Author: michaelm

Panama’s ambassador to the United Nations publicly demanded the release of a detained Panameño mariner this week. Eloy Alfaro de Alba made the appeal before the United Nations Security Council, linking the sailor’s case to broader human rights concerns in Venezuela.The diplomatic intervention marks a significant escalation in efforts to free Olmedo Javier Núñez Peñalba. Venezuelan authorities detained him over seven months ago after intercepting his vessel.From Routine Voyage to Diplomatic FlashpointOlmedo Javier Núñez Peñalba was working as part of the crew on a Panamanian-flagged ship. His life changed on June 11 when the Venezuelan National Bolivarian Armed Force intercepted…

The dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the subsequent U.S. announcement of a transitional administration have abruptly redrawn the political map of the Americas. For Panama, the shockwaves from its regional neighbor are immediate and concrete, forcing urgent calculations in foreign policy, economic planning, and national security. Sociologist Danilo Toro warns the country cannot afford to view the situation as a distant event, citing geographic proximity and deep historical ties as factors that make Panama directly vulnerable to the fallout.The events of January 3, 2026, which included explosions at Caracas’s Fuerte Tiuna military complex, have created a fragmented…

Panama’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) posted a significant recovery in the third quarter of 2025, reaching a net inflow of $676.4 million. This positive swing follows a period of substantial capital outflow in the previous quarter, according to official data released by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (Panama). The rebound, however, was not enough to erase a steep year-to-date decline, leaving the nation’s overall investment climate in a state of cautious evaluation.The figures, compiled by the Comptroller General of the Republic (Panama), show a dramatic quarterly shift. The third quarter’s positive flow contrasts sharply with the second quarter’s…

Panama’s ambassador to the United Nations demanded the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela on Monday. Eloy Alfaro de Alba also forcefully reiterated that his government does not recognize Delcy Rodríguez as the nation’s president following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by United States authorities.The statement came during a critical session of the UN Security Council focused on the Venezuelan crisis. Ambassador Alfaro de Alba specifically highlighted the detention of a Panamanian citizen, Olmedo Javier Núñez Peñalba, calling for his immediate and unconditional freedom.”It is indispensable to demand the unconditional release of people detained for political reasons,” Eloy Alfaro…

Venezuelan citizens living in Panama gathered in Panama City on Saturday to celebrate the reported capture of their nation’s leader by United States forces. The demonstration took place at Parque Urracá, where a crowd waved flags and expressed hope for political change in their home country. The event followed early morning reports that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been detained.Participants carried both Venezuelan and American flags throughout the afternoon rally. They chanted slogans and embraced one another, marking a spontaneous response to the unfolding international news. The gathering remained peaceful, focused on expressions of relief and anticipation…

The government of Panama issued a formal demand this Saturday for a democratic transition in Venezuela. The statement followed the confirmed capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by United States authorities. Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that power must be transferred according to the popular will expressed in the July 2024 presidential election.Official results from that vote showed opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the clear winner. The Panamanian government explicitly endorsed those results in its weekend communique. It also revealed it holds physical custody of the electoral records that substantiate González Urrutia’s victory.Official Statement and Custody of Electoral…

The Government of Panama confirmed it holds physical custody of the original vote tally sheets from Venezuela’s contested 2024 presidential election. This revelation gains critical importance after United States forces captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on January 3, 2026. Panama has safeguarded the documents in a vault at the National Bank of Panama since a formal handover ceremony in January 2025.Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha first announced the custodial arrangement during a public event titled “Act of Vindication of Democracy in Venezuela and America.” The documents are copies collected by the political coalition backing opposition candidate Edmundo…

Panama’s stock market recorded a significant 23 percent increase in transaction volume through October 2025, even as the nation’s top financial regulator announced plans to modernize its framework and establish rules for digital assets. Superintendent of the Securities Market, Maruquel Murgas, confirmed the market’s robust performance and outlined dual regulatory priorities in a recent year-end review. The moves aim to bolster Panama’s position as a regional financial hub while addressing emerging risks in the unregulated cryptocurrency space.Transaction volume handled by securities houses reached $146.66 billion between January and October 2025. New issuances during that period totaled $1.605 billion, with another…

Panama may have lost approximately 45 billion dollars to corruption since its return to democracy, a leading legislator stated this week. Deputy Roberto Zuniga of the independent Vamos bloc made the staggering claim during a January 2 interview as the new session of the National Assembly of Panama convened.Zuniga based his calculation on a widely cited international estimate. He said that roughly five percent of the state budget disappears each year due to corrupt practices. The figure covers the entire period from 1989 through the present day, highlighting a persistent national issue.”It is nearly 45 billion dollars lost to corruption…

Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Molto, confirmed that Chiquita Panama LLC will restart banana exports this January. The move finalizes the reactivation of up to 5,000 jobs in the Bocas del Toro Province, stabilizing a regional economy hit hard by sectoral crisis.During a television interview, Molto stated that 3,000 jobs have already been recovered in an initial phase. The imminent export operations are set to generate an additional 2,000 positions, completing the promised employment revival. Officials report that packing plants are already wrapping fruit in preparation for shipment.”Plants are already wrapping the fruit and are ready to export.…