Author: Sebastian Pieper

The Ministry of Environment trained educators from four schools in Panama East this week. This second workshop for the Ecological Flag Program aims to embed sustainable practices directly into school communities. The initiative is a collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Held on April 20, 2026, the session involved representatives from the Superación Campesina, Platanares, Río Piedra, and Santa Isabel schools. Officials stated the goal is to certify schools that demonstrate a concrete commitment to environmental stewardship. The program provides a structured framework for schools to improve their resource management and ecological education. University students also joined the training, adding…

Work crews in Panama City began demolishing a security structure on Monday that had blocked public access to a coastal park for over two decades. The action, taken in the Coco del Mar sector of San Francisco, follows a formal resolution by Mayor Mayer Mizrachi and aims to reclaim a community green space. Local officials described the demolition as a critical step in resolving a protracted urban dispute. The structure, a guardhouse for the Belvedere Park residential building, was built directly on a public easement (servidumbre) leading to the 1.3-hectare Coco Parque. The building’s concession for that portion of public…

The Panama Canal Authority has awarded a major construction contract for new roads in the Rio Indio river basin. This $17.5 million project is a foundational step in creating a new reservoir to secure water for the Panama Canal and millions of Panamanians. Officials confirmed the contract this week. The work involves designing and building two key road segments near the future reservoir site in central Panama. This infrastructure is essential for later construction phases and community access. Contract Details and Road Construction Scope Consorcio Rutas Rio Indio, a consortium formed by companies MACASA and RETRANEQ, won the contract. Their…

Panama’s Attorney General’s Office has recovered $2.4 million for the nation’s Social Security Fund following a criminal investigation into institutional data manipulation. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office secured the restitution this week, funds linked to the improper withholding of employer-worker quotas after tampering with the agency’s database. This marks a significant financial recovery in one of the country’s ongoing high-profile corruption cases. The recovered sum, precisely $2,424,192.52, represents money wrongfully withheld to the detriment of the Social Security Fund’s insured members. Authorities stated the investigation centers on the deliberate data alteration within the agency’s systems, a scheme that allowed for the…

United States Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera announced the extradition of a key suspect in a deadly 1994 aviation bombing. Ali Jalil arrived at Tocumen International Airport from Caracas on a flight that landed at 2:45 p.m. local time, escorted by a heavy security detail. The suspect’s transfer marks a pivotal moment in the long-dormant investigation into the Alas Chiricanas case. Authorities accuse Jalil of involvement in the bombing of Alas Chiricanas Flight 901, which killed 21 people. His extradition resulted from extensive cooperation between Panamanian, U.S., and Venezuelan officials. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera made the announcement at a…

Artisans in the rural community of La Mina de Mebrillo are celebrating their unique cultural legacy this week. The annual Soapstone Festival is transforming raw stone into intricate sculptures, drawing visitors and boosting the local economy in Panama’s Coclé Province. This event, which concludes Sunday, highlights a generations-old craft centered on a specific natural resource. The soapstone used by the artisans comes from a single cave deposit discovered decades ago. Organizers say the festival underscores the sustainable use of local materials. From Cave to Craftsmanship The entire artistic process begins at a cave formation where the raw stone is extracted.…

Artisanal producers of raspadura, Panama’s traditional cane sugar block, are struggling to compete with cheaper, mass-produced panela imported from neighboring countries. The centuries-old craft, deeply rooted in rural culture, faces an uncertain future as economic pressures mount. This conflict between heritage and globalization is now sparking legislative action in the National Assembly. Rafael Fernández, a raspadura and cane honey producer, explained the growing difficulty of this competition in a conversation with La Prensa. He stated that the most costly aspect is producing the raw material, the sugarcane itself, which requires extensive care, time, and fertilizer. The price for these inputs…

The president of Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (CCIAP) has issued a stark warning about the nation’s labor market. Aurelio Barría Pino stated that job creation remains one of the country’s most urgent challenges, requiring immediate action to stimulate investment and economic growth. His comments come as official data shows a national unemployment rate of 10.4 percent alongside widespread informal work. Recent statistics reveal nearly 785,000 people are working in the informal economy. This figure represents almost one out of every two workers in Panama. The numbers define the scale of a problem impacting both economic stability and…

Panama’s Ministry of Health has issued a definitive nationwide ban on requiring mental health certificates for employment, education, and administrative procedures. The mandatory directive, announced this week, aims to eliminate a longstanding practice deemed discriminatory and a violation of fundamental human rights. The order from the General Directorate of Public Health and the National Mental Health Section applies to all public and private institutions. It prohibits them from demanding the documents as part of hiring, academic admission, or any other process. Officials stated the ban is effective immediately and carries legal weight. The policy is grounded in Law No. 364…

Panama City residents continue to ask when they can safely swim in the waters of the Panama Bay. The ambitious Sanitation Program of Panama, launched in 2001, has now spanned a quarter-century. Officials state that achieving a swimmable bay hinges on completing critical infrastructure and changing public behavior. Major global cities like Sydney and Paris required at least thirty years to clean their iconic waterways. Panama’s own project, aimed at reversing decades of pollution, has reached its 25-year mark. The goal of safe recreational use remains on the horizon, dependent on a complex interplay of engineering and civic responsibility. “I…