Author: spieper

A delegation of 14 United States congressmembers held a private, closed-door meeting with Panamanian legislators on Friday, January 16. The unannounced gathering took place in the Blue Room of Panama’s legislative headquarters and focused on bilateral relations and governance issues.The meeting lasted approximately one hour and was not listed on any official public agenda. Security personnel cordoned off the area surrounding the Blue Room, and no media were invited or present during the discussions. The visit underscores ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations’ governing bodies.According to internal sources, the US delegation included both Democratic and Republican representatives from states…

A significant fire erupted in a luxury Panama City high-rise on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a major emergency response. Firefighters from the Panama Fire Department successfully contained the blaze to a single apartment on the 17th floor of the Bayfront Towers building located on Balboa Avenue. Officials reported no injuries, though the affected unit suffered total damage. The first social media reports of smoke appeared around 5:00 p.m. The formal alarm reached fire stations approximately thirty minutes later. Lieutenant Colonel Ángel Delgado provided the preliminary details, confirming that units from the Calidonia, Balboa, and Plaza Amador stations responded to the scene.…

Copa Airlines has inaugurated a new direct flight route connecting Panama City to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The Panamanian carrier commenced its first commercial service to the northern Dominican city on Tuesday, marking a strategic expansion of its Caribbean network. This move increases the airline’s presence in the Dominican Republic to four destinations.The new route will operate with three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flight CM889 departs from Tocumen International Airport at 7:55 a.m., arriving at Gregorio Luperón International Airport in Puerto Plata at 11:32 a.m. local time. The return flight, CM890, leaves Puerto Plata at…

The Panamanian Cabinet Council has authorized a $4.17 million contract with the U.S. firm AECOM for technical advisory work on the proposed Panama-David-Frontier railway. This decision, made through Resolution No. 145-25, marks a concrete step forward for the massive infrastructure project intended to connect Panama City with the western province of Chiriquí and the border with Costa Rica. The National Railway Secretariat will use the exceptional procedure contract to secure strategic engineering development and feasibility study consolidation. Officials stated that preparatory work, including the project’s master plan and initial environmental studies, is already underway. “The Railway Secretariat has advanced in…

Panama’s Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development has intervened to guarantee severance payments for over 200 employees of a waste collection company whose concession contract expires this week. Minister Jackeline Muñoz confirmed the agreement on Monday, January 12, following worker protests over unpaid benefits. The deal involves the company, Recicladora Vida y Salud (Revisalud), depositing more than one million dollars with the ministry to cover all worker entitlements.The concession for solid waste collection in the San Miguelito District officially ends on January 18. Uncertainty about severance pay led employees to halt their duties, escalating a long-running dispute. Minister Muñoz met…

National and municipal public offices across Panama will close for two days during the 2026 Carnival season. The closures are scheduled for Monday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 18, which coincides with Ash Wednesday. President Laurentino Cortizo’s administration formalized the plan through Executive Decree No. 3, signed on January 12, 2026.The decree also outlines a mandatory compensation mechanism for public sector employees. To offset the lost workdays, civil servants must work one extra hour per day for a period of sixteen days.Extended Work Hours Schedule for Public EmployeesAccording to the official document, the additional hour must be completed after an…

The Social Security Fund of Panama (CSS) filed a criminal complaint with the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, January 12. The complaint alleges a multi-million dollar fraud scheme involving at least 52 irregularly granted pensions, with an estimated financial impact of ten million dollars.CSS Director General Dino Mon stated the legal action followed extensive internal audits and reviews conducted with support from the Comptroller General of the Republic (Panama). The case centers on deliberate alterations to contribution records within the pension payment system, indicating organized criminal activity rather than administrative errors.”We will not tolerate mafias or corruption networks that attack…

Panamanian officials will increase maritime inspections in Colon Province starting January 2026. The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and local leaders agreed on the new measures to regulate passenger and cargo movements.This decision follows a high-level meeting focused on improving oversight at the Miramar docking area. That specific location has frequently served as an arrival point for migrants and other maritime traffic. The enhanced protocol aims to ensure all vessels operating in the region possess proper permits and adhere to strict safety codes.”Inter-institutional coordination seeks to strengthen control, order, and security in the area, as well as to ensure responsible and…

Panama City officials plan to install approximately 500 new surveillance cameras across the capital this year. The initiative aims to strengthen public security and protect state property by integrating the cameras into a centralized national monitoring system.This expansion responds to a noted increase in criminal activity, ranging from petty vandalism to organized crime. The project will significantly boost the municipal surveillance program, with footage shared directly with national police and security forces.Mayor Mayer Mizrachi framed the project as a necessary response to a lack of visual oversight in many city sectors. He pointed to a recent incident of vandalism on…

A previously secluded coastal community in Panama is formally opening its doors to visitors. Playa Pixvae, located in the southern Las Palmas District of Veraguas Province, will launch its official tourism season this week. The area’s pristine beaches and dramatic rock formations are transitioning from a local secret to an emerging destination for both national and international travelers seeking adventure. Residents have long described Pixvae as a hidden paradise. Its growing appeal centers on untouched beaches, natural caves, and a community commitment to sustainable growth. While access requires careful travel, those who make the journey discover a coastline largely undeveloped…