Author: Sebastian Pieper

The Panama Ministry of Public Works will relaunch bidding for the coastal ring road in Bocas del Toro. This decision comes after the government terminated a 55.9 million dollar contract. The legal process later nullified sanctions against the contractor. The failed project has been plagued with problems from the start. The Panama Ministry of Public Works confirmed it will re-tender the Playa Paunch to Playa Bluff to Boca del Drago coastal bypass project on Colon Island. The contract with Constructora Santa Fe Limitada was rescinded amid a legal dispute. The dispute ended with a partial victory for the contractor. The…

Panamanian-born Miranda is eight years old. She sat on her father’s shoulders waving a Venezuelan flag she has never seen flown in her homeland. The crowd on Panama City’s Avenida Cuba erupted as Guaco’s music played through loudspeakers. They were all waiting for María Corina Machado. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mundo ConVzla (@mundoconvzla) The Venezuelan opposition leader arrived in Panama on Thursday as part of a regional tour. She called this stop “the scale of the return to build the country we love” [Translated from Spanish]. Machado spoke directly to the Venezuelan diaspora in Panama,…

Panama’s Ministry of Environment has joined forces with the fishing industry and private companies to launch a new marine cleanup program. The initiative, called “Fish Your Trash,” launched on May 23, 2026, at Vacamonte Port in Panama Oeste. Its goal is simple. Recover plastic waste from the ocean before it destroys critical ecosystems. The program targets the growing problem of marine pollution along Panama’s coastlines. Fishing vessels will now collect plastic debris during their regular operations. They will bring this waste back to Vacamonte Port for proper disposal. This prevents plastics from damaging mangroves, coastal areas, and fishing zones. How…

US Embassy’s worldwide notify: The United States government has activated strict public health arrival restrictions for all travelers coming from three East African nations. Anyone heading to America who has been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days must now enter exclusively through Washington Dulles International Airport. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this measure on May 21, 2026. This directive applies to all passengers without exception. Even American citizens and lawful permanent residents face the mandatory rerouting. Officials from the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security’s…

Panama’s Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, has received the Medal from the U.S. Special Operations Command. The decoration recognizes his leadership in joint security efforts. U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera confirmed the award on Saturday, May 23. The medal honors Ábrego’s commitment to bilateral security cooperation between Panama and the United States. Ambassador Cabrera attended the ceremony personally. He shared the news through his official social media channels that morning. “I congratulate the Minister of Public Security of Panama, Frank Ábrego, for receiving the Medal from the U.S. Special Operations Command,” Cabrera wrote. [Translated from Spanish] This…

Panama has signed a new agreement to strengthen protections for hammerhead sharks. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Ministry of Environment targets the vulnerable species. Officials announced the pact on May 20, 2026. The hammerhead shark is central to the balance of Panama’s marine ecosystem. The collaboration focuses on four key areas of work. These include scientific research, regulatory frameworks, community engagement, and financial sustainability. The foundation brings applied research and technical assistance to the partnership. Panama will gain direct access to a regional network of experts and data. The country sits within the Eastern…

Panama City, Panama – Environmental inspectors have discovered a potential paint waste discharge flowing directly into the ocean. The Ministry of Environment Panama conducted the inspection at a residential building in the Punta Paitilla sector of San Francisco district. Officials responded to reports of environmental irregularities involving liquid waste and painting materials. The Ministry’s SWAT Environmental Verification Team carried out the operation. Technicians identified improper practices by workers during the site visit. Employees were painting and washing tools in a basin, generating waste with contaminating potential. The inspection also confirmed that the building’s social area sink maintained a connection to…

Panama’s criminal underworld is now controlled by eight major criminal structures. The Panama National Police confirmed this week that 121 gang groups currently operate across the country. That number marks a decrease from 180 groups identified in 2024. But officials warn the drop doesn’t signal victory. The gangs have evolved into more fragmented and specialized networks. Many now connect directly with international drug trafficking organizations. Panama National Police Director Jaime Fernández explained the shift during an exclusive interview. “We no longer speak only of gangs but of gang groups that work for larger operators,” Fernández said. [Translated from Spanish] The…

The Ministry of Environment has fully rehabilitated the Pipeline Road trail in Soberania National Park. This trail is one of the most important birdwatching destinations in Latin America. Heavy rains last year caused severe damage that forced its closure. Officials announced the completion of restoration work this week in Panama City. The project focused on rebuilding critical infrastructure along the popular nature trail. Workers reconstructed the first access bridge over the Juan Grande River, which had completely collapsed. The repairs covered approximately two kilometers of the main access road leading to the park entrance. An additional 1.7 kilometers of the…

Bella Vista representative César Kiamco has formally requested a national debate in the Panama National Assembly to address the growing crisis of homelessness. The request, submitted this week, argues that local governments cannot handle this complex problem alone. Kiamco sent a formal letter to the president of the National Assembly. He wants a technical, inter-institutional discussion about the state’s current capacity to serve this vulnerable population. The issue touches public health, security, social services and human rights. The situation has escalated across Panama City neighborhoods. Residents in areas like Bella Vista and Marbella report increasing encounters with people living on…