't the only polling agency showing such positive results. Panamanian daily La Critica published results from a PSM Sigma Dos poll completed on October 3. The poll indicates that 72% of those interviewed are planning to vote for the proposal.

Yet another poll was conducted by CID-Gallup from September 28 to October 2. This study indicates that 77% of the respondents who actually plan to vote will vote in favor of the proposal.

According to Panama's La Prensa newspaper, some 12,000 police officials will assist in monitoring polling and patrolling city streets on referendum day. To ensure everything runs smoothly, a dry run will be conducted on October 20.

Speaking of dry runs, the nation's restaurants, bars and all other points of sale will be banned from selling alcohol for 36 hours starting at noon on Saturday, October 21. The ban is in accordance with Panamanian law regulating elections and extraordinary sessions such as referendums.

One last note: Casinos are exempt from the "Dry Law" and are thus allowed to serve alcoholic beverages during the referendum period.

Best Regards,

Brandon Clogston
International Living, Panama

P.S. We will be wrapping up the biggest event in IL history…The Ultimate Event…just as Panamanians go to the polls for arguably the most important vote in the nation's history. Definitely an exciting time to be here. If you haven't yet registered…there's still time and it's never been easier. Learn all you need to know right here.

* Source: La Prensa and La Critica newspapers, October 3-12, 2006.