Labor

Woman elected to lead Maritime Chamber of Commerce signifies progressive change

Patricia Velásquez was elected last Friday as president of the Maritime Chamber of Panama for the period 2018-2019 to replace Julio De La Lastra . It is the first time that a woman has been elected to lead the guild founded in 1979, and in which there are more than …

Crime

Comptroller audit reveals yet more evidence of alleged crime

The deputies Manuel Cohen (Herrera) and Dana Castañeda (Coclé) accumulate the greater amount of money exchanged in cash or deposited in private banks of funds coming from their circuits (2009-2014), according to an audit of the Comptroller General of the Republic to the communal boards. For this, the deputies used …

Crime

Financial Pacific pyramid case continues with questionable $8.5 million loan satisfaction

Without a visible bank refinancing certification, Riccardo Francolini – who was benefited yesterday with a bail of $ 100 thousand in the Financial Pacific case – paid a loan of $ 8.5 million in 9 months . The money was requested on loan to buy a ” Plug & Grind …

Chiriqui

Resources denied to Chiriqui Hydroelectric plant

The Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice denied three appeals seeking to stop the cancellation of the Barriles hydroelectric project in the province of Chiriquí. Hidroeléctrica Barriles, SA, through the Morgan & Morgan law firm, filed an administrative claim for annulment against a note from the Chiriqui Regional …

Agriculture

Steps taken to combat illegal fishing operations

Technicians from institutions linked to the fishing sector of Panama gathered at a technical meeting to advance in the fight against illegal fishing and in the implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures, the Global Registry of fishing vessels, transport, refrigerated and supply, and other international instruments. The country …

Human Interest

Panamanians have low participation in high positions

The incorporation into the economic activity of women in Panama is far from assimilating to their educational achievements with an imbalance in their labor participation and decision-making positions in companies, since 12 percent have females in senior management positions, when the goal defined by international studies is 33 percent. This …

Bocas del Toro
1

Missing body found in Changuinola River

The Joint Task Force located the body of a 29-year-old man who was dragged by the waters of the Changuinola River, Bocas del Toro province. + info FTC resumes search for missing man in Changuinola river This was announced by the general director of the National Civil Protection System, José …

Crime

Yet another arrest in Financial Pacific pyramid. Posted yesterday on PON.com

The seventh anticorruption prosecutor, Leyda Sáenz, ordered yesterday the preventive detention of merchant Riccardo Francolini for alleged anomalies in transactions made through the Jal Offshore company in the Financial Pacific (FP) brokerage house. Francolini, who is being investigated for allegedly committing the crime of money laundering, was transferred to the …

Canal

Canal Tugboat Captains file criminal complaint

The tugboat captains of the Panama Canal yesterday filed a criminal complaint against waterway administrators, accusing them of having affected maritime transport on 12 and 13 April, by unilaterally eliminating the third seaman who goes aboard the tugboats to support the transit of the neopanamax. The Union of Captains and …

Crime

New allegations in case of Mossack-Fonseca.

The Second Special Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime announced on Tuesday May 22 that performs nine search proceedings, nine conductions and the respective investigations of ten accused, who have been charged with the alleged commission of the crime of money laundering , as part of the investigation that seeks to …

Crime

Financial Pacific pyramid scheme back in the headlines

A case that occupied the front pages of the media six years ago, the embezzlement to the stock house Financial Pacific, culminated with the phase of allegations that were heard in a preliminary hearing held on Friday in order to determine the responsibility of each of the accused. Judge Johann …

"JB"
1

Bocas Del Toro weekend trip: WTF is happening there?

by James “JB” Bryson Good morning PNO.com visitors. I would hope all had a pleasant weekend. If you checked in last week, I mentioned how a friend and fellow ex pat of mine named “Buddy” made the trek from Panama City to Bocas del Toro this past weekend.  Taking every …

Human Interest

75% of Panamanians receiving some measure of Social Security assistance.

The population protected by the Social Security Fund (CSS) between 1990 and 2016 went from 1.2 million to 3 million 26,769 people, which represents 75% of the country’s population. The figures, from the CSS and the Comptroller General of the Republic , show that in 26 years the entity went …

Crime

Another former Latin leader facing crimes, Argentinean President blamed for factory explosion

An Argentine court confirmed this Thursday, May 17, the prosecution without pre-trial detention of former president and senator Carlos Menem , 87, as alleged mastermind of the explosion of a military factory that left seven dead in 1995. The crime for which Menem is accused – as well as the …

Crime

More money laundering cases coming into the light

The Seventh Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office summoned Riccardo Francolini , at 9:00 a.m. today, to make an inquiry statement as part of the investigation into the transfers of money made by Jal Offshore Ltd., through an account of investment I had in the defunct stock house Financial Pacific (FP) . In …

Economy

Urban development requiring $20 billion until 2035

The Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning (Miviot) published in the Official Gazette the Urban Development Plan for the Pacific and Atlantic Metropolitan Areas (Panama-Colón), which suggests a state investment of $ 20 billion in infrastructure to face the growth urban until the year 2035. Juan Manuel Vásquez , Vice …

Human Interest

Light seen at the end of the tunnel for SUNTRACS, resolution possibly close

Yesterday, leaders of the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) and the National Union of Construction Workers and the like (Suntracs) tried to find a middle ground that would put an end to the strike that keeps the construction sector paralyzed for more than a month. Although they are close to …

Economy

SUNTRACS hoped for agreement last night, still no end to strike

The Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) and the Single Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) sought to reach an agreement last night. However, at the close of this note (7:00 pm) they were still negotiating. Suntracs leader Luis Gonzalez said in the afternoon that there might be ‘white smoke’ in …

Crime

Former El Slavador president heads to trial in $310 Million Corruption scandal

A judge in El Salvador decided Wednesday to send former President Elías Antonio Saca (2004-2009) and six collaborators to trial, to answer for the deviation of 301 million dollars during his administration, the Prosecutor’s Office said. “The Fourth Court of Instruction of San Salvador sends to trial former President Elías …

Human Interest

Minister of Security under fire for corruption claims by retired police.

An Amparo of Constitutional Guarantees against the Minister of Security, Alexis Betancourt, presented the Association of Retirees of the National Police in the Supreme Court of Justice. “The protection of guarantees states that the Ministry of Security violates due process and effective judicial protection by refusing to give due process …

Crime

New drama shines light on corrupt Latin America politics

The political drama Illegitimate ( Panama, Colombia ) returns to the national halls. One of its producers, Jacobo Silvera , explains the reason for this return: “We decided to bring back illegitimate because basically the public was cheering him. When we released the film in August of 2017, many people …

Human Interest

US cereal giant “Kellogg’s” to cease South American operations due to Venezuela tumult

by James “JB” Bryson So a piece of my youth, the breakfast cereal conglomerate based in Battle Creek, MI ( a place I spent much time in) has had to cease operations due to the situation in Venezuela. Brings me sadness at a time when everyone could use a nice …

Human Interest

Arbitration rejected, as SUNTRACS continues past 28 days

The strike in the construction sector – paralyzed for 28 days – will continue until the 2018 and 2021 collective agreement between the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) and the Single Trade Union of Construction Workers is signed directly. and Similar (Suntracs ). + info Suntracs will define today in …

Energy/Infrastructure

Fire shuts down METRO station

he Panama Fire Department reported on Wednesday May 16 that an electrical fault caused the San Miguelito Metro station to be filled with smoke. After detecting the incident, maintenance personnel of the Panama Metro interrupted the electrical system at the station. For this reason, his eviction was ordered afterwards. The …

Crime

Lawsuit against “Code” reaches Supreme Court

A claim of unconstitutionality against some sentences of article 193 of the single text of the Electoral Code , referring to pre-election public financing for the 2019 general elections, was presented to the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) . The lawyer Roberto Ruiz Diaz filed the appeal after considering that …

Labor

Comptroller promises “audit” of National Assembly

The General Comptroller of the Republic notified this Tuesday, May 15, the president of the National Assembly (AN) , Yanibel Ábrego , who will proceed to carry out a “forensic audit” to form 080 , which contains the contracts of the personnel that works for the deputies, and that since …

Crime

PETROBAS, and dirty cops scandal dismantled in Brazil

The Brazilian police today dismantled a network of international traffic of narcotics in which participated at least one investigated in the operation Lava Jato, which investigates the vast corruption scandal uncovered in the state oil company Petrobras, informed official sources today. About 90 agents of the Federal Police served eight …

Economy

Parque Porras set for SUNTRACS assembly ahead of arbitration meeting

The construction workers affiliated to the Suntracs begin to arrive at the Porras Park for the General Assembly in the debate about the continuity or not of the strike that today has 27 days. The assembly is scheduled to start at 10:00 in the morning and according to the leaders …

Agriculture

Insect that ravages coffee harvest may have hope to being mitigated

When the rainy season begins, the insect of the coffee borer takes advantage to attack. The Hypotenemus hampei , also known as coffee borer, punches the mature grain and severely damages the quality and flavor of the product. Its effect is so devastating, that it reduces coffee production by 50% …

Crime
1

Confession sheds light on bribes under Varela watch

The businessman from Chihuahua, Juan Alexis Rodríguez Sáez, arrived at the Public Prosecutor’s Office to tell other facts that he suddenly remembered while reviewing the social media. All this in the corruption scheme in which allegedly handled bribes for $ 40 million. Rodríguez Sáez, manager of Constructora Rodsa, SA had been …