Author: spieper

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi announced plans this week to significantly expand the capital’s annual Carnival. The goal is to transform the local festival into a premier international tourist destination. This strategic push follows what city officials called a record-breaking and secure event this year.Municipal data shows the five-day celebration along the Cinta Costera attracted over 330,000 attendees. That figure surpasses previous years and solidifies the Carnival as one of the nation’s largest mass gatherings. Mayor Mizrachi credited the success to tight security coordination and growing public enthusiasm.”The influx was historic and we reported zero major security incidents,” Mayor Mayer…

The Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings has formally requested negotiations with the Panamanian government. The company aims to continue operating two critical ports at the Panama Canal following a Supreme Court ruling that annulled its long-term concession. A company spokesperson warned of potential operational “chaos” if a resolution is not found.This request comes after Panama’s Supreme Court of Justice declared the concession contract for the Balboa and Cristóbal ports unconstitutional in January. The ports, operated by Hutchison subsidiary Panama Ports Company (PPC) since 1997, are located at the Pacific and Atlantic entrances to the canal, respectively. President José Raúl…

Veterinary clinics across Panama are reporting a concerning spike in cases of canine distemper, a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease. The outbreak has prompted urgent warnings from animal health specialists who note a severe drop in survival rates for infected dogs this year. The situation is most dangerous for unvaccinated pets and those with compromised immune systems.Officials say the virus spreads easily through airborne secretions from coughing or sneezing, as well as through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated surfaces. Unlike some other illnesses, this particular viral disease does not pose a risk to humans or other…

The Panamanian government and the public transit company MiBus will host a specialized job fair next month aimed at recruiting and training women as professional bus drivers. The “Yo conduzco mi vida” (I Drive My Life) fair is scheduled for February 23, 2026, at the 5 de Mayo paid zone platform in Panama City. This initiative seeks to increase female participation in the nation’s public transportation sector, a field historically dominated by male workers. Officials from the Ministry of Women (Panama) and MiBus are organizing the event to provide formal training and employment opportunities for qualified candidates. “This is about…

The Panamanian government has set new retail fuel prices for a two-week period starting Friday, February 20. The National Energy Secretariat confirmed increases for both grades of gasoline while holding the price of diesel steady.This regular price adjustment reflects the country’s policy of bi-weekly fuel price revisions, which are tied to international market fluctuations. The new rates will remain in effect until 5:59 a.m. on Friday, March 6. Officials stated the changes aim to balance domestic costs with global crude oil trends.In a public statement, the Energy Secretariat detailed the specific adjustments for consumers across Panama. The price for a…

Copa Airlines has announced a record-breaking year for its Panama Stopover tourism initiative. The program, a joint effort with Panama’s tourism authority, transported over 200,000 passengers in 2025, exceeding its annual goal by eight percent.This figure represents a significant 25 percent increase compared to the program’s performance in 2024. Developed in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) and PROMTUR Panama, the initiative is designed to transform a simple flight connection into a multi-day tourist visit.Copa Airlines Executive President Pedro Heilbron directly linked the program’s success to Panama’s strategic aviation hub. He emphasized its role in driving national economic…

Hundreds of Panamanian families converged on the town of Atalaya this week for its annual religious pilgrimage honoring Jesus of Nazareth. The event, a cornerstone of local tradition in the Veraguas Province, sees devotees travel on foot to fulfill promises and express gratitude. For many, the journey represents a profound spiritual commitment renewed each year during the lead-up to Holy Week. Personal stories of faith and devotion define the gathering more than its sheer scale. Each pilgrim carries a unique narrative, often centered on requests for healing or thanks for blessings received. Town officials note the event transforms the community…

Powerful waves and severe weather are eroding the coastline of Panama’s Province of Colón, threatening to wash graves out to sea. Residents of the coastal community of Gobea have been forced to exhume more than 25 caskets to prevent them from being lost to the Caribbean. The crisis is centered in Gobea, part of the Donoso District along Panama’s Caribbean coast. Persistent storm conditions have driven unusually strong surf directly into the community’s cemetery and residential areas. Local reports confirm at least 20 homes have also sustained structural damage from the relentless waves. Community Organizes Emergency Response Faced with the…

The Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (Panama) processed nearly 500 formal complaints last year. These cases involved businesses failing to provide legally mandated discounts to senior citizens, retirees, and pensioners. The agency, known as ACODECO, is enforcing a decades-old statute designed to protect this vulnerable demographic.Official data from the agency’s Investigation Department breaks down the 498 irregularities. The most common violation, with 138 instances, involved lenders not applying a special reduced interest rate. Restaurants accounted for 118 complaints for refusing to grant the required 25 percent discount on meals. Another 93 establishments were cited for not posting…

Panama’s Ministry of Health has approved the commercial sale of 22 specific medical cannabis products containing cannabidiol (CBD). The National Directorate of Pharmacy and Drugs authorized the items through a series of official resolutions issued in late 2025, marking the country’s first concrete step in establishing its regulated medical cannabis market. These products, which include capsules, gummies, oral solutions, and topical ointments, are now available by prescription at specialized pharmacies.The approved resolutions, numbered 192 through 230, permit the sale of a range of CBD-based items. Authorized formats include hard and soft gelatin capsules, chewable tablets, oral solutions, roll-on muscle gels,…