Author: Sebastian Pieper

Panama City, Panama – The recent transfer of detainees to Coiba Island has not damaged tourism, fishing or scientific research in Coiba National Park. Deputy Environment Minister Óscar Ballarino made this statement on Friday. The Ministry of Environment leads the park’s governing council. Ballarino said the ministry maintains constant communication with all sectors represented on that council. These include mayors from five districts in Veraguas province, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and security forces. Ballarino addressed concerns during a recent council meeting. The worries followed the transfer of inmates to an area used by the National Aeronaval Service (Senan). That zone…

Panama’s government sent an official message of support to Costa Rica on Friday. The gesture came after a security scare during a presidential visit to the Las Crucitas region. A loud noise forced officials to activate emergency protocols while President Laura Fernández was touring the area. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Panama issued a formal statement expressing relief. Officials confirmed that President Fernández, her delegation, and all citizens present are safe and unharmed. The statement praised Costa Rican security and emergency teams for their quick response to the Las Crucitas incident. Panama’s government expressed full confidence in the ongoing…

Panama’s National Commission for the Protection of Refugees (CONARE) held its third monitoring session this Wednesday. The meeting focused on evaluating asylum requests and strengthening protection mechanisms across the country. Vice Minister of Government Juan Francisco Borrell presided over the session. Seven commissioners attended the gathering in Panama City. The team addressed two family reunification cases during the meeting. Officials also approved three new refugee status recognitions. The National Commission for the Protection of Refugees (CONARE) continues to process a growing backlog of applications from displaced individuals seeking safety in Panama. Tania Lam, director of the National Office for Refugee…

Panama’s consumer protection agency has released specific guidelines for shoppers ahead of Father’s Day celebrations on June 21. The Consumer Protection Authority (Acodeco) urged buyers to verify all promotional conditions before making purchases. The agency issued the warning as commercial establishments ramp up special sales and discounts for the holiday. Stores must clearly state the start and end dates for any promotion. If no end date exists, retailers must disclose the minimum number of units available at the discounted price. The authority emphasized that businesses must specify whether the offer applies to all merchandise or only selected items. Regular prices…

Panama’s Executive Branch has extended a price control decree for bottled water in two provinces hit by severe drought. The measure will remain in effect for another six months. Officials signed Executive Decree No. 10 on June 12, 2026, to keep the maximum retail price on bottled water in Herrera and Los Santos. The new decree extends the previous regulation from June 2025. It takes effect on June 14, 2026. Government leaders acted because tap water remains unsafe to drink in several communities across the region. Emergency Response to Ongoing Drought The Herrera and Los Santos provinces water crisis has…

The head of Panama’s national water authority dropped a bombshell this week. Antonio Manuel Tercero González, director of the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewerage Systems (Idaan), confirmed the agency loses 50 percent of the water it produces in Panama City due to broken pipes. The staggering figure emerged during a press conference outlining the agency’s emergency rescue plan. The Chilibré water treatment plant produces 217 million gallons of water every day. Half of that volume never reaches paying customers. It simply leaks out of the aging distribution network before it can reach homes and businesses. The Chilibré Plant Is…

Panama’s procurement authority has halted a $967,626 contract for solid waste management at Tocumen International Airport. The General Directorate of Public Procurement Panama issued the suspension after finding ambiguous requirements in the bidding documents. [Translated from Spanish] The decision came less than a month after the same agency stopped another Tocumen procurement process. Both suspensions followed complaints from companies seeking to participate in the public tenders. Ambiguous Requirements Trigger Procurement Halt Director General Javier Marquínez signed the resolution suspending the tender. Panama Waste Management, S.A. filed a formal challenge against the bidding terms. The company was one of seven firms…

A driver is dead after his car crashed through a bridge railing in Chiriquí province. The accident happened on the bridge over the Cochea River in David. Authorities found the victim’s sedan below the structure on Friday morning. A person exercising spotted the wrecked vehicle under the bridge. That citizen immediately alerted emergency services. Units from the David Fire Department arrived at the scene. They located the driver’s body inside the car. The victim showed signs of rigor mortis. Officials believe the crash occurred between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. The driver lost control of the sedan. The vehicle then…

The Emberá Ella Puru community now participates in a major environmental initiative. Panama’s Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme launched the “Connecting Nature” project this week. The community lives at the mouth of the Chagres River in Colón province. Government officials presented the project details to local residents on Tuesday. The initiative spans six years and covers four provinces: Panama, Panama Oeste, Coclé and Colón. Its goal focuses on improving ecological connectivity between critical biomes across the country. Project planners aim to protect biodiversity while strengthening local communities. Community Leaders Share Their Vision The event started with…

A 33-year-old Venezuelan citizen faces provisional detention in Panama. Authorities accuse him of aggravated fraud and illegal practice of law. The Panama Public Ministry confirmed the charges Thursday. Police arrested the suspect on Tuesday. He now faces four separate cases for these crimes. Investigators say the financial damage exceeds $7,000. The man allegedly targeted Venezuelan migrants in Panama seeking legal status. How the Immigration Scam Worked The suspect presented himself as a licensed attorney. He offered immigration services to other foreigners. Victims paid him upfront for promised paperwork and legal procedures. Once the money changed hands, communication stopped completely. The…