VolcanProperty.com

Richard Harries (me, left of pic) and Mathew Whant (right), former CEO of Sunset Point Bocas (The Dreamscape Group).

DISCLAIMER re the design of the Sunset Point Bocas and Volcan Pacifica websites; and of my involvement with Mathew Whant.

I (Richard Harries) am a website designer (I run this website) and Mathew Whant is a British real estate developer based in Volcan, Chiriqui (Panama), and I made the decision to work with him (on a loose contract basis and "gentleman's agreement") in Panama, over 14 months, from March 2008 to May 2009 - designing and maintaining the two main real estate websites of his company, sunsetpointbocas.com and volcanpacifica.com. Although everything in the original remit for the two main sites was carried out, and achieved, to date I have received no payment or settlement for this work. And despite repeated requests for an amicable settlement over many months, Mathew Whant has utterly failed to meet his obligation.

I want to make it clear that, as with all my designs, I try to build the best websites I can - but that this is in no way an endorsement of either Mathew Whant, his company, The Dreamscape Group, or the two real estate developments, Sunset Point Bocas (Bocas del Toro) and Volcan Pacifica (Volcan).

On a personal note, Mathew Whant's behaviour has been repellent: I went to live in Panama on the basis of our agreement, and we were (literally) next-door neighbours for ten months; and yet he failed to settle with me - 645.5 hours work, and not a dime in return. He could have made some settlement, some arrangement; he chose not to.

My address at that time was "Motmot", Las Plumas, Paso Ancho (near Volcan, Chiriqui, Panama); Mathew Whant lived next door, with his partner, Clelia Gwynne-Evans, at "Quetzal". To my knowledge, Mat Whant is still there.

Please Note: If anyone has a relevant interest and would like to personally discuss my relationship with Mathew Whant, or my views on his company, The Dreamscape Group, or the two real estate developments in Panama, Sunset Point Bocas and Volcan Pacifica (Volcan), I will be happy to oblige them. Please email me at: in the first instance.

UPDATE: February 2010

I am informed by the new CEO at Sunset Point Bocas, John McKeon, that Mathew Whant has been "terminated forthwith" as CEO at Sunset Point Bocas, and is no longer anything to do with the company.
John also said: "Mat left the company in absolute shambles" and, "I know the work you put into it (the Sunset Point website) and the terrible treatment you received from Mat (Mathew Whant)."

UPDATE: March 2010

From the board of directors of Sunset Point, Inc.: "Mathew Whant was terminated for cause from Sunset Point due to numerous illegal actions and a long history of mismanagement and immoral and unethical business practices. ... His malicious attempts to discredit respectable and undeserving investors who placed their trust in these companies is a disgrace to the investors of all three companies who have been manipulated and misled for years ... The accounting shows that Mathew Whant funded Sunset Point using untouchable client moneys, money from Alto Volcan and Volcan Pacifica, ... There is not a single shred of evidence in all the accounting of a single deposit of Mathew Whant’s personal funds from outside the company deposited into Sunset Point ... Mathew Whant would like all the shareholders to believe he was not involved with diverting funds to Sunset Point from Alto Volcan however there is undisputable evidence that not only did he transfer funds from Alto Volcan to Sunset Point himself, that he accepted loan origination commissions every time a transaction was made between the two companies ... It is the opinion of the board of director’s ... that Mathew Whant has proven he is out to serve his own interests, even if it means bringing down an entire company ... It is the general consensus his efforts need to be met with swift action that is accompanied by severe consequences. The company has been left with no choice but to press formal criminal charges for embezzlement, fraud, theft, etc ... An extremely capable attorney who specializes in Panamanian and international criminal law with extensive experience in these matters has been engaged. A draft of a formal criminal complaint is being drafted and will be submitted to the courts in Panama in the very near future."

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Why Chiriqui Real Estate is the best in Panama

The Chiriqui region has a surface area of about 8,653.263 km2 and is located at the southwest extreme of the Republic of Panama, next to the border with Costa Rica. Chiriqui has become known across the world as an ideal area for retirement due to its agreeably cool weather, low cost of living and beautiful surroundings. Chiriqui is also the breadbasket of Panama, comprising a very large and (sometimes intensely cultivated) agricultural area; in recent years it has also developed a reputation for it's gourmet coffee.

The landscape of Chiriqui is dramatic (as is the weather): soaring volcanic mountains (Volcan Baru is 11,400 feet high), long miles of lush beach along extensive coastal plains.

The Highlands of Chiriqui are of volcanic origin and are blessed with a cool highland climate. This is especially noticeable around the areas of Volcan, Cerro Punta and Boquete. In these places the rain is also abundant for nine months a year, and the wind can be pretty spectacular in January; all of which makes for a dramatic weather system, in dramatic scenery.

With the abundant rain, the rich volcanic soil and the geographical differences in many of the regions, the result is an area which produces both a great volume and a great variety of agricultural produce. The coffee and oranges from Boquete are considered excellent, as are the strawberries (fresas) of Cerro Punta.

To the north, Chiriqui borders the Province of Bocas del Toro, with the Pacific Ocean to the south the Province of Veraguas to the east and the country of Costa Rica to the west.

David is the capital of the province and is Panama's third largest city (population: 120,000). Most of the goods that one might need that one could not easily find in the many smaller towns of the Chiriqui region are readily available in David. There is an airport, excellent hospitals, many good restaurants and almost universal Panamanian hospitality and friendliness.