Author: Manuel Antonio Espinosa
A high-level Panamanian commission has formally recommended that President José Raúl Mulino authorize an orderly mine shutdown of the Cobre Panama copper mine, with the project itself footing the bill. The recommendation, delivered Wednesday by Commerce and Industries Minister Julio Moltó, rules out any use of state funds and bars any contract extensions. The interministerial commission spent three months evaluating the fate of the shuttered operation. Its core message to the president was direct and singular. Moltó said the group asked Mulino to authorize conditions for a closure process that prioritizes environmental, social, and economic interests while fully respecting the…
A coordinated strike by Panamanian authorities Wednesday resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals and the disruption of a criminal structure dismantled in the 24 de Diciembre township of East Panama. The operation, targeting a group known as “Los Iluminatis,” unfolded in the Sector 5 area, specifically within a zone locals call “La Favela” or “La Invasión.” The National Police and the Public Ministry executed the anti-gang initiative, code-named Operation Elite, following months of intelligence gathering that began in 2025. Among those detained was a man identified by the alias “Andrecito,” who authorities believe served as the group’s leader. Criminal…
Firefighters from multiple stations across Panama City responded Wednesday to a large Curundu barrack blaze that engulfed a wooden structure in the Santa Cruz sector, prompting a precautionary evacuation of the surrounding area. No injuries have been reported so far, according to Colonel Ángel Delgado of the Panama Fire Department. The fire broke out in a wooden barrack, a type of densely clustered housing common in the area. Emergency crews rushed to contain the flames before they could spread to neighboring structures, which sit in close proximity to one another. Multi-Station Response to Curundu Barrack Blaze Units from Plaza Amador,…
Strong waves damage fishing vessels along Playa Malena in the Mariato district of southern Veraguas province, leaving local fishermen with mounting losses and no infrastructure to shield their livelihoods. The community reported the damage on Monday, September 29, 2026, following a period of intense swells that battered the coastline. No injuries have been reported so far. But fishermen warn that the absence of a pier or breakwater means every adverse weather event puts both their equipment and their safety at risk. How Strong Waves Damage Local Fishing Operations The fishing community at Playa Malena operates without any protective maritime structure.…
Health authorities in San Miguelito have launched an investigation after discovering two apparently falsified health cards during inspections of four brothels in the district. The establishments could face fines of up to $5,000 for violating sanitation regulations, according to the Ministry of Health (Minsa). The inspections, conducted by the San Miguelito Health Region, aimed to verify compliance with hygiene and safety standards. Officials found the suspicious documents on workers at one of the four locations visited, prompting immediate citations and potential sanctions. Fake Health Cards Spark Immediate Enforcement Action Algis Torres, regional health director for San Miguelito, confirmed that three…
Panama City authorities are pushing forward with a comprehensive revision of Panama traffic regulations to address the surging presence of motorcycles and electric scooters on the nation’s roadways. Nicolás Brea, director of the Transit and Land Transport Authority (ATTT), confirmed the regulatory update during a Monday interview, citing the need to adapt rules that have lagged behind shifting mobility patterns since 2021. Brea revealed that approximately 100,000 motorcycles are currently registered nationwide, a figure drawn from vehicle inspection and registration databases. These two-wheeled vehicles have moved beyond delivery services and weekend recreation to become a daily commuting staple for thousands…
Metro de Panamá, S. A. and Doppelmayr Panamá, Corp. signed a contract on Monday, September 28, to build the San Miguelito teleferico, an urban cable transport system spanning roughly 6.6 kilometers with six stations. The agreement follows joint review sessions of contractual documents, and the next step involves sending the contract to the Comptroller General of the Republic for review and endorsement. The project carries a price tag of $255,163,788 and includes design, complementary studies, construction, supply, manufacturing, installation, and system integration. It also covers testing, certification, startup, operational delivery, and an optional maintenance component. San Miguelito Teleferico Route and…
Panama’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP) confirmed that comprehensive Americas bridge repair will not proceed until the Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal becomes operational, a decision driven by the 60,000 vehicles that cross the aging structure daily. Public Works Minister José Luis Andrade said the bridge itself remains structurally sound, but acknowledged the concrete road surface has exceeded its service life and needs deep intervention. The announcement comes months after an April 6 fire forced a 22-hour closure of the bridge, paralyzing traffic across the capital and exposing the vulnerability of a crossing that opened in 1962. Officials said…
Five paragliding pilots launched from the summit of Volcán Barú on Friday, September 25, completing a descent to Los Llanos in Paso Ancho as part of the Baru Challenge paragliding initiative. The flight began at 3,475 meters above sea level, marking the first coordinated expedition of its kind from Panama’s highest point. The descent, organized under the slogan “One flight, two oceans,” took place in the Tierras Altas district of Chiriquí province. Organizers confirmed all five pilots had prior paragliding experience and completed the route after safety planning that accounted for altitude, wind patterns, terrain shifts, and rapid weather changes.…
Panama’s economic pitch to Wall Street produced tangible results this week, as five of the world’s largest banks requested direct meetings with the country’s delegation in New York. The international banking interest signals growing confidence in Panama’s fiscal trajectory and investment climate, officials said. Finance Minister Felipe Chapman confirmed that Citi, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and BBVA each convened sessions with Panamanian representatives during the United Nations General Assembly week. The meetings formed part of a five-day agenda exceeding 15 separate engagements with financial institutions, investment firms, and credit rating agencies. Wall Street’s International Banking Interest Surges Chapman…