Author: michaelm

The Panama Canal recorded a 5.6 percent increase in total ship transits for October, the first month of its 2026 fiscal year. Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez confirmed the growth, attributing it to seasonal holiday trade and commercial efforts to beat potential future tariffs.Official data from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) shows 1,029 transits occurred in October. That figure represents 55 more transits than the 974 recorded during the same month in the previous fiscal year. The daily transit average for the month reached 33.2 vessels.Vásquez pointed to a specific day in early December as a sign of current operational strength.…

A major new exhibition in Panama City is challenging historical narratives by showcasing art created exclusively by women. The Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama (MAC Panamá) opened “Musa: Female Perspectives” this month, a collaborative show featuring works from its own collection and that of the Museum of Modern Art of Medellín (MAMM). The exhibition, which runs through February 2026, directly confronts the chronic underrepresentation of female creators in museum collections and art history.MAC Panamá’s executive director, María Lucía Alemán, states the exhibition is a necessary corrective to a long-standing imbalance. She points to the museum’s own records as evidence…

A $209 million contract to provide meals for Panama’s largest prisons received only one bid this week. The sole offer came from the same company that has held the exclusive service for the past 13 years, raising questions about competition in state public procurement.The electronic bid submission for the six-year contract closed on Friday, December 5. Official records from the Ministry of Government (Mingob) showed just a single proposal entered into the system. It was submitted by Consorcio Alimentario Panamá, the consortium currently feeding inmates in six facilities across Panama Province.Its proposal matched the government’s reference price exactly at $209.6…

Panama’s exporters are managing a complex trade landscape in 2025, posting overall growth despite a significant drop in sales to the United States. Data from the first nine months of the year reveals a sector contending with a prolonged agricultural strike and new American tariffs. The country’s total exports reached $754.9 million through September, an increase of $34.2 million compared to the same period in 2024. This positive national figure, however, masks a stark decline in the crucial US market.Shipments to the United States, Panama’s largest trading partner, fell to $118.3 million. That number represents a negative balance of $22.9…

Thousands of property owners in Panama are paying more annual property tax than legally required. A widespread lack of awareness about available tax benefits means many fail to apply for exemptions they legally qualify for, according to tax experts and official documents. This gap in public knowledge results in inflated tax bills that do not reflect a property’s true legal or economic status.The system includes both automatic and special exemptions outlined in the Panamanian Tax Code. These provisions can drastically lower tax obligations for eligible residential, commercial, and agricultural properties. Despite this, a low level of tax culture and complex…

Panama’s Social Security Fund board has approved the construction of a new tower for the National Cancer Institute. The decision, confirmed on December 4, 2025, answers years of urgent calls from patient advocacy groups who describe the current overcrowded facilities as critically inadequate for the nation’s needs.Project plans detail a nine-story tower to be built behind the institute’s existing location within the City of Health complex. This expansion aims to centralize and significantly increase capacity for chemotherapy, outpatient clinics, and specialized laboratory services. Officials frame the approval as a pivotal step in modernizing Panama’s oncology care infrastructure.”This is a step…

Panama’s Ministry of Public Works received two formal bids on Wednesday for a major highway expansion project west of Panama City. The competing proposals aim to secure a contract valued at a quarter-billion dollars to widen a critical 20-kilometer stretch of the Pan-American Highway.This project, officially named the “Corredor de las Playas” expansion, targets the heavily congested route connecting Panama City to popular western beach communities. The Ministry of Public Works (Panama) opened the public tender with a reference price of $250 million. Officials declared the work a public interest priority earlier this year to improve safety and traffic flow.”The…

The Urban and Household Sanitation Authority has launched a special citywide waste collection drive. The operation responds to a seasonal surge in garbage that doubles daily tonnage during the Christmas period. Crews began work early this Wednesday morning, starting in the Carrasquilla sector and moving toward the historic Panamá Viejo district.Officials say the capital’s daily waste output jumps from roughly 1,500 tons to nearly 3,000 tons during the holidays. The special initiative will cover all 26 districts of Panama City. It focuses on collecting both regular household refuse and large, bulky items that residents often discard at year’s end.Workers Issue…

Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha reiterated his nation’s firm diplomatic stance on Venezuela this week. He confirmed Panama’s ongoing recognition of Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate winner of the 2024 presidential vote.The statements were made on Wednesday, December 3, during a public event in Panama City. Martínez-Acha emphasized Panama’s foundational commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law in the hemisphere.Custodian of Electoral EvidencePanama positioned itself as a key regional actor following last year’s contested poll. The country was among the first governments to formally acknowledge González Urrutia’s victory in the July 28 election. More concretely, Panamanian authorities…

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has launched scathing criticism against the nation’s banking sector, alleging that money stolen from the country through corruption flows freely through financial institutions. He made these statements during his weekly press conference on Thursday, November 13, 2025, highlighting a stark contrast between the strict controls on ordinary citizens and the apparent ease with which illicit funds move. The president’s remarks signal a potential confrontation with one of Panama’s most powerful economic sectors.Mulino specifically contrasted the banking experience of the average Panamanian with that of corrupt officials moving millions. He argued that while regular citizens face…