Author: Michael Meuret

A proposed law to mandate ethanol in Panama’s fuel supply is facing intense scrutiny. Critics, including prominent journalists, allege the bill benefits a small group of well-connected sugar mill owners at the public’s expense. The controversy deepened this week following a separate administrative order that froze the budget of a major municipality.The legislative proposal would require all gasoline sold in Panama to contain a 10 percent blend of locally produced bioethanol. Government officials argue the measure will reduce carbon emissions and boost the agricultural sector. Opponents counter that it creates a captive market for a select few producers, including business…

Panama received 2.38 million international visitors between January and October 2025. Preliminary data from the Government of Panama Comptroller General and the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) shows a 7.1 percent increase over the same period in 2024. The surge in tourism generated significant economic benefits for the Central American nation.Tourism revenue for those ten months reached 5.4555 billion balboas, which is equivalent to the same figure in U.S. dollars. This represents a 9.3 percent year-over-year increase, adding roughly 465.7 million dollars to the economy. Hotel occupancy averaged a healthy 56 percent across the country during this period of growth.Overnight Tourists…

A group of incarcerated women from Panama’s main female prison traded their uniforms for brooms this week. They are cleaning streets in a district of the capital overwhelmed by months of accumulated garbage, a visible symptom of a national waste management collapse. The government initiative offers sentence reductions while confronting a public health emergency that has become deeply politicized.Seventy women from the Centro Penitenciario Femenino volunteered for the work detail in the San Miguelito District. They joined 25 incarcerated men and a fleet of government trucks and excavators. This emergency response began on January 19 after the private company that…

Panamanian police and prosecutors seized nearly ten thousand counterfeit items in a raid on two homes in Panama City this week. The joint operation, part of an ongoing anti-counterfeiting initiative, resulted in one arrest and the confiscation of goods valued at approximately 95 thousand US dollars.The action was carried out by the National Police (Panama) in coordination with the Public Ministry (Panama). Officials targeted two residences in the Villa de Las Fuentes sector of the Betania district. A 32-year-old woman was apprehended during the enforcement action known as Operation False Brand.Massive Haul of Fake ProductsAuthorities spent hours cataloging the massive…

Panama City will become the focal point for Latin American economic policy this week. The CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean is convening its International Economic Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean on January 28 and 29, 2026. The event gathers heads of state, multilateral representatives, and academic experts to address pressing challenges related to growth, stability, and sustainable development across the region.This high-level meeting arrives during a period of global economic fragmentation. Organizers aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Latin American moment, focusing on the delicate balances required to maintain fiscal credibility.…

The Panamanian Ministry of Education has released official results for the 2025 academic year. Data shows 663,738 students in the regular education system successfully passed all their subjects according to a report issued this week.Total enrollment for the year reached 807,929 students across the nation. The figures indicate a 91 percent overall pass rate when calculated against the 726,358 students who received numerical grades. The remaining 81,571 children were in initial education programs, like pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, where evaluation is qualitative and not included in pass-fail statistics.Director of National Planning Dillian Staine explained the data. He said the statistics encompass…

Business leaders and economists issued a unified call for urgent action to address deep-seated inequality in Panama’s Colón Province, Panama. They made the appeal during the Vision Colón 2026 forum organized by La Prensa newspaper on Thursday, January 22. The province must leverage private investment and coherent state planning to convert its crucial economic role into tangible social progress.Participants focused on the stark contrast between Colón’s strategic importance to national logistics and its persistent social deficits. The forum aimed to move beyond analysis and identify concrete steps for generating employment and reactivating key sectors like tourism and energy.A Province of…

The central Panamanian province of Cocle is actively redefining its economic identity. Business leaders and economists presented a strategic vision for the region this week, pinpointing agro-exports, tourism, and mining as three critical pillars for growth and job creation by 2026. The analysis emerged from the “Vision Cocle 2026” economic forum organized by local media, highlighting both the province’s significant potential and its pressing unemployment challenge.Officials warned that recent employment data for the province should serve as a major alert. The unemployment rate in Coclé Province increased from 23% to 24% between 2023 and 2024. When combined with widespread informal…

A Panama City judge ordered preventive detention for two local officials this week. They face charges linked to a fraudulent check scheme worth nearly half a million dollars. The case involves the community board of the Arnulfo Arias district and a falsified check from a public university.Guarantees Judge Didia Ruiz issued the ruling against the board’s representative, Dario Gonzalez, and its treasurer, Raul Pacheco. The charges include financial crimes and money laundering. The decision followed a request from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.Investigators allege the officials cashed a fake check for $492,000. The check was purportedly issued by the Autonomous University…

Panama’s tourism authority and private sector partners have launched a new digital discount program for international visitors. The initiative provides more than 500 dollars in benefits to tourists who stay four or more nights in Panama City.Dubbed “Panama Gives You +500 in Benefits,” the program features a digital coupon book with offers from over 50 participating businesses. These include hotels, restaurants, museums, and tourism experience providers located primarily in the capital. The Panama Tourism Authority clarified the program is entirely privately funded by participating establishments, with no state financial contributions.Officials described the campaign as a direct response to industry proposals…