Author: Editorial Team
Security forces in Panama’s Coclé province and other beaches, have intensified beach patrols ahead of the busy Holy Week holiday period. Officials from the Servicio Nacional Aeronaval are focusing operations on popular coastal areas like Juan Hombrón and Santa Clara beaches, expecting a major influx of visitors. The annual semana santa exodus to Panama’s coasts prompts these annual safety reinforcements. Specific measures vary by location based on available resources and local risk assessments. Authorities aim to prevent drownings and other incidents during one of the country’s peak travel seasons. Juan Hombrón Beach Operates Without Civil Protection Coverage At playa juan…
A foreign tourist guide died this week following a drowning incident at Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site off Panama’s Pacific coast. The Ministry of Environment (Panama) confirmed the death occurred near Ranchería Beach on the island of Coiba. Authorities received an emergency radio communication in the afternoon reporting that a person was receiving resuscitation efforts. Park rangers and Environmental Police officers immediately mobilized aboard the vessel Coral XII to the remote location. They arrived to find a foreign citizen performing Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the victim. Rescue Efforts Prove Unsuccessful The teams observed the ongoing rescue attempt…
A Panamanian court has sentenced two women to 19 years and three months in prison for smuggling narcotics and firearms into a major correctional facility. The convictions resulted from an operation on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the La Joya Penitentiary Complex. Prosecutors successfully proved the defendants’ criminal responsibility for introducing the illicit items.Each defendant received a principal sentence totaling 232 months behind bars. Judges imposed 160 months for the aggravated drug transfer offense. They added another 72 months for the illegal possession of firearms. The court also issued an accessory sanction prohibiting both women from carrying guns after their…
Panama’s National Customs Authority will require mandatory export declarations for all goods leaving the Colon Free Trade Zone starting April 1, 2026. The new rule represents a significant shift in oversight for one of the world’s largest free trade zones, aiming to enhance cargo traceability and formalize exit records. This mandate is part of a broader first-phase review of customs regimes and procedures for export and re-export operations. Officials designed the policy to ensure all shipments departing Panamanian territory are properly registered within the national customs system, regardless of their final destination. New Declarations Target Re-Exported Goods A key component…
Rice producers in Panama warn that rising international costs will inevitably lead to higher prices for consumers. The warning comes after a meeting between farmers and the country’s agricultural minister to discuss the economic strain from global conflicts and supply chain disruptions.Omar Spiegel, a national rice producer, stated that increased expenses for fuel and agricultural inputs cannot be absorbed by farmers alone. These costs, he explained, will be passed through each stage of the agricultural supply chain.Spiegel participated in recent talks with Minister of Agricultural Development Roberto Linares. He described the meeting as a preliminary assessment of how international instability…
Panama’s National Highways Authority (Empresa Nacional de Autopistas, or ENA) has formally initiated a major expansion project for the congested Corredor Sur toll road. The $300 million initiative aims to double the highway’s capacity to address severe daily traffic congestion driven by explosive eastern urban growth. Officials confirmed the pre-qualification phase for contractors is now underway, with construction expected to begin later this year. The project will add two new lanes in each direction along the entire 21-kilometer route, transforming it from a four-lane to an eight-lane highway. Work will stretch from Punta Pacifica near downtown Panama City all the…
Panamanian lawmakers and the mayor of Panama City toured the USS Nimitz this weekend. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is operating in Panamanian waters as part of a major multinational military exercise. The visit, organized by the U.S. Embassy, aimed to strengthen bilateral security cooperation between the two nations. The delegation included National Assembly members José Pérez Barboni and Roberto Zúñiga, alongside Panama City Mayor mayer mizrachi. They landed directly on the carrier’s flight deck via military aircraft on Saturday, March 28. The group observed flight operations and received briefings on the ship’s capabilities from crew members. The USS Nimitz and…
The Colon Free Trade Zone, the world’s second largest free trade area, is undergoing a significant realignment of its trade partners and product flows. New data for the first two months of 2026 shows a 9.6 percent increase in cargo volume contrasted with a slight 0.3 percent dip in total trade value, signaling a complex transformation in global supply patterns. Belgium and Japan have dramatically increased exports to the zone while China and the United States have seen their shares decline.Total commercial exchange for January and February reached $3.696 billion. Within that figure, imports contracted by 2.3 percent to $1.873…
Panama President Jose Raul Mulino officially ignited the torch for the 2026 South American Youth Games in a ceremony on Friday, March 27. The event marks the final countdown for Panama as it prepares to host the major regional sporting competition for the first time in history. The flame will now travel across all ten provinces and two indigenous regions of the country. Its journey culminates at the opening ceremony on April 12, 2026, at the Rommel Fernández Stadium in Panama City. Organizers expect over two thousand young athletes from fifteen nations to compete. A Historic Moment for National Sports…
Panama’s Chinese community leaders gathered in Panama City this Saturday to highlight their group’s profound historical and economic contributions. The conversation served as a prelude to the official Day of the Chinese Ethnicity celebration scheduled for Monday, March 30. Representatives detailed a legacy woven into the national fabric since the 19th century. The event, organized by the Council of the Chinese Ethnicity, focused on tracing the community’s journey from its earliest arrivals to its current role as a pillar of Panamanian society. Discussions covered commercial, medical, and educational achievements spanning generations. Officials emphasized that this history is not a separate…