Author: Editorial Team

The chaos on Naos Island can no longer hide behind tourist renderings. Luxury promises made for a development at the Panama Canal entrance have given way to an abandoned airplane, court-ordered seizures and multimillion-dollar disputes. Naos is not an airport. It has no runway, hangars or aircraft maintenance facilities. Yet a passenger plane sat parked on the island for nearly six years. The aircraft was supposedly destined for a themed restaurant. That project never materialized. The plane became another symbol of the lawlessness that prevails along the Amador Causeway. Naos is the first island connected to the mainland via the…

The Costa Rican Electricity Institute has firmly denied any energy crisis following Panama’s decision to halt electricity sales. The institute stated the country has sufficient resources to meet its power demands. Officials confirmed this position on Thursday, May 21, directly responding to Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino’s recent announcement. Costa Rica currently does not import electricity from Panama and has no plans to do so for the rest of 2026. The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) released an official statement clarifying that no firm energy purchase contracts exist between the two neighboring nations. The institute emphasized the country’s electrical system…

Panama City, Panama – High temperatures and the El Niño phenomenon are crippling artisanal fishing along Panama’s coasts. Fishermen now spend more days at sea just to catch enough fish to survive. The crisis is visible at major fishing hubs like Puerto Panama, where boat traffic and fish unloading have dropped sharply. During a recent visit to the port, only one vessel was unloading its catch. Fishermen say this scene was unheard of just months ago. The warming ocean waters are driving fish away from coastal areas, forcing crews to travel farther and burn more fuel. Fishermen Face Longer Journeys…

Panama’s Comptroller General, Anel Flores, has ordered a full audit of the million-dollar water truck contracts managed by the national water utility. The announcement came directly from the province of Veraguas on Wednesday. Flores confirmed the investigation follows a formal request submitted by the utility’s current director. The audit will target the Instituto de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Nacionales, known as Idaan. These contracts have drawn intense scrutiny over their massive costs. Speaking with reporters during a work tour of provincial projects, the comptroller revealed the official request arrived at his office just yesterday. Investigators will begin their work next Monday.…

Panama City, Panama. A total of 134 Venezuelan citizens returned to their country early Friday morning. The group traveled on the first coordinated humanitarian return flight from Panama. The aircraft departed from the hangar at Teniente Octavio Rodríguez Garrido Air Naval Base in Panama Pacifico. Its final destination was Caracas, Venezuela. The group included 58 men, 31 women, and 45 minors. They traveled with their families under conditions of safety, dignity, and humanitarian assistance. The operation aims to facilitate family reunification. It also focuses on helping people in vulnerable situations. Officials confirmed this flight marks the beginning of future voluntary…

Artisans in Panama City’s historic Casco Antiguo district have raised alarms about potential eviction. They fear a $5.9 million renovation project will push them out of their workspaces. The Association of United Artisans of Casco Antiguo, known as AUCA, met with Ministry of Culture officials on May 20 to address the issue. The project involves the comprehensive restoration of France Plaza and surrounding areas. The Ministry of Culture Panama awarded the contract to Administradora de Proyectos de Construccion, S.A., or Aprocosa, last year. Artisans currently operate stalls along Esteban Huertas Promenade and within the plaza itself. Adan Cerrud, president of…

Panama City, Panama – Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado arrived at Tocumen International Airport on Thursday evening. She begins a four-day official and community visit to Panama. Machado expressed excitement about reuniting with the large Venezuelan community living in Panama. “I am very happy to be here in Panama, where I know I will meet many Venezuelans,” she told reporters as she stepped off the plane. She was accompanied by a delegation from the Unitary Democratic Platform (PUD). [Translated from Spanish] Her visit carries deep symbolic weight. Machado specifically referenced the Venezuelan electoral records…

Panama’s Caja de Seguro Social will activate its first high-end robotic surgery unit this Thursday. The launch takes place at the Ciudad de la Salud medical complex in Panama City. Two radical prostatectomies are scheduled for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. [Translated from Spanish] General Director Dino Mon Vásquez confirmed the milestone. He stated the technology expands access to complex procedures for the Panamanian population. The system represents a major step forward for public healthcare in the country. High-Tech Surgery Begins Thursday Morning The first operation starts at 8:00 a.m. Surgeons will perform a radical prostatectomy with robotic urethrovesical anastomosis.…

Panama’s National Assembly took a major step forward on tax reform this week. The Finance Commission approved Bill 641 in its first debate on Tuesday, March 11. The legislation modifies the Fiscal Code regarding income tax and economic substance requirements for certain passive income from foreign sources. Finance Minister Felipe Chapman attended the session alongside Isabel Vecchio, the director of International Fiscal Financial Strategy. The commission voted unanimously, with eight members supporting the measure. The bill is part of the extraordinary sessions called by the Executive branch. The proposal directly targets companies that generate passive income abroad. These firms would…

Panama City, Panama – President José Raúl Mulino defended his government’s trade restrictions against Costa Rica during his weekly press conference on Thursday. He stated the measures are necessary to protect Panama’s domestic agricultural sector. The response came after Costa Rican President Laura Fernández accused Panama of maintaining a long-term commercial blockade against certain Costa Rican products. Mulino expressed surprise at the tone Fernández used in her recent statements. He reminded reporters that Panamanian companies faced similar limitations when trying to export to Costa Rica for over a decade. The president emphasized that trade disputes should be handled through proper…