This is something we've known about for a long time, but here is a full version of the story.
In Boquete mail to USA is collected at the Tuesday market every week and taken by volunteers who drop it in a mailbox or post office on arrival. This is usually limite4d to flat envelopes, but depending on the volunteer, small packages are often taken as well.

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The Panama Post Office Will Not Send Packages to the USA

Posted 22/04/2024

A friend sent me a WhatsApp today that said "Went to the post office to mail something to the USA and was told they have not been accepting mail to the USA since February!! They said it was an issue with the airline and they don’t know when it will be resolved. They can receive mail from the USA but not send. Do you have any info? There’s nothing on the Embassy website about this."

Let me tell you the short story.  The US Postal Service are paying their bills to Copa Airlines, so Panama is receiving air mail from the USA, but Copa refuses to send mail to the USA.  The Panama Postal Service, as a Government agency, is not paying their bills to Copa Airlines, so Copa is not sending any mail from Panama to the USA.

 

Here is the longer story. Let's take you back to the pandemic when things were shut down for three quarters of the year. The Panama Government has not paid Copa Airlines, in full, for all of the packages sent to the USA, Europe, wherever.  The Panama government was to negotiate 50 packages a month to be sent to the USA, and that was to include the entire country.  It is not a first come, first served arrangement. Most packages are still sitting in Panama City in who knows what condition.  This current Cortizo government administration has never made it a priority to get the mail system functioning again properly after covid.  So if you are having troubles with Panama Post, it will not work unless the new administration that is elected May 5, chooses to pay all of the back payments to Copa Airlines. Best to look at DHL or FedEx or any number of couriers located in Panama.  Perhaps Pigeon Post.........

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/the-panama-post-office-will-not-send-packages-to-the-usa-1

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14 Million Dollars Seized from Organized Crime in Panama

Posted 21/04/2024

Several residences located in Costa del Este, Santa María, Marbella and Betania were subject to raids from the early hours of last Wednesday, April 17 as part of operation “Ballena”, carried out by Panamanian authorities to combat organized crime, specifically in their forms of money laundering and drug trafficking.

In three years of management, the Task Force against Money Laundering and Corruption of the Ministry of Security has seized over 14 million dollars from organized crime.  That could be quite the money maker for the Republic of Panama.  As a result of 26 operations carried out against money laundering and corruption, 192 people were captured and 14 million 648 thousand 514 dollars were confiscated, said the Minister of Public Security, Juan Manuel Pino. 

“Panama, whose territorial position is privileged, offers an extensive platform at the service of the growth of the world economy and international profitability, which makes us an attractive scenario for the actions of transnational organized crime,” acknowledged the head of Public Security.  The minister added that this team also responds to requests for assistance from police agencies in other countries, which, in a similar manner, fight against money laundering and transnational crime, following the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force. 

This special unit is made up of the Money Laundering Division of the Judicial Investigation Directorate, the General Directorate of Revenue, the Financial Analysis Unit, the Public Ministry and the Superintendency of Banks of Panama (SBP), with the support of the FBI Federal Investigation Agency. The headquarters of this Task Force against Money Laundering and Corruption is located in Amador.  

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/14-million-dollars-seized-from-organized-crime-in-panama

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51 Persons Apprehended for Drugs and Money Laundering

Posted 21/04/2024

Some 51 people were apprehended during the development of operations called “Exodus” and “Ballena”, which were carried out in the provinces of Panama, Colón, Panamá Oeste, Coclé, Herrera and Los Santos.  According to Panamanian authorities, the purpose of these operations was to dismantle two criminal groups allegedly dedicated to the commission of crimes such as international drug trafficking, and money laundering to the detriment of the state financial system.  “These two operations aim to dismantle two operational branches of the same criminal group led by a person who is under preventive detention,” said the Attorney General of the Nation, Javier Caraballo, during a press conference. 

As a result of operation “Exodus”, 33 people were arrested.  The First Drug Prosecutor's Office would have obtained information about two citizens nicknamed “El Paciero” and “Yunya”, who acted as the right hand of alias “La Letra” (who has been convicted and detained in the Punta Coco penal center since 2019) for the crimes of assembly and conspiracy and money laundering).  According to investigators, “El Paciero” and “Yunya” were the ones who managed the operational routes for shipping drugs to Europe and the United States. This criminal group, which includes aliases “Tuco”, “Yunya” and “Paciero”, was established in Spain and made trips through Europe and Dubai, establishing links in drug trafficking to coordinate the shipment of drugs in containers and by land to Costa Rica.  The group sent drugs on cargo planes from Panama and received them in different European ports, supported logistically by alias “Tuco”, who organized the entry of the drugs to the port terminals with the help of aliases “Don Gato” and alias “Negro”.It was reported that, as a result of the shipment of drugs to Europe, money payments were made through international transfers to the Panama banking system, sometimes using triangulations between European and American banks in order to naturally penetrate the financial system.  On the other hand, through operation “Ballena”, 18 people were arrested. The investigation of this case began after personnel from the National Aeronaval Service (SENAN) alerted about the existence of a group of people, national and foreign, dedicated to international drug trafficking and money laundering, led by alias “Rey”, who was apprehended on Wednesday, April 17, along with a woman in Colombia, a procedure that was achieved with the collaboration of the Prosecutor's Office of that country.  Investigations have determined that alias “Rey” is the operational arm of alias “Paciero”, who is one of the main coordinators from Dubai, where he carries out everything related to the purchase, shipping, distribution and payments of drugs, and where he also appears with the alias “Yunya”.

Through Operation Ballena, it was possible to determine the great economic power of this criminal group, which accumulated properties in the country, acquired businesses to give the appearance of legality to the money coming from drug trafficking, and had savings accounts, among others,” Caraballo pointed out. The criminal organization was also characterized by the use of encrypted or closed communication through emails, he added.  During the development of both operations, 55 search and search procedures were carried out, resulting in the seizure of 10 firearms, ammunition, high-end vehicles and more than 140 thousand dollars in cash. The arrested persons and the evidence were placed at the disposal of the judicial authorities for proper processing.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/51-persons-apprehended-for-drugs-and-money-laundering

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Martín Torrijos Presidential Promises

Posted 22/04/2024

Torrijos and his government plan: 350 thousand jobs and investments for $19 billion in infrastructure.  Two decades ago, Martín Torrijos arrived at the Palacio de las Garzas with 47.44% of the votes.  At that time, Torrijos ran for the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) in alliance with the Popular Party.  After his administration (2004-2009), Torrijos stayed away from political life and had no desire to hold another public office.  It was not until March 2023, when he confirmed his aspirations for the most important kpopular election position in the country and warned that he would not run for the PRD.

At the beginning of this year he formally resigned from the PRD, the only group to which he had belonged all his life and the same one that his father Omar Torrijos founded.  “I have made the decision to break the last link that united me to the PRD... Today I resign from the PRD, led by Benicio Robinson and Raúl Pioneda, associated with Laurentino Cortizo and Gaby Carrizo,” Torrijos remarked in a video on his social network.  With Torrijos, his wife Vivian Fernández resigned, so did Rosario Turner, the former Minister of Health who is now his running mate.  Omar Torrijos' son is now running for the Popular Party with his government plan titled: Panama at Another Level.  Briefly, (maybe not so briefly) here is the Torrijos plan. 

-Generate 350 thousand formal jobs in the next five years. According to his government plan, he will do so with different programs such as “My First Job”, a formal program that would give young people without work experience the opportunity to work in state entities, mixed companies and private companies.  This program would last two years.

-Generate around 3,500 direct and indirect jobs during the first 100 days of government with the “Panama Without Gaps” plan.  If he reaches the Palacio de las Herons, he says that he will invest $100 million to rehabilitate streets and avenues nationwide.

-Create an alliance with the country's mayors for “Panamá Brilla”, a program focused on cleaning critical points in the country while stabilizing the waste management system. For this program, they intend to invest $50 million, which according to plan, would generate about 2,500 jobs.

-Invest $19 billion in more than 40 infrastructure projects in order to reactivate the economy and generate some 165 thousand jobs. These are some of the infrastructure projects that he mentions in his government plan: a tunnel between Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro, metro line 2A (Ricardo J. Alfaro to the Iglesia del Carmen), the San Miguelito cable car, at least 10 water reservoirs to supply areas not managed by the Canal, the Bocas del Toro Airport (with international flights), and the third runway of the Tocumen International Airport.

- Create the “Panamá se Capacita” plan, through the National Institute of Vocational Training and Training for Human Development (Inadeh) 4.0 platform.  If elected, his government will negotiate with companies interested in investing in Panama so that they commit to local hiring.  The Inadeh curricula will offer English, vocational careers and technical careers of up to 2 years. The State will finance these trainings.  Inadeh 4.0 would have a bank of tutors and mentors, as well as local and foreign internship opportunities, according to its plan.

-Create at least two new development poles similar to Panama Pacifico outside the Panama Canal area.

-Build assembly and light manufacturing free zones nationwide.

-Remove the subsidies granted to low-income families gradually, once the economic situation is on track. Subsidies for companies, according to their plan, would be evaluated individually.

-Convert the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) into the governing body of all port concessions and/or oil pipelines, gas pipelines, logistics corridors and any other future concessions.

-Build the 5G Panama-Border Highway, a high-speed interprovincial highway with tolls that will cover the province of Panama to the border of Chiriquí. This highway, according to its government plan, will be designed for agribusiness, tourism, and the transportation of people at a lower cost for private companies and other Panamanians. It also proposes an exclusive highway for cargo between Panama and Colón. This 5G highway would be interconnected with provincial highways (Darién, Veraguas, Coclé, Azuero, Colón and Panamá Oeste).

-Build logistics corridors to facilitate the transportation of merchandise. Among those holding promise are: the Northern Corridor to the Tocumen Airport, the Southern Corridor to Pacora, the Northern Corridor to the port of Balboa, and the Panama Pacific route to the Port of PSA, Puente Centenario, Panama Cargo Highway Colon.  He also promises to build the Fourth Bridge over the Canal.

- Agrees with the ACP that Río Indio is the most viable alternative to obtain water, both for human consumption and for the operation of the Canal.

-Create the National Water and Sanitation Corporation that will have among its responsibilities to manage the basins not managed by the ACP and consolidate all institutions related to water (Idaan, Panama Sanitation Company, the Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation of the Ministry of Health, the National Council for Sustainable Development and the National Water Council, among others).

-Generate master plans for the expansion of water and sanitation coverage, prioritizing the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, and service in rural areas of the country.

-Develop new infrastructure, in addition to rehabilitating existing ones to expand drinking water and sewage coverage services. It suggests developing a plan to eliminate the use of latrines nationwide.

-Ensure that energy distribution companies comply with the investments to which they committed, accounting for public lighting, the number of blackouts and the quality of service.

-Measure energy distributors based on the quality of service as a key element of their income.

-That the only requirement for the installation of residential solar panels will be that they be installed by a certified installer. Companies must connect the service in a period of no more than 15 days.

-Evaluate the electrical interconnection with neighboring countries to achieve agreements that allow lowering the cost of energy.

-Install a monitoring center that reflects in real time any event that interrupts or affects the provision of the service. This, according to its plan, will allow ASEP to identify system failures in real time, ensure and demand compliance with the service, and sanction as necessary. This monitoring center would operate 24/7.

-Increase lighting coverage throughout the country, requiring distribution companies to comply with their lighting commitment. These luminaires must be LED or solar light.

-Identify free land near metro stations where passengers can board and disembark. This would be coordinated with taxi drivers and people who have their own car. After this analysis, he proposes talking to the owners of these lands for their acquisition.

-Reopen the Metrobus concession. The company that wins this concession will be responsible for renewing and maintaining the fleet.

-Restructure the operation of Metrobus routes, complying with schedules and itineraries according to demand.

-Implement tiered rates, discounts for vulnerable groups and electronic payment options.

-The country requires reforms to the Constitution.  His plan anticipates that the reforms would be focused on the three organizations of the State, and research and control institutions, such as the Comptroller General of the Republic and the Public Ministry.

-I would try to pass these constitutional reforms through the new National Assembly. If this route is not possible, I would carry out reforms through a parallel constituent.

Education

-Review the curricular contents offered at the different levels of the educational system.

-Give incentives to students who live in hard-to-reach areas for regular attendance at classes in order to reduce school dropouts.

-Manage economic resources so that all rural and hard-to-access educational centers, no later than the year 2027, have electricity and internet access.

- That by 2029, the 15 thousand teachers who are currently in the system are trained and certified in new skills. This includes everyone being bilingual and fluent in subjects such as mathematics, Spanish, natural and social sciences.

- Progressively convert all schools in the country into bilingual classrooms.

-Create the Medicines Supply Agency, an entity that will be in charge of the purchase and distribution of medicines, supplies and equipment.

-Create the National Medicines Observatory, a digital platform that will determine the reference prices of public health entities to lower the cost of medicines.

-Build a new National Oncology Institute in Panama City.

-Guarantee that hospital directors are appointed by competition, outside of politics.

- Convene a dialogue table in the first hundred days to reform the pension system. You will have a period of 6 months to reach an agreement, given the urgency of solving this problem.

-Evaluate the affordability of payment of contributions for informal workers with low contributory capacity. It also proposes moving forward with a universal old-age pension, within a framework of fiscal sustainability. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), this measure would cost around 1-1.2% of GDP.

Citizen security

-Double the number of police officers on the streets in the first four months.

-Implement border control to prevent people with criminal records from entering.

Solid waste management

-Close the Cerro Patacón landfill and, in its replacement, create a sanitary landfill that would be located in a suitable site, where the use and disposal of solid waste (clean energy, biofuels, among others) takes place.

-Invite an international tender for the new sanitary landfill. He estimates it will take about 4 years to get it up and running.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martin-torrijos-presidential-promises

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Panama Customs is Going Digital

Posted 21/04/2024

Panama Customs is saying goodbye to paper: travelers will be able to fill out the affidavit digitally.  This April, Customs began implementing a pilot plan for travelers arriving in Panama to digitally fill out the affidavit, after multiple complaints and suggestions for the institution to abandon the “obsolete” process of filling out the paper form.  At the Tocumen International Airport, for example, travelers arriving in the country can fill out this form digitally or on paper, with the help and guidance of officials.  In the terminal, they have placed instructions and the respective QR code for the user to download.  Customs reported that they have been meeting with representatives of the different airlines that provide the service at the airport to coordinate the “work schedule with a view to the implementation of the digital traveler affidavit.”  For the time being in the month of April, Customs will be developing training for the staff that take care of travelers in the terminal, as to the use of the digital application.  “During this period, a pilot plan will also be applied that will allow both staff and travelers to measure the effectiveness of this system, whose primary objective is to provide greater facilitation and improvements in the service provided by the Republic of Panama during entry into the country.”  Each traveler arriving in Panama must declare the contents carried in their luggage.  According to Customs, the traveler may bring duty-free goods in their suitcase for their family's use, as long as they are not for commercial purposes. If the traveler brings in more than $10 thousand cash, it must be declared.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-customs-is-going-digital

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Panama Bank Loans Will be Easier to Access

Posted 21/04/2024

The Banking Association of Panama hired the services of a consulting firm, which will help provide ideas to facilitate access to credit.  Carlos Berguido, its president, acknowledged this week that they have not done enough to boost loan flows to small and medium-sized businesses.  "We hired a consultancy, with a very well-known firm, to give the banks an idea on how to facilitate credit analysis so that the client who is a small and medium-sized company can access loans more easily and without so many requirements," he told Newsroom Panama.  The association has already received the results and is in the process of analysis. The intention of the banking sector is to take some of these conclusions to develop programs over the next few years to serve these entrepreneurs.  Regarding the possible future loss of investment grade and its impact on credit, Berguido stressed that it will continue to be easy to access products, although perhaps the complications are accentuated in the most vulnerable sectors.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-bank-loans-will-be-easier-to-access-1

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Rómulo Roux Tours Chiriquí

Posted 21/04/2024

Roux once again shows his muscle in Chiriquí, which will receive an Agricultural Packaging Center if he is elected. Roux toured the San José neighborhood in the Pedregal district of David, along with thousands of supporters.  Once again, the Chirican people “strongly” supported the candidacy of Rómulo Roux of the alliance of the Democratic Change and Panameñista parties, who on Saturday visited the center of David, making known his “Change” proposals, in which the construction of Silos, the Agricultural Packaging Center and the Green Convention Center in Boquete stand out.  Roux toured the San José neighborhood in the Pedregal district in David, along with thousands of supporters convinced that on May 5 in the general elections, the alliance “For a better Panama, Good things come”, has assured victory.  ”The province of Chiriquí is very important in our government mechanism, that is why the change comes with a Specialty Hospital Complex here in David, with complete oncological care, our cancer patients will no longer have to go to the city to receive their treatments. These complexes will have hemodialysis rooms, supplies and specialists,” said Roux.  Another of the proposals that Roux promotes is to promote the Genetic improvement of the National Livestock and the construction of the David Technical Training Institute.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/romulo-roux-tours-chiriqui

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RDU Flights Start June to Panama City on Copa Airlines

Posted 20/04/2024

This summer, planes will be taking off from RDU (Raleigh Durham International Airport) and land in Panama City at Tocumen.  On Friday, the head of Copa Airlines talked to Raleigh business leaders about how they’ll make that happen.  Copa will become RDU’s 18th airline, and Panama City will be its 10th international destination when service begins in June.  The airline will begin making direct flights to Panama City on June 21. Travelers can make the trip to Panama City on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.  At just under 4 hours, this new direct flight makes Paris even more accessible for travelers in our region. "And when there's direct connectivity, people fly, people visit. People do business," Pedro Heilbron, Copa Airlines CEO said.  And those connected with the airport say, Panama has plenty to offer in return.  "We're excited about the connectivity because of our ag business here in North Carolina. They can sell their products and services," Michael Landguth, RDU President/CEO said.  This announcement is another in a series of new flights from the airport. Direct flights to Germany and Mexico are also coming to RDU in June and July.  This is the latest airline to contribute to RDU's expansion. In 2024, the airport saw a record breaking number of spring break travelers – 1.2 million. That’s almost a 7% increase from this past March.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/rdu-flights-start-june-to-panama-city-on-copa-airlines

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The Panama Papers Trial Ended Friday

Posted 19/04/2024

The trial known as the Panama Papers case is over with 29 people being tried for the crime of money laundering via the creation of offshore companies purchased through the now defunct Mossack Fonseca (M&F) legal firm.  The Panama Papers trial concluded Friday and included 85 hours of court session, 27 witnesses were heard from, and 50 sets of documentary evidence produced.  Stay tuned for the results. 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/the-panama-papers-trial-ended-friday

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Panama Pledges to Meet the Fiscal Goals of the Country

Posted 19/04/2024

Panama pledges to meet the fiscal goals of the country as the Cobre mine in Donoso pictured above will only produce half of the money that Panama had hoped for due to its closure.  They were expecting 5% growth in the country but now it may only be 2.5% unless the new Government on May 5 when elected gets moving on some serious money making projects.  Keeping Panama’s investment-grade status will be of prime importance to the new Government to keep the investors happy.  Panamanian officials are meeting rating firms this week to reinforce their commitment to fiscal and growth targets amid rising investor concern about the country keeping its investment-grade status.  “We are on a downward path — in a progressive way — in the fiscal consolidation, and on an upward path in the growing of the economy,” Deputy Finance Minister Jorge Almengor said Thursday in an interview on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington. “We hope that they understand.”  I still have a feeling that mining will one day be back in Panama, but environmentally, monetarily or managerially changed somehow for the good of everyone involved.  We have some folks who have sent some good suggestions which I will post here at various times. This idea from Tristan.

In the heart of Panama, the Cobre Panama mine stands as a beacon of industrial strength, representing one of the largest copper production sites globally. As the mine plays a crucial role in Panama's economy, a growing discourse suggests a bold move—nationalizing 51% of the mine. This proposal envisions a unique division of ownership, with stakes held both by the Panamanian government and its citizens. This article explores the viability and potential impacts of such a nationalization.

Nationalization isn't a novel idea but comes with a complex legal landscape. In Panama, this would require amendments to existing laws and potentially the constitution, to allow the government to take ownership of a majority stake in what is currently a private enterprise. International precedents vary—while countries like Bolivia have seen relative success, others have faced economic backlash and litigation. The key would be ensuring compliance with international investment treaties and providing fair compensation to avoid disputes.

The economic implications of nationalizing a major mine are profound. On one hand, direct control over a significant portion of mineral wealth could boost government revenues and potentially lead to greater economic independence. On the other hand, it risks alienating foreign investors and could disrupt the operational efficiencies that multinational expertise brings. A careful economic analysis suggests that for success, Panama would need to maintain high standards of transparency and governance to manage the mine effectively under new ownership structures.

Political appetite for nationalization must align with public opinion. Given the current global tilt towards economic nationalism and sovereignty, there might be substantial support for such a move in Panama. However, political leaders would need to tread carefully, balancing national interests with international relations, particularly with countries involved in the existing ownership of the mine.

The proposal of splitting the 51% stake between ordinary Panamanians and the government is revolutionary. It would not only democratize wealth from Panama’s natural resources but also embed a sense of ownership and responsibility across the populace. This model would require robust systems to handle logistics, distribution of profits, and overall management, ensuring that the mine's operations remain world-class.

The idea of nationalizing 51% of the Cobre Panama mine presents both significant opportunities and notable risks. For Panama, this could mean a reassertion of national control over critical economic assets and a redistribution of wealth that could empower its citizens. However, this path demands careful planning, widespread public and political support, and stringent safeguards to ensure that the transition bolsters the nation’s economy without sacrificing the operational excellence that the mine is known for.

As Panama stands at this crossroads, the decision to nationalize could set a precedent for how resources are managed and profits are shared, not just within the nation but as an example to others in the region. The journey towards nationalization, if taken, will require a concerted effort from all sectors of society to turn potential into prosperity.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-pledges-to-meet-the-fiscal-goals-of-the-country

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Panama Papers Trial Continues

Posted 18/04/2024

The Panamanian prosecutor’s office asked on Wednesday for 12 years in prison, the maximum penalty for money laundering, for Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca, founders of the now-defunct law firm at the epicenter of the international “Panama Papers” scandal. Prosecutor Isis Soto asked the court for a “maximum” sentence against the heads of the Mossack Fonseca law firm as perpetrators of the crime of money laundering, during the eighth day of the trial taking place for the “Panama Papers”.  Mossack and Fonseca are also accused of “concealing, covering up and providing false information to banking entities for the opening of accounts and concealing the ownership of assets”, said the prosecutor.  “Messrs. Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca received and transferred funds from illicit activities that occurred in Germany and Argentina,” added Soto.

The prosecutor also asked to convict 24 other defendants, mainly former employees of the firm, and requested the acquittal of three accused. Previously, the judiciary reported 27 defendants in this money laundering case.  “We have requested the conviction in accordance with the criminal quality or participation of each one as perpetrators, as primary accomplices and as secondary accomplices,” said the prosecutor.  Due to the scandal, the Mossack Fonseca law firm had to close, while Panama’s international image, accused of being a tax haven, was seriously affected.  According to the prosecution, Mossack, 76, and Fonseca, 71, are responsible for facilitating through the firm the creation of opaque companies in which executives of the German multinational Siemens deposited millions of euros outside the company’s real accounting.  This “slush fund” would have been used to hide money from the payment of commissions.

The Panamanian firm, according to the prosecution, was also used to store money from a massive scam in Argentina.  The trial began eight years after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) published the “Panama Papers” on April 3, 2016.  This investigation, based on the leak of 11.5 million documents from the Mossack Fonseca firm, showed how heads of state and government, political leaders, personalities from finance, sports and the arts hid properties, companies, assets and profits to evade taxes or launder money.  To do this, they created opaque companies, through the Panamanian firm, in order to open bank accounts and create front foundations with the aim of hiding money, in some cases from illicit activities, according to the investigation.  Russian President Vladimir Putin and former leaders of Iceland, Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson; Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif; Britain, David Cameron; and Argentina, Mauricio Macri; as well as Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi were some of the names mentioned then. 

“I am not responsible” for these crimes, Mossack declared before Judge Baloísa Marquínez at the beginning of the trial on April 8.  “The truth is that after more than 500 volumes of files we find that we only have the Siemens case in Germany and a case in Argentina, out of the thousands and thousands of people who were supposedly involved,” said lawyer Daika Indira Levy, Fonseca’s defender, on the second day of the trial.  After the “Panama Papers”, the Central American country made some legal reforms, which allowed it to leave the “gray list” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2023. However, Panama remains on the list of territories considered “tax havens” by the European Union.  The trial was supposed to be held in 2021 but was delayed for various reasons.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-papers-trial-continues

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Man Arrested by Interpol at Tocumen Airport Panama

 Posted 18/04/2024

Through police units of the National Central Office of Interpol Panama, the arrest of a Jamaican citizen requested by the United States of America was accomplished.   Interpol captured a 52-year old Jamaican man at the Tocumen airport Wednesday April 17 2024 after he arrived in transit through Panama, from Medellín Colombia with his final destination being Jamaica.  The citizen is wanted by the Superior Prosecutor's Office for International Affairs at the request of the US Courts for the crime of drug trafficking.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/man-arrested-by-interpol-at-tocumen-airport-panama

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A Gringo Body Was Found Buried

Posted 18/04/2024

Thursday April 18, 2024:  A Panamanian and a Nicaraguan have been arrested for burying a gringo at home.  A 39-year-old Panamanian named Félix and a 35-year-old Nicaraguan woman, known as Nancy, have been arrested by the Police, linked to the discovery of a decomposed and buried body that they found two days ago in a house in sector 3 in La Cabima, in Alcalde Díaz.  It is being investigated whether the body corresponds to that of the American Fermín Valle Zamora, 73 years old, who arrived in Panama on December 16, 2023 and disappeared on the 27th of that month.  According to a statement from the National Police, the remains could be that of this man with dual citizenship, American and Nicaraguan, who entered Panama through Paso Canoas, by land from Nicaragua and was reported missing since January of this year.  The woman was captured in Calidonia and the man in La Cabima. Both were brought before the competent authorities for proper investigation.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/a-gringo-body-was-found-buried

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Panama Qualifies for the World Cup by Defeating the USA 2-1

Posted 18/04/2024

Panama defeated the United States futbol team and now qualifies for the World Cup.  Panama qualified for the Uzbekistan 2024 World Cup by defeating the United States 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Futsal Championship.  La Roja sealed their classification in the first period with goals by Óscar Hinks at 13 minutes,  and two minutes later Rumán Milord scored what turned out to be the winning goal.   The Americans turned on the attack, but found themselves against Panama’s defensive wall that would only allow one ball to pass Jaime Peñaloza's goal line.  The Panamanian soccer players took hold of the reins of the game and wouldn’t look back.  An American goal would come from De Andrade at 19 minutes.  With this victory, Panama advances to the semifinal of the competition and secures a place for the World Cup in Uzbekistan. This will be the fourth time that La Roja advances to a World Cup event, after competing in Thailand 2012, Colombia 2016 and Lithuania 2021.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-qualifies-for-the-world-cup-by-defeating-the-usa-2-1

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Fire at the Social Security Hospital

Posted 18/04/2024

About 250 people, including patients, nurses, doctors and assistants, were evacuated from two floors of the Social Security Hospital Complex, located on the Transistmica highway, due to a fire outbreak.  Ángel Delgado, from the Panama Fire Department, reported that the fire occurred in the machine room of the building, but the fire has been extinguished.  He reported that the people who were on the ground floor, and floors 1 and 2 were evacuated due to the large amount of smoke.  Agents from the Calidonia and Carrasquilla fire stations responded to the emergency call.  The fire outbreak originated on the second floor and it was preliminarily reported that an electrical fault was the problem.  Delgado said that no injuries were reported and announced that they will remain on site to carry out all the necessary evaluations, in order to guarantee that the building can be re-entered and operations can continue safely.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/fire-at-the-social-security-hospital

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Gasoline Prices Rise on Friday

 Posted 18/04/2024

Fuel price increases will happen Friday April 19 at 6am.  95 octane gasoline will rise two cents per liter, 91 octane gasoline will also increase its price by one cent, and Low sulfur diesel will increase its price by one cent.  It was reported that these prices will remain in effect until 5:59am next Friday, May 3 by The National Secretariat of Energy.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/gasoline-prices-rise-on-friday

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April 17 Presidential Debate

Posted 18/04/2024

The cycle of presidential debates organized by law by the Electoral Court before the elections on May 5 closed on Wednesday, April 17, with the clash of proposals between six of the eight presidential candidates: Martín Torrijos, Ricardo Lombana, Rómulo Roux, Melitón Arrocha, Zulay Rodríguez and Maribel Gordón.  The government candidate, José Gabriel Carrizo, who had participated in the debates on February 26 at the University of Panama and on March 13 at the Panamanian Debate Association, was absent from the debate coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.  Mulino who leads the Presidential campaign by a wide margin according to polls and surveys, also did not attend.  José Raúl Mulino Quintero (born 13 June 1959) is a Panamanian lawyer, diplomat and politician, running for president in the 2024 Panamanian election, as a substitute to former president Ricardo Martinelli.

At the actual speaking event, the 6 candidates argued a number of points.  Lombana challenged his political opponents with the agenda of ‘breaking’ monopolies.  Rómulo Roux discussed the creation of 500 thousand new jobs, and having confidence in Panama even though the mine is leaving.  New water treatment plants were discussed, and reducing the number of deputies, and combatting tax evasion, three topics discussed by Gordon, Rodríguez and Arrocha.  José Gabriel Carrizo tried to victimize the beneficiaries of the controversial economic aid program.  Torrijos proposed employment for young people, buying Bayano and eliminating surgical delay situations for patients.  As we get closer to the end of the month, the candidates are planning their final big finishes with huge parties, music, and drumming, and plenty of excitement. 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/april-17-presidential-debate

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Boquete Nocturnal Noise Problem

Posted 17/04/2024

Boquete, a beautiful mountain village, is being shaken by a persistent nocturnal noise problem, triggered mainly by businesses in the central area of the district. Local residents have expressed their anguish over this growing problem affecting their rest and health. The noise, coming from bars, restaurants, vehicles with horns and trucks without silencers, has become a constant nuisance for the inhabitants of Boquete.  During the Coffee and Flower Festival for about 10 days in January, the disco noise levels are extreme. This nocturnal thunder not only disrupts residents' sleep, but also negatively impacts those who wake up early for work, children who have to attend school, and older and sick adults who require rest.  The No More Noise Committee in Boquete has emerged as a voice for those affected by this situation. This group expresses concern over the lack of attention and effective action by local authorities responsible for ensuring peace and public health.  I remember years ago when a group of wealthy expats pooled their resources and wanted to purchase the fairgrounds and turn it into a seniors center area for health and well being, but the mayors office found out about the plan and put a stop to it.  It would have meant that the Fairgrounds area, which is used often during the year for noisy disco events, would have to be built out of town, which in fact would be a great idea, taking the noise away from the downtown core.Mayor Joswar Alvarado has responded to community concerns, highlighting legal challenges facing the municipality to address the noise problem.  Although the city hall cannot revoke the permits granted by MICI for activities involving noise, Alvarado has pointed out the possibility of imposing fines as a deterrent measure.  For her part, the Regional Health Director, Gladys Novoa, has affirmed that Minsa is working to address the problem of noise in Boquete.  Some business owners feel they are being harassed by a minority group of residents.  There is a controversy between residents and traders over noise pollution in Boquete. 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/boquete-nocturnal-noise-problem

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Possible Shut Down of Panama Services Thursday

Posted 17/04/2024

I have also seen the indigenous videos where they are planning to shut down the country again as the Government promises to them have not been fulfilled. With an election coming May 5, the current Government appears to be somewhat lame and fading into the sunset early, so not much help with current issues.  This specific note is from a concerned Panama resident:  "Friends. I don’t want to disrupt anyone’s tranquility, but the Panamanians are preparing for a potential shutdown of the highways on Thursday. I was at the chino market in Puerto Rios Abajo tonight and the cars were double stacked and everyone was taking propane tanks out. There were only about eight gas thanks left. I went to the gas station Delta at the Y and she said she has been very busy filling gas cans and tanks all day. So the Panamanians are clearly gearing up for a potential strike and shut down of the inter-Americana highway on Thursday. It might be better to be prepared, than sorry on Friday that you didn’t." 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/possible-shut-down-of-panama-services-thursday

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The Consumer Price Index Jumped Dramatically in March

Posted 16/04/2024

We don’t have to tell you, the shopper, that most things cost more these days.  The Consumer Price Index jumped dramatically in March compared to the same month last year, up 1.7%.  Health, food, transportation and restaurants showed increases.  Transportation prices were recorded up 5.5%; miscellaneous goods and services 3.1%; restaurants and hotels 2.8%; housing, water, electricity and gas 2.3% and health 1.3%, food and non-alcoholic beverages 0.9%.  Education costs were up 0.7% and alcoholic beverages and tobacco were higher by 0.5%.

The groups that registered decreases were: Clothing and footwear by 2.0%; Recreation and culture with 0.8%; Furniture, household items and for ordinary home maintenance at 0.4%; and Communications at just 0.3%.  Only in March compared to February of this year the urban CPI was 0.3%.  Increases in transportation groups of 1.9% were recorded in this period; miscellaneous goods and services 0.4%; alcoholic beverages and tobacco 0.3%; housing, water, electricity and gas; furniture, household items and for ordinary home maintenance; and restaurants and hotels, all 0.1%.

The transportation group reflected an increase in three of its seven classes. The greatest variations occurred in the classes: passenger transportation by air, which registered a variation of 2.8%, due to the increase in the price of plane tickets; and an increase was also reported in the segment of fuels and lubricants for personal transportation equipment by 4.7%, due to the increase in the price of automobile fuel.  The increase reflected in the miscellaneous goods and services group was due to growth in 4 of its 10 classes. The greatest variation occurred in the health-related insurance segment, which rose by 6.4%.  While the increase registered in the alcoholic beverages and tobacco group was due to the increase in one of its four classes. The main variation was in the distilled beverages class, which rose by 6.9%.  The CPI in the districts of Panama and San Miguelito, from March 2024-23, reflected an interannual variation of 2.2%. The CPI for the rest of the urban population, for March 2024-23, registered an interannual variation of 1.6%.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/the-consumer-price-index-jumped-dramatically-in-march

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Current Government to Cut Tourism Dollars by 50%

A 50% Government cut in tourist promotional funds will affect the number of tourists who come to Panama.  This was stated by the Panamanian Hotel Association (Apatel) through a statement released this year.  The Panamanian economy would stop attracting $1.1 billion due to the cut in funds to promote Panama as a tourist destination. The industry demands answers from the authorities. Panama's economy will be deprived of a $1.1 billion injection due to a $10 million reduction in funds allocated to tourism promotion. The organization specified that instead of allocating $20 million in tourism promotion, the State only allocated half of that this year.  Law 9 of 2017, which created the Tourism Promotion Fund (Promtur), establishes that it must have an annual budget of 20 million dollars to execute the country's international strategy as a tourist destination. By assigning only half – says the hoteliers' statement – marketing strategies, international advertising and strategic alliances in convention tourism will be compromised.  “The lack of dialogue and action by the economic and legislative authorities further aggravates the uncertainty in the sector.”  Tourism plays a vital role in the Panamanian economy, generating direct and indirect employment and contributing significantly to the inflow of foreign currency and tax collection.  According to the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), estimated tourism income between January and November 2023 amounted to $4,992.7 million.  The May 5 elections are coming for a new party in power, and there are politicians who are big on tourism and tourism dollars so I am sure that we will see some upgrades to these Promtur funds this year 2024.  We definitely need more tourism and tourist attractions.

Mulino: 'We will make a tourism revolution, with 1 million more visitors from the first year'

“We will promote tourism at the national level through incentives in order to promote Panama as an international destination,” stated the presidential candidate. 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/current-government-to-cut-tourism-dollars-by-50

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A $10 Billion Copper Mine Sits Idle in the Jungle

Posted 16/04/2024

When the group of mining executives arrived at Panama’s regal Palacio de las Garzas, they were ushered past the ornate, wood-paneled ceremonial rooms and straight to the private office of the president.  The team from First Quantum Minerals Limited was greeted as old friends.  After all, they were building the country’s most important project since the Panama Canal had been opened a century earlier.  The Cobre Panama mine was set to be the centerpiece of Panama’s economy, generating between four and five percent of its gross domestic product.  First Quantum Minerals bet big on a copper mine in Panama.  

This was December 2016, well before the upswell of anti-mining protests that would one day, throw the country into chaos.  It all fell apart in October/November of 2023.  A $10 billion copper mine is now sitting idle in the jungle.  Will the elections of May 5 2024 turn things around?  That is to be seen how the new Government will begin earning money for the country.  Maybe you as a reader have some ideas on how to create new prosperity for an old country.  Bring back mining but in such a way that will appeal to the people of Panama?  This is your newspaper so send me your thoughts and I will review and print the most relevant ones.  PanamaNewsroom@gmail.com

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/a-10-billion-copper-mine-sits-idle-in-the-jungle

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The Panama Presidential Candidates for 2024

 Posted 15/04/2024

The candidates want to close out their campaigns with a big bang: with artists, speeches, bold proposals and the presence of their supporters, all in the same place.

Moving from left to right…………To date, the deputy and candidate for the Free Nomination, Zulay Rodríguez, has not yet confirmed to the Electoral Court whether she will close out her campaign.  Rodríguez was one of the candidates who did not organize a campaign opening event.

José Gabriel Carrizo, standard bearer of the Democratic Revolutionary Party and the Liberal Republican Movement, will close his campaign on May 1, on Via España.

José Raúl Mulino, candidate of the Alianza and Realando Metas parties, will also attend Vía España for his supporters on April 28.

Ricardo Lombana, candidate of the Otro Camino Movement, will wind up his campaign on April 30, in Plaza 5 de Mayo.

Rómulo Roux, presidential candidate of the Democratic Change-Panameñista Party alliance, will gather all his supporters on April 26 on Vía España.

April 27, Martín Torrijos, candidate of the Popular Party, will also be gathering with supporters on Vía España.

The closing of the campaign culminates with Maribel Gordón, candidate for the Free Nomination, on May 2.

Last but not least on your far right is Melitón Arrocha, candidate for the Free Nomination and supported by the PAIS party.  He plans to close his campaign on April 29, still without a defined place, although according to sources, he may celebrate in a hotel in town.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/the-panama-presidential-candidates-for-2024

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Panama Papers Trial Enters Final Phase Tuesday

Posted 15/04/2024

The case of the Panama Papers trial enters its final phase Tuesday April 16, with the closing evidence by the prosecution and defense lawyers. The next phase is the pleadings. 32 experts and witnesses were called to trial during the first week.  The specialized prosecutor against Organized Crime, Isis Soto, estimated that she needs 10 hours to present her allegations and maintains that she has shown sufficient evidence to support that the 29 defendants committed the crime of money laundering through a network of offshore companies created by the defunct forensic firm Mossack Fonseca.  The round of allegations will be opened by prosecutor Soto; then the lawyers of the accused follow.  The second liquidating judge of criminal cases, Baloisa Marquínez, announced the order in which the defenders will present their arguments.

On Monday, April 15, the sixth day of the trial began with the statement of the forensic expert Luis Enrique Rivera Calle, in charge of downloading the digital information contained in the Mossack Fonseca servers.  Rivera Calle reported that he carried out the download of the information with the collaboration of officials from the Public Ministry, given that there were several servers that contained a large amount of data, which is why the procedure lasted several days.  Rivera Calle recalled that the raid on Mossack Fonseca servers was ordered by the then prosecutor against organized crime Javier Caraballo (now Attorney General of the Nation), and had the collaboration of officials from the Public Ministry.

The expert, questioned by prosecutor Marcos Mosquera, assured that during the procedure the chain of custody was complied with for the preservation of the computer data obtained during the raid. However, the defense attorneys severely questioned him, questioning him about his ability and preparation to carry out the download of the information from the servers.  Diego González, who acts - along with Guillermina McDonald - as Jurgen Mossack's lawyer, questioned the expert about whether the rest of the Public Ministry officials who participated in the review of Mossack Fonseca's servers were computer experts, to which he responded - No.

González also asked Rivera Calle if the compact discs used to download the digital information were kept in compliance with the chain of custody, to which he responded yes.  In the afternoon, Zuleyka Miter, wife of the accused Zacgary Lundgren, appeared as a witness, who is accused of having handled and received funds from Argentina, used for the purchase of several apartments in Panama City.  Miter assured that her husband is innocent of the charges against him and that the transactions carried out were legitimate.  Then, expert Miguel A. Martínez took the stand, and carried out an analysis of the Mossack Fonseca servers and determined that there were no alterations in the data contained in those computers.  Fifteen witnesses requested by defense attorneys did not appear at the hearing.  Jurgen Mossack, pictured below, arrives at the court house.   

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-papers-trial-enters-final-phase-tuesday