I always associated this music with Puerto Rico, like you' mentioned, but I never realized it had roots in Panama. It makes sense though because of the Jamaican laborers building the Panama Canal. Funny story, the Panama hat was made for Jamaican laborers building the canal in Panama, but it is not actually Panamanian, these hats were made by Ecuadorians for use in Panama by Jamaicans.

Perhaps this is perfect proof that borders just shouldn't exist. Food, music, culture, everything gets better when we fraternize with those outside our own community.