Author: Sebastian Pieper
When Michel Despaigne heard the word “cancer” from her doctor, her world shifted. But what followed next at her workplace felt like a second blow. She is one of many Panamanian workers who have faced uncertainty about their jobs while battling serious illness. Now, lawmakers are listening to voices like hers. The National Assembly of Panama hosted a forum to discuss critical gaps in existing protections for employees with chronic diseases. The discussion, organized by the office of Deputy Paulette Thomas, focused on reforming Law 59 on labor protection for workers with chronic diseases. This law, passed in November 2025,…
When Maritza Castillo first floated the idea of a Panamanian folkloric parade in Texas, she expected maybe a few dozen interested families. Instead, her social media post exploded with thousands of responses from Panamanians across the United States. “I realized we had been waiting for something like this our whole lives,” Castillo said. ‘The response showed me that our community has been hungry to showcase our heritage in a visible, public way’ [Translated from Spanish] That dream is now becoming reality. For the first time in American history, Dallas Texas will host the Gran Desfile de las 100 Polleras &…
A high-level Panamanian delegation will travel to China in mid-July for urgent talks about ship detentions, a move that comes after an unprecedented spike in vessels flying the Panamanian flag being held in Chinese ports. The meeting, scheduled for July 16 to 18, marks a critical moment for bilateral maritime relations between the two nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama announced that China’s Directorate General of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Transport accepted Panama’s request for the official visit. The delegation will be led by Luis Roquebert, Director General of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), accompanied by…
When Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi took office two years ago, he inherited a municipal government that still ran on paper-heavy processes and fragmented systems. Residents often waited days for simple permits. City services felt distant, buried under layers of bureaucracy. The new administration bet big on one idea: that technology could bridge the gap between government and citizens faster than any road project or park renovation. That gamble appears to be paying off. The mayor’s office reports that digital transformation now sits at the heart of nearly every municipal initiative. Tools like the App Parquea for parking management, the…
The journey ended earlier than hoped, but the pride remains intact. Members of the Panama national football team 2026 World Cup squad touched down at Tocumen International Airport on Monday, returning home after their elimination from the tournament’s group stage. The team’s arrival marked the close of a historic campaign that saw Panama compete on football’s biggest stage for the second time. A Time for Family and Reflection Andrés Andrade, one of the first players to speak with reporters upon landing, made it clear that rest and family time come first. The midfielder, who will soon rejoin his club in…
The days of paper-based environmental reviews in Panama are coming to a close. A new regulatory framework, signed in late May 2026, pushes the entire process into the digital realm. The goal is simple. Make project approvals faster, more transparent, and legally sound. But the changes go far beyond just scanning documents and uploading them. The New Executive Decree updates Chapter III of Title II of the Unified Text of Law 41 from 1998. That law governs how the country evaluates environmental impact. The update brings everything up to modern standards. It adds digital tools, strengthens public participation, and clarifies…
The lingering smell of smoke still hangs in the air around San Felipe. Residents of nearby buildings say they struggle to stay inside their apartments for long periods. The air quality remains poor. This is the reality for dozens of families who lost everything in two separate fires that swept through Panama’s historic districts late last month. On June 28, flames tore through a building in San Felipe. Just days later, on July 1, another fire broke out in Santa Ana. Together, these incidents have displaced more than 100 people. The Ministry of Housing and Land Management Panama, known locally…
President José Raúl Mulino stood before a crowd of diplomats and cabinet members at the Biomuseo in Amador on Thursday evening. The occasion was a reception hosted by the US Embassy Panama celebrating 250 years of American independence. But Mulino used the platform to deliver a pointed message about Panama’s place in the world. The president stressed that cooperation between the two nations must rest on mutual respect. He referenced the Neutrality Treaty as the foundation of modern bilateral relations. That treaty, signed alongside the Panama Canal transfer, guarantees the waterway remains open and neutral during times of peace or…
The newly elected leader of Panama’s legislative body wants citizens to watch their representatives vote in real time. Shirley Castañedas, who secured 42 votes to become president of the National Assembly for the 2026-2027 term, promised a new era of transparency during her inauguration speech. She called on lawmakers to set aside partisan interests and focus on national priorities. Alongside Castañedas, lawmakers Manuel Cohen Salerno and Manuel Chen Peñalba were elected as first and second vice presidents respectively. The new leadership team takes over at a moment when Panama faces pressing questions about economic recovery, mining policy, and public trust…
Nearly 2,000 children and teenagers across Panama remain trapped in labor situations, a reality that government officials are now tackling with a revamped educational strategy. Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz recently revealed that her office is partnering with the Institute for Training and Utilization of Human Resources (Ifarhu) to dramatically expand a program called ‘Abrazos del Futuro’ (Hugs of the Future). The goal is simple: pull minors out of work and put them back into classrooms. The initiative specifically targets children under 15 who have been rescued from Child labor in Panama. Instead of focusing solely on penalties or inspections, the…