Author: spieper
The National Assembly of Panama has formally initiated a structured process to develop a comprehensive education reform bill. Commission President Deputy Jorge Bloise announced the plan on Monday, January 19, outlining a series of thematic working tables designed to gather consensus from key national sectors.This legislative effort will run parallel to any separate proposals from the Executive Branch. The goal is to draft a modernized education law for debate later this year, addressing systemic issues from teacher training to funding models.Six distinct working groups will convene at the Assembly, each focused on a critical axis of reform. These themes include…
Panama’s Ministry of the Environment has ordered an immediate halt to sand extraction operations in the Punta Chame coastal area. The emergency suspension follows citizen complaints and a field inspection that uncovered unauthorized activity along a 2.5-kilometer stretch of shoreline. Officials from the ministry, known locally as MiAmbiente, activated verification protocols after reports surfaced on social media. Technical inspections confirmed illegal sand removal, with the material allegedly being used for beach fill work at a nearby tourism development project. The scale of the operation has raised significant concerns about damage to the sensitive coastal ecosystem. View this post on Instagram…
The municipality of San Miguelito in Panama is now using its existing traffic and security camera network to identify and fine people who illegally dump garbage on public streets. Yousee Herrera, the Secretary General of the San Miguelito Mayor’s Office, confirmed the new enforcement strategy this week, aiming to tackle a persistent public cleanliness issue. Officials are directing cameras from the district’s Municipal Operations Center specifically toward areas known for improper waste disposal. The system captures license plate numbers and follows vehicles, with that evidence then coordinated with the National Police for legal action. “We are capturing the vehicle information,…
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino endorsed a major trade pact between South America’s Mercosur bloc and the European Union during a signing ceremony in Paraguay this week. He framed the long-negotiated agreement as a vital counterweight to rising global protectionist trends that he argued harm the world economy.The president attended the event as an honorary witness, using his platform to praise the complex two-decade negotiation process. He contrasted the swift implementation of harsh regulations with the painstaking effort needed to build consensus for open trade. Mulino’s presence underscored Panama’s strategic interest in the deal despite not being a Mercosur member…
Residents near Monagre Beach in Panama’s Los Santos Province discovered a deceased leatherback sea turtle last week. Officials from the Ministry of Environment (Panama) confirmed the incident after responding to a community report on January 17, 2026.The massive turtle, a species classified as vulnerable, was found stranded with no signs of life. A technical team from the ministry’s Coasts and Seas section and the Protected Areas and Biodiversity unit traveled to the remote location in the Santa Ana district to investigate.Officials Document and Safely Bury SpecimenUpon arrival, the team found the reptile in an advanced state of decomposition. They still…
A 35 year old woman was shot and killed in her home in Burunga, Arraiján, early Saturday morning. The incident, which police are investigating as the first femicide of the year in Panama West Province, also left the alleged perpetrator dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound.Authorities identified the victim as Katherine Hernández, a Dominican national and local business owner. The suspect was named as 45 year old Alexander Santamaría, a heavy equipment operator originally from Tolé, Chiriquí. The couple’s three year old daughter and Hernández’s 17 year old daughter from a previous relationship are now orphaned.Violent Altercation Follows Night…
American congressmen met with Panamanian deputies at the National Assembly on January 16 to analyze legislative initiatives benefiting both nations. The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and explore legal harmonization to spur economic growth, according to Assembly President Jorge Herrera.The delegation included approximately 14 members of the United States Congress. Herrera stated the talks focused on creating a framework for increased investment and job creation through coordinated policy. This diplomatic engagement is part of a broader effort to deepen the longstanding partnership between the two countries.Planning a Reciprocal Legislative VisitHerrera revealed plans for a reciprocal visit from the U.S.…
The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) has activated a nationwide weather vigilance alert. The warning is in effect from 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2026, due to significant rainfall and storm risks across most of the country.Officials said the alert covers specific regions including Bocas del Toro, the Highlands of Chiriqui, northern Veraguas, Darien, northern Panama Oeste, Colon, the Ngäbe-Buglé and Guna Yala comarcas, the Emberá districts, and northern Cocle and Panama Este. A complex interaction of atmospheric systems is driving the forecast for potentially dangerous conditions.”These conditions…
Panama’s Minister of Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro, declared a historic victory for global ocean conservation this week. The international High Seas Treaty, formally known as the BBNJ agreement, entered into force, establishing the first legal framework to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.Navarro made the announcement through an official social media statement. He emphasized that the treaty covers the vast majority of the world’s ocean surface, areas that have lacked specific regulation for decades. The minister described the moment as a turning point for planetary stewardship.”The BBNJ allows us to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.…
A farm in the highlands of Boquete, Panama is working to reconnect Panamanians with the land. La Granjerita, an agrotourism farm, combines sustainable production with educational experiences to address a national crisis in the agricultural sector.The farm operates entirely without pesticides or chemicals. Its founder, Lourdes Guerra Suárez, stated that one of her primary challenges involves motivating young people to return to rural work and revitalize the country’s primary economic sector.She explained the farm’s philosophy of conservation and respect for natural cycles.”These little plants we have here, look, they only have bees pollinating them. This is the Mexican husk tomato…