Our Advisor told us that when the US ran the canal it was run as a non profit operation, since the Panamanian government took over the costs to transit have increased heavily. He said there is a lot of corruption involved, the example he gave was if a road was being built and the cost was $50,000 they would sign a contract for $1.5 million and everybody would get there palms greased. This is from someone who works for the canal authority.
The construction of the new canal is behind schedule and over budget at this time

Drink all day at home, your friends worry about you; do it on vacation and they say "what a good time you're having". Save your friends needless worry, travel more!