Dealing with Bureaucracy in Latin America

Just as in the rest of Latin America, Panama is plagued by a more inefficient bureaucratic system than is the U. S. This situation is exaggerated by the Latin American temperament, seemingly lackadaisical attitude of most bureaucrats, and the slower pace of life south of the border. The concept of time is much different from that in the U. S. or Canada. When someone says they will do something “ahorita” (which literally means right now), it will take from a few minutes to a week, or maybe forever. It is not unusual to wait in lines for hours in banks and government offices and experience unnecessary delays that would seldom occur in the U. S.

This situation is very frustrating for foreigners who are used to fast, efficient service. It can be especially irritating if you do not speak Spanish well. Since very few people working in offices speak English and most North Americans speak little else, it is advisable to study basic Spanish. However, if language is an insurmountable obstacle at first, use a competent bilingual lawyer with Panama’s bureaucracy. Above all, learn to be patient and remember that you can get the best results if you do not push or pressure people. Try having a good sense of humor and using a smile. You will be surprised at the results.