Author: spieper

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Panama’s National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) declared a red alert for multiple western provinces on Monday, October 27, due to dangerous conditions from the indirect effects of Hurricane Melissa. The emergency declaration mobilizes all national resources for immediate response to widespread flooding, river overflows, and landslides that have forced evacuations.The red alert is in effect for southern districts in Veraguas province, including Soná, Las Palmas, and Mariato; the Tonosí district in Los Santos province; and the Barú, Renacimiento, and Tierras Altas districts in Chiriquí province. Authorities also elevated the Ngäbe Buglé comarca to a yellow alert…

The Municipality of Panama has initiated a critical environmental operation to remove abandoned ‘ghost nets’ from the wetlands of Boca La Caja. The cleanup drive, announced on October 24, 2025, aims to protect local marine biodiversity and restore the health of a vital coastal ecosystem located within Panama City.This proactive measure targets derelict fishing gear, primarily fishing nets, which are lost or discarded in the ocean. These ‘ghost nets’ continue to trap and kill marine life indiscriminately for years, posing a severe threat to fish, crustaceans, and bird populations in the area. The municipality’s direct action underscores a commitment to…

Panama is launching a targeted export strategy to diversify and energize its commercial exchange with Jamaica, focusing on processed chicken, eggs, and furniture-grade wood. The initiative was announced by Panama’s Ministry of Commerce and Industries following a high-level bilateral meeting between the two nations’ trade officials in Geneva, Switzerland.The meeting, held on the sidelines of the XVI UNCTAD Ministerial Conference, featured Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó, and Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson-Smith. Discussions centered on attracting investment and opening new avenues for commercial cooperation, building upon an existing trade relationship that currently…

Colón, Panama – National Police forces have recaptured 11 of 12 individuals who escaped from the Basilio Lakas Juvenile Custody and Compliance Center in Colón province on Saturday afternoon. The mass escape occurred when the inmates, who were performing cleaning duties outside the facility’s perimeter, assaulted a guard and fled into surrounding areas. According to National Police Subcommissioner Javier Batista, the group of escapees consisted of eight minors and four adults. One adult remains at large following a massive police operation that involved 46 street officers, canine units, and drone surveillance. The fugitive still being sought is serving a sentence…

Heavy rainfall in western Panama has caused the San Bartolo River to overflow, severely damaging a containment wall at a critical water treatment plant and cutting off potable water for more than 20,000 residents. The incident occurred in the San Bartolo corregimiento of the Barú district in Chiriquí Province, prompting an emergency response from national authorities.The National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan) confirmed its San Bartolo treatment plant is out of operation due to the structural damage sustained from the river’s surge. The water supply disruption directly impacts communities in the El Palmar and Puerto Armuelles sectors, leaving thousands…

The Government of Panama, through the Ministry of the Presidency, has initiated a comprehensive $3.3 million restoration of the historic La Casa Amarilla in San Felipe, Panama City. The project, awarded to the firm Civil y Logística S.A., aims to structurally and architecturally rehabilitate the deteriorated building for use in diplomatic ceremonies by June 2026. The restoration is being conducted under strict guidelines from the National Directorate of Cultural Heritage (DNPC) to preserve the site’s significant heritage value.The contract was granted following the provisions of Law 22 on Public Procurement. Work is currently in the preliminary phase, involving detailed archaeological…

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Business trust, difficult to build and easy to lose, no longer tolerates accounting ambiguities. In the current economic climate, financial compliance has evolved from a technical requirement for publicly traded companies into a critical reputational asset for private enterprises, protecting relationships with banks, partners, regulators, and employees. This shift demands a robust accounting culture that inspires confidence and prevents unnecessary risk.The pressure on private companies now mirrors that of their publicly listed counterparts. Financial teams face intense scrutiny from multiple fronts: banks meticulously review financial statement quality before granting financing, family investors and partners demand crystal-clear…

Panamanian authorities have formally announced a strategic push to attract German foreign investment into key economic sectors, including pharmaceuticals, technology, logistics, and finance. The initiative was advanced during a high-level meeting between Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó, and Thomas Steffen, State Secretary of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, on the sidelines of the ongoing XVI UNCTAD Ministerial Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.The bilateral meeting, held this week, was centered on fostering new investment opportunities and enhancing technical and commercial cooperation between the two nations. Minister Moltó underscored Panama’s unique competitive advantages as a regional operations…

Chilibre, Panama – The National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan) initiated a major operational intervention on Saturday, October 25, deploying over ten technical teams to address chronic water losses and improve supply pressure in northern sectors of the capital. The operation, named “Chilibre sin fugas” (Chilibre Without Leaks), represents a significant effort by the state water utility to optimize its distribution network in key areas.The large-scale maintenance work commenced from the Milla 8 area and will extend to communities within the districts of Chilibre, Caimitillo, and Las Cumbres. The initiative involves a coordinated series of tasks, including the repair…

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Panama anticipates $470 million in annual infrastructure losses due to natural disasters, with the energy, transport, telecommunications, and education sectors identified as the most vulnerable, according to government authorities. The stark financial impact was detailed during the III International Forum on Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (GIRD by its Spanish acronym), where Public Works Minister José Luis Andrade outlined the government’s mitigation strategies.Minister Andrade explained the institutional strategies being implemented to protect the population, sharing experiences derived from the climate emergencies recorded in November 2024. He stated that the ministry has systematically mapped critical points susceptible to…