Author: Sebastian Pieper

The Municipality of Panama has issued an official decree outlining traffic restrictions and regulations for the upcoming Caribbean Volume Carnival Festival in 2026. A key section of the Cinta Costera will close to vehicles for four days starting February 13. The event aims to bring traditional carnival celebrations directly to the heart of Panama City.From noon on Friday, February 13, 2026, the coastal roadway between Avenida Ecuador and the November 3 Viaduct will be completely shut down. This closure facilitates the festival which runs from 6:00 p.m. that Friday through 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17. Organizers promise a full…

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed four cooperation agreements in Panama City on Tuesday. The bilateral deals aim to facilitate investments, boost trade, and promote tourism between the two nations. This high-level meeting marks a significant diplomatic push to strengthen economic ties across the region.The signing ceremony took place at the Palacio de las Garzas (Presidential Palace of Panama) following an official welcome with full state honors for the visiting Brazilian leader. Both presidents agreed to establish a permanent consultation mechanism to advance shared bilateral interests moving forward.Four Key Agreements SignedOfficials formalized…

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation this Thursday. Their meeting at Panama’s Presidential Palace focused on sharing construction expertise and boosting commercial ties, officials from both nations confirmed.The discussions centered on Jamaica’s interest in Panama’s advanced construction standards. Prime Minister Holness specifically admired Panama’s development of major infrastructure projects. He aims to apply similar procedures to rebuild critical infrastructure in Jamaica damaged by Hurricane Melissa.President Mulino pledged full support from Panama’s government and private sector. He confirmed that national authorities and the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (CAPAC) would collaborate with…

Panamanian immigration authorities deported and expelled 21 Nicaraguan citizens on Tuesday for violating the country’s migration laws. The group was returned to Nicaragua on a chartered flight from Albrook’s Marcos A. Gelabert Airport as part of a bilateral agreement with the United States. The National Migration Service of Panama (SNM) confirmed the operation occurred on January 27. Officials stated the actions followed individual case reviews which found clear breaches of Panamanian immigration statutes. Legal Basis and Individual Cases Authorities executed 13 formal deportations and eight expulsions. Four individuals, three women and one man, were included in the removal process after…

A new digital discount program has launched in Panama with a clear goal. The private sector initiative aims to make international visitors stay longer and spend more. More than 50 local businesses, including major hotels, are backing the project.Officially called a digital coupon book, the platform aggregates exclusive offers from restaurants, shops, and cultural sites. Its core strategy involves offering these discounts as a packaged value-add. Travelers must book through authorized international agencies to gain access.Project organizers explained the program is a direct response to global tourism competition. They want to enhance Panama’s appeal beyond its famous canal and natural…

Two Panamanian tourists died and several others were injured after a tour boat capsized on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. The accident occurred on Wednesday as the vessel traveled between the popular towns of Panajachel and San Juan la Laguna.Local authorities reported the boat, registered as CSP-7956-2021, was carrying seven people, including minors, when it overturned near Aguatitlán in the Santa Cruz la Laguna area. Preliminary accounts from the detained boat pilot indicate strong winds caused a loss of control, leading directly to the capsizing.”The immediate response from other boat operators in the area was critical. They rescued the passengers and…

A Panamanian court has definitively dismissed corruption charges against 185 individuals linked to a high-profile public transportation scandal. The Superior Court for the Settlement of Criminal Cases of the First Judicial District confirmed the acquittal ruling on Tuesday, January 27, ending a years-long legal saga known locally as the “ATTT case.”The decision finalizes a lower court’s verdict from August 2025, which found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy to defraud the state. All defendants were cleared of charges related to alleged peculation against the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT).Court Affirms Lower Court’s Ruling on Lack of EvidenceThe appellate tribunal,…

Panama’s Technical Council for Biological Sciences has approved a major update to the list of academic degrees eligible for the nation’s official biological sciences career ladder. The regulatory body, which operates under the country’s Ministry of Environment (Panama), published the new resolution in the official gazette this week. This move modernizes the framework governing professional recognition for scientists and specialists across a expanding range of disciplines.The updated list repeals previous resolutions from 2021 and 2022. It establishes fresh criteria for undergraduate and graduate degrees seeking inclusion in the state-regulated escalafón, a system dictating hiring, promotion, and pay scales within public…

Panama’s Ministry of Health established a National Blood Bank Network on Tuesday, January 27, in a direct response to a severe nationwide blood supply shortage. The new network integrates public hospitals, the Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social, CSS), and private medical centers to coordinate a unified response.Officials from the ministry’s General Directorate of Public Health stated the network’s creation aims to address an immediate scarcity impacting hospital care across the country. The shortage has compromised the medical system’s capacity to handle routine and emergency procedures requiring transfusions.During the network’s inaugural meeting, medical directors from all sectors were instructed…

Panama’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Authority (AMPYME) has approved over $1.4 million in startup funding in a single week while expanding its national network of free business incubators. Director Raúl Fernández announced the results of the agency’s operational overhaul, which he credits for the surge in support for new entrepreneurs across the country. The push comes as Panama seeks to address a national employment crisis by fostering formal business creation.Fernández detailed the agency’s recent achievements in a television interview, highlighting a streamlined model focused on sustainable guidance. The institutional transformation, he explained, involved significant cuts to administrative spending. Those…