Author: michaelm

Construction on Panama’s new Gorgas Campus, a major scientific hub, has reached 17 percent overall completion. Project officials confirmed the progress this week for the $190 million facility being built next to the City of Health in Ancón, Panama.The goal is to transform and expand the nation’s capacity for health and scientific research. This infrastructure project aims to create a centralized, modern space dedicated to advanced study and public health response.Structural Progress and Project TimelineJorge Araúz, the project’s general coordinator, provided a detailed breakdown of the current status. He explained that workers are actively building Phase 1, which involves the…

Panama’s Tourism Authority (ATP) is working to secure funding this month to activate a long-delayed tourist insurance program. The initiative promises free medical coverage for international visitors and Panamanians living abroad during their first ten days in the country. This effort forms a core part of the nation’s strategy to boost its competitive edge in regional tourism promotion.Gloria De León, the administrator of the ATP, confirmed the agency must return to the National Assembly’s Budget Commission to request the necessary funds. The allocated budget for 2025 was reallocated to other state expenses after contract signing delays. De León now projects…

A group of workers on Panama’s major Fourth Bridge project initiated a partial work stoppage on Monday, February 9. Officials from the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Panama) are now on site mediating the labor dispute.The workers claim affiliation with the Single Union of Construction Workers and Similar Trades (Suntracs). Their primary grievance involves an alleged company mandate to deduct a one percent fee for a union they describe as illegitimate. Project operations have not fully halted, however, as a portion of the workforce continues normal activities.Company and Union Clash Over DuesIn an official statement, the Cuarto Puente Consortium…

Panama’s National Assembly spent at least $59,000 on international flights and per diems for its legislators last year. Official travel records from 2025 show a pattern of trips to global forums, ideological conferences, and multilateral summits funded by taxpayers. While the total number of journeys was not extensive, several were notably expensive and concentrated among a small group of deputies.The Directorate General of Finance for the legislature provided the documentation. It details travel for parliamentary events, “experience exchanges,” and specific diplomatic missions. Several lawmakers repeated international destinations, and one individual undertook two intercontinental trips within eight months.”The pattern reflects selective…

Panama’s Ministry of Environment officially launched the 2026 sea turtle conservation season at the San San Pond Sak National Wetland Park. The ceremony took place on February 8 at San San beach in Bocas del Toro province, coinciding with recent global celebrations for World Wetlands Day. This annual initiative aims to protect endangered nesting turtles through coordinated patrols and community engagement. The season will be managed in close partnership with the community-b ased organization AAMVECONA. This group has worked alongside government park rangers for over two decades. Their collaborative efforts focus on the sustainable management of this critical Protected area.…

Panama’s Ministry of Environment has launched a major restoration initiative for Los Andes Lake, an urban ecosystem in San Miguelito degraded by years of pollution. Officials and community groups began coordinated work this week aiming to reverse environmental damage and promote sustainable tourism. The effort focuses on cleaning solid waste, improving water quality, and reforesting the lake’s shores to protect its notable biodiversity. The lake, located in the Omar Torrijos township, suffers from several interconnected challenges. These include contamination from trash, degraded water conditions, and loss of natural vegetation. Despite these pressures, the area remains a vital habitat for diverse…

The Panamanian Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) is now analyzing the potential implementation of an automated traffic enforcement camera system. Director Simon Henríquez confirmed the evaluation phase this week, stating the goal is to improve road safety and order nationwide.This initiative, often referred to as a “fotomulta” system, would target common violations like running red lights and blocking intersections. The project represents a renewed effort to deploy technology already installed on some roadways but not yet activated for issuing penalties.Focus on Education and Transparency in New SystemHenríquez emphasized that coordination with the Government Innovation Authority (AIG) is crucial to…

Copa Airlines has secured its position as Latin America’s most punctual airline for the eleventh consecutive year. The Panama-based carrier received the 2025 award from aviation analytics firm Cirium during a ceremony at its maintenance center in Panama City.The airline achieved an on-time performance rate of 90.75 percent last year, the highest in the Americas. This global benchmark placed Copa as the world’s second most punctual airline overall. Its schedule completion rate reached 99.80 percent, giving it the lowest cancellation rate in the region.Sustained Excellence in OperationsCirium’s annual report analyzes millions of flight data points to rank airline punctuality. Copa’s…

Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case reveal Panama’s role in the late financier’s exploration of offshore financial structures. The so-called Epstein Files show email discussions in 2011 about using a Panamanian entity to purchase a luxury apartment in Rio de Janeiro. These records illustrate how Epstein and his associates considered jurisdictions like Panama to minimize taxes and obscure money flows for clients.The documents, reviewed by investigators, include a March 2011 email exchange between Epstein and Peter Mandelson, then the British ambassador to Washington. Their conversation centered on creating a fiscal structure in Panama specifically to facilitate the property…

Expatriates seeking traditional Panamanian culture and Pacific coastline beauty are increasingly drawn to the country’s Azuero Peninsula. The region spanning from the commercial hub of Chitré to the colonial town of Pedasí presents a compelling blend of affordability and lifestyle. Successfully settling in this area, however, depends on understanding a single, non-negotiable factor: securing a reliable water supply in the arid zone known as the Arco Seco (Dry Arch).This part of Panama receives significantly less rainfall than other provinces. The dry season from January to May tests local infrastructure annually. For newcomers, navigating water security is the paramount task, often…