Author: spieper

A Panamanian court has closed the evidentiary phase of the massive Odebrecht corruption trial. Judge Baloisa Marquinez of the First Liquidator of Criminal Cases Court announced the move on Friday, February 27, starting the clock on a final verdict for 21 defendants, including former President Ricardo Martinelli.The judge stated she will use the full period allowed by law, slightly more than 30 days, to issue a ruling due to the case’s immense volume. Her decision will conclude one of the most significant judicial proceedings in Panama’s recent history, stemming from a regional bribery scandal.”The tribunal is taking the term provided…

Colon’s iconic Christ Church by the Sea (Iglesia Episcopal de Cristo a Orillas del Mar), known locally as the Stone Church, approaches its 161st anniversary as a catalyst for urban heritage restoration. The historic Episcopal church, the city’s oldest building, stands as a physical anchor for broader efforts to reclaim the architectural legacy of this pivotal Panamanian port city. Officials from the Panama Ministry of Culture confirm the structure is central to a coordinated strategy for cultural revitalization. Constructed less than a decade after Colon’s founding, the church is a rare example of stone construction in the city. Its distinctive…

Panama Ports Company (PPC) has accused Panamanian authorities of conducting a surprise raid on its private storage facilities in Albrook. The company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings, claims the February 26 operation targeted legally privileged documents related to ongoing court cases. This escalation follows the government’s takeover of the key Balboa and Cristobal ports just days earlier. In a strongly worded statement released Friday, PPC labeled the state’s actions a breach of legal protocol. The company insists authorities entered a private storage center without prior notification. This facility, according to PPC, held proprietary information and material protected…

The historic city of Colón, Panama welcomed a powerful economic boost this weekend. More than 3,125 cruise ship tourists arrived Friday morning to join the festivities marking the province’s 174th founding anniversary. This influx signals a strong start to a commemorative weekend expected to draw over 10,000 visitors.Tourists from various nations began exploring the province immediately after disembarking at the Colón 2000 cruise port. Local officials and business owners anticipate significant spending as visitors fan out to beaches, historical sites, and commercial areas. The weekend’s cultural epicenter is the Colón Arts and Culture Center, where a full schedule of performances…

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino confirmed his administration expects to receive crucial economic feasibility reports for the proposed “Panama–David–Border” railway within months. The announcement came during his weekly press conference on Thursday, February 26, where he outlined development priorities for Chiriquí Province. These reports will determine whether the government proceeds with the large-scale infrastructure initiative connecting the capital to the western border.Mulino emphasized that no decision will be made without proper technical substantiation. The awaited analysis will provide the data needed to evaluate the project’s financial viability and engineering challenges. This cautious approach marks a shift toward evidence-based planning for…

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino announced he will host a high-level summit with Costa Rican leadership next month to address chronic congestion and inefficiency at the primary land border crossing between the two nations. Mulino made the declaration during his weekly press conference, setting a meeting for April 24 at the Paso Canoas Border Crossing with outgoing Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves and President-elect Laura Fernández, who takes office May 8. The president described the current situation at the border as unacceptable, framing the upcoming trilateral meeting as a decisive move to unlock bilateral trade and travel. He expressed a…

Panamanian officials are developing a new multipurpose logistics port in Puerto Armuelles to revitalize the economy of western Chiriquí Province. The project, announced this week, aims to generate jobs and attract significant foreign investment by creating a strategic commercial hub. Initial construction is already underway with a $21 million investment. The initiative directly targets a region historically impacted by declining productive activities. Government strategy links the port’s development with specialized workforce training to ensure local residents can fill new positions. Officials confirmed that international companies, including delegations from Japan and Costa Rica, are actively exploring investment opportunities tied to the…

The large-scale reactivation of banana operations in Panama’s Bocas del Toro Province is moving forward steadily. Representatives from Chiquita Panamá confirmed the company has already hired 1,800 workers as part of its return to the region. Ongoing maintenance work at farms and packing plants continues alongside harvests currently serving the domestic Panamanian market. This hiring surge forms the initial phase of a plan officials say will eventually support 5,000 jobs. The broader goal is to fully restore the area’s international export capacity, a critical economic engine for the province that had been idled. Field labor, maintenance crews, and harvest teams…

A legislative effort to compel the head of Panama’s maritime regulator to testify before lawmakers failed this week. The proposal to subpoena Luis Roquebert, administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), did not secure the required votes during a session of the National Assembly of Panama.The initiative specifically sought Roquebert’s testimony regarding the temporary concession terms for the strategic ports of Balboa and Cristobal. This follows a Supreme Court ruling that declared the contract with the Panama Ports Company unconstitutional. The vote took place in a chamber with numerous empty seats, reflecting the contentious nature of the issue.Official records show…

APM Terminals Panama confirmed its operations at the Pacific coast’s Balboa Port are stabilizing positively following a significant operational transition. The company executed parallel tasks this week focused on reception, loading, and technical tests to ensure service continuity with minimal impact on users and the national logistics chain. This effort aims to consolidate the operational handover and strengthen efficiency at the critical terminal. Key advancements were reported across several operational areas, including full staff training and a major completion milestone in the labor substitution process. The company detailed these steps in a public update, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining the…