Author: spieper

Residents of Taboga Island blocked tourist disembarkation at their port on Saturday, November 1, 2025. The demonstration protested a new ferry fare increase that islanders say cripples their finances. Protesters gathered at the main dock to prevent tourists from landing, demanding the Taboga Express Fast Ferry company reverse price hikes that took effect that same day.Local community members argued the increased ticket prices disproportionately affect them. They rely on the ferry service for all travel to and from the mainland for work, school, and supplies. With limited job opportunities on the island itself, residents frequently use the ferry, making any…

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino led the nation’s official Día de los Difuntos (Day of the Dead) ceremonies at the Amador Cemetery on Sunday, November 2. The president was joined by his cabinet ministers, municipal authorities, and provincial leaders for the solemn event honoring the country’s founding figures.Mulino placed floral wreaths at two key memorial sites within the historic cemetery. He paid tribute at the mausoleum of Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, the nation’s first president, and at the open-air mausoleum dedicated to the Fallen Soldiers of Independence. The ceremony represents an annual tradition for Panama’s sitting president, connecting current leadership…

Panama’s National Migration Service deported 34 Colombian citizens on October 30 in an operation conducted under a migration agreement with the United States. The charter flight to Medellín represents the latest enforcement action targeting foreign nationals lacking legal status and those involved in criminal activities.Coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security, the operation resulted from ongoing collaboration between the two nations. Officials identified drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and environmental crimes as primary reasons for the expulsions.The director of the Servicio Nacional de Migración confirmed the operation aligns with Panama’s commitment to regional security.”This deportation flight demonstrates our firm commitment to…

Construction on Panama’s monumental Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal has achieved a significant milestone, reaching 27.13 percent completion. The country’s Ministerio de Obras Públicas (MOP) announced the progress this week as crews began pouring concrete for a main tower foundation. This critical phase marks a major step forward for the infrastructure project designed to alleviate severe traffic congestion in the capital region.Workers started the continuous concrete pour for the eastern main tower base this past Saturday. Project engineers confirmed this single phase will consume 1,600 cubic meters of concrete. Officials compared that volume to the amount required for building…

PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Panama Canal Railway, a 76-kilometer transcontinental line operated by the Panama Canal Railway Company, remains a critical artery for global trade, moving containers between oceans in just ninety minutes. This historic railway, operating for over 150 years, connects the Pacific port of Balboa with the Atlantic ports of Colón Container Terminal and Manzanillo International Terminal, ensuring the seamless flow of international cargo with precision and reliability. The railway functions as a continuous conveyor belt for containerized goods, performing a vital role in Panama’s intermodal logistics network. The system currently operates six daily departures using its…

Colón, Panama – Panamanian law enforcement has apprehended a 22-year-old man wanted in connection with a 2022 homicide case following an extensive search operation. José Vidal Gil was captured in the mountainous region of the Donoso district, Costa Abajo de Colón, on October 27, after remaining a fugitive for nearly three years. Authorities confirmed that Gil was listed among the most wanted individuals by the Panamanian justice system. His arrest stems from the alleged killing of Alcibiades Figueroa, which occurred on the night of October 23, 2022, in the rural community of Villa del Carmen. According to the Ministerio Público,…

PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Directorate General of Revenue (DGI) of Panama has officially launched its Digital Transformation Support Program for the Tax Administration (PATDAT), initiating comprehensive training for officials in a move to modernize national tax collection systems. The program, backed by a $40 million investment managed through the Inter-American Development Bank, aims to optimize processes and deliver more efficient technological services to taxpayers while strengthening national treasury revenues.The inaugural workshop, held on October 31, 2025, marks the operational beginning of PATDAT, which involves coordination across multiple government entities. These include various directorates within the Ministry of Economy and…

PANAMA CITY, Panama – The United States government has bolstered Panama’s border security and migrant repatriation efforts with a significant donation of six specialized vehicles valued at nearly $600,000. U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera formally handed over the keys to Panama’s Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, during a ceremony at the Presidential Hangar of Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport on October 30, 2025.The donation, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, marks the first delivery under an extended bilateral agreement aimed at combating illegal immigration. The new fleet is intended to enhance the operational capacity of Panama’s National…

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Caja de Ahorros, Panama’s national savings bank, is marking World Savings Day by reporting significant growth in total deposits and new account openings, underscoring a strengthened public trust in the institution. The financial entity announced that as of September 2025, its total deposits reached B/.5,588 million, representing a 2.5% increase compared to 2024 figures, alongside the opening of more than 40,000 new savings accounts this year.The bank released these figures on October 31st, a date recognized globally as World Savings Day. This day was established nearly a century ago in Milan following the Great Depression to…

PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Republic of Panama has secured a decisive victory in a high-stakes international investment arbitration case filed by the Spanish construction company Sacyr, S.A. The ruling, issued on October 31, 2025, by a tribunal operating under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) rules, rejected all of Sacyr’s multi-billion-dollar claims concerning the Panama Canal expansion project.The dispute originated from Sacyr’s involvement in the design and construction of the Third Set of Locks project, a cornerstone of the canal’s expansion. Sacyr was a key member of the consortium Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), which…