Author: michaelm

The new school year has started across Panama, but the national School Complementary Feeding Program has not. Critical supplies of milk, nutritional cookies, and fortified cream are absent from classrooms because three major public tenders remain unadjudicated. The Ministry of Education (Panama) confirmed the delays this week, attributing them to mandatory legal procedures under Panama’s public procurement law.These contracts, valued at over 29.6 million dollars, cover the supply, transport, and delivery of breakfast items for hundreds of thousands of students. Officials state the bidding processes, which began in December, are following their normal course. The situation leaves schools without a…

Students across Panama’s indigenous regions are starting the 2026 school year in crumbling, makeshift classrooms. Parents and teachers in the Guna Yala Comarca and Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca are demanding urgent infrastructure repairs from the Ministry of Education (Panama). Their calls come just two weeks into the new academic calendar, highlighting a persistent crisis in remote areas.Reports from multiple schools describe a dire situation. Classrooms lack walls, roofs, and basic furniture, forcing children to learn in open-air shelters known locally as “ranchos.” The ministry acknowledges hundreds of these temporary structures remain in use, though it claims progress on a replacement program.”The community…

Panama’s public health system is actively recruiting dozens of medical specialists, including foreign doctors, to address critical staffing shortages. The Ministry of Health (Minsa) and the Caja de Seguro Social (Social Security Fund) announced the joint call this week, aiming to fill 71 vacant positions nationwide.This urgent measure follows several unsuccessful recruitment attempts between October 2025 and January 2026. Authorities now seek both full-time and part-time professionals for hospitals and polyclinics in multiple provinces.Nationwide Shortages Prompt Foreign RecruitmentAvailable positions span key specialties like anesthesiology, cardiology, pediatrics, internal medicine, and obstetrics. Postings are distributed across regions including Bocas del Toro Province,…

The Cabinet of Panama authorized a major subsidy this week to stabilize power costs for residents in the country’s western region. Officials approved an $18.8 million disbursement to the Western Tariff Fund, a move directly impacting approximately 183,000 people.This financial injection targets specific districts within the Bocas del Toro Province, including Almirante, Guabito, Las Tablas, and Changuinola. The funds are designed to cover a subsidy already applied by the local power distributor, Empresa de Distribución Eléctrica Chiriquí, S.A. (Edechi), for the final six months of 2025.State Guarantees Stable Rates During Grid ImprovementsAccording to the approved contract, residents in the designated…

Global shipping costs are surging as a major Middle East conflict disrupts a critical oil transit route. The Drewry World Container Index climbed eight percent this week, reaching $2,123 per forty-foot container. Analysts link the sharp increase directly to security pressures in the Persian Gulf region, a development that could soon raise prices for imported goods worldwide.The immediate trigger is the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Major international shipping lines have suspended operations in the Gulf as regional tensions escalate. This strategic waterway normally handles about twenty percent of the world’s seaborne oil supply. Its closure is forcing…

Panama will transform into a hub for Iberoamerican literature and thought this May. The Festival Centroamérica Cuenta returns for its second Panamanian edition from May 18 to 23, bringing together over 80 writers, artists, and thinkers from 18 countries. The event aims to foster regional dialogue through a diverse program spanning literature, film, journalism, and music.Organizers detailed an agenda that moves beyond traditional literary discussions. This year’s festival will also explore creative gastronomy, sports, science, urbanism, and cultural tourism. The inclusion of these themes reflects a broader mission to examine how culture fuels societal development and connection.”It stands out for…

Arielis Barría, the elected representative for the Tocumen district, issued a formal plea for action this week. She called on Panama’s top security officials to address a sharp increase in robberies, thefts, and homicides plaguing her community.Barría delivered her urgent statement before the Municipal Council of Panama. She directly challenged Public Security Minister Frank Ábrego and National Police Director Jaime fern to focus on the deteriorating situation. The representative described a wave of crimes including kidnappings, commercial robberies, and daylight murders.”The current actions are not working and have contributed to worsening the situation.” [Translated from Spanish]Barría criticized the frequent rotation…

Panamanian employers report robust hiring intentions for the second quarter of 2026, led by the information technology and hospitality sectors. A new employment survey reveals the country’s net employment trend sits at 44 percent, placing it fifth globally for job market optimism. This positive data arrives as Panama contends with a 10.4 percent unemployment rate.The latest Employment Expectations Survey from ManpowerGroup compiled responses from over 200 employers nationwide. It shows a significant 13 point lead over the global average for hiring plans. This marks a notable increase from both the previous quarter and the same period last year.Information and Hospitality…

Panama is experiencing a sharp and violent spike in homicides this March, driven by gang conflicts, drug trafficking disputes, and contract killings. Official crime statistics had shown a decline earlier in the year, but National Police Director Jaime Fernandez now confirms a troubling reversal. The violence is spreading from traditional urban hotspots to quieter provinces, alarming communities and challenging law enforcement. Data from the Integrated System of Criminal Statistics (SIEC), compiled by the Ministry of Public Security, indicated 68 homicides nationwide by late February. That figure represented a decrease compared to the same period in 2025. The recent wave of…

Residents of Panama City’s Amador district are raising urgent concerns about multiple real estate developments they say threaten the area’s ecological balance and strain public services. The community warnings come as construction advances in a zone celebrated for its lush vegetation and iconic views of the Panama Canal entrance. Local leaders argue the projects often violate existing “Garden City” planning laws designed to protect the character of this historically significant area.Community association president Margot Lopez detailed a list of alleged irregularities observed in ongoing construction. These issues reportedly include buildings exceeding permitted heights, developments occupying nearly double the authorized lot…