Panamanowonline.com was established to become the #1 news source in English in and around the Republic of Panama. Our goal is and will always be to provide the best possible up to date news and information in English geared at reporting on the issues that touch and effect the expat community in Panama. Through sharing relevant articles as reported in the local press as well as through contributing writers and affiliates this site was designed to share not just news and information but to provide a platform for our readership to tune in daily whether living, visiting or planning to relocate to Panama. Thank you for visiting our site, hasta la proxima vez!
Economy

PNO revisiting topic of Panama beachfront. Crucial vote forthcoming.

I/E: Don’t F- – K this up people!! https://www.prensa.com/sociedad/semana-crucial-para-el-futuro-del-proyecto-de-recuperacion-de-playas-en-la-ciudad-de-panama/ Amid a controversial debate about whether it is necessary to invest about 120 million dollars in the project to recover beaches in Panama City, this week defines the future of this initiative that drives the City Hall. Voices for and against …

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Agriculture

MiAmbiente gets it WRONG again in Darien.

Raising the Tax for cutting native and required trees DOES NOT address the issue. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/200309/impuestos-provisionales-madera The Municipal Council of Santa Fe, in the province of Darién, set $ 15 for the payment of tax for the felling of native species balsam, mahogany, espavé, quira, almond tree, provisionally, while others are …

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"JB"
2

Coronavirus affects the Bryson household.

OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson So as this worldwide panic attack continues, the anxiety surrounding air travel has hit home, as our dear friends who had planned to visit us for the first time from Richmond, Virginia have chosen to cancel their travel to Tocumen for next weekend. Given …

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World Events

As biggest party in the world closes in Brazil,,,,people still detest Bolsonaro.

Top samba “schools” in Brazil’s Carnival capital Rio de Janeiro paraded for a second night on Monday, peppering the annual sizzling fusion of music, dance and costume with jabs at the country’s president, Jair Bolsonaro. The last six of the city’s 13 top samba schools took to the “sambodromo”, or …

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Economy

Amid bad news,,,,,Panama economy showed strong growth in 4th Quarter.

https://www.prensa.com/economia/economia-cerro-el-2019-con-3-de-crecimiento/ The Panamanian economy grew 3% at the end of 2019, which meant an increase of $ 1,256.8 million, to end with a gross domestic product (GDP), in absolute terms, of $ 43,061 million. The indicator was reported the afternoon this Monday, March 2 by the National Institute of Statistics …

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Health

To my InterNations ex-pats in Mexico. Please be careful.

OP ED: James “JB” Bryson- I have been able to stay in contact with some of my fellow ex-pat friends I have met online that have settled in Mexico. I am certain if I know about it in Panama, it is all over the place there. Be careful and vigilant …

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Air Travel

Nito appeals for calm amid Coronavirus scare for Latin

https://www.prensa.com/sociedad/presidente-cortizo-pide-no-alarmar-ante-casos-de-coronavirus-en-america-latina/ “Do not alarm” is the request made by President Laurentino Cortizo before the appearance of the first cases of the new coronavirus in Latin America. + info Meduca takes advantage of the start of classes to disseminate information about the coronavirus‘There are many questions about the unanswered coronavirus’Minsa confirms that the …

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Air Travel

Suspension of Air China flights continues in Panama.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/200225/air-china-mantendra-suspension-vuelos-panama-mes-marzo Tocumen International Airport reported Tuesday that the Air China company will maintain the suspension of the Houston-Panama-Houston route during the month of March. This was stated in his Twitter account the administration of Tocumen airport citing a statement from the Chinese company. Aeropuerto Tocumen@tocumenaero El Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen informa que …

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Environmental

Nephew just returned from Colombia and saw Hippos. Here is why.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pablo-escobars-hippos-keep-multiplying-and-colombia-doesnt-know-how-to-stop-it/ Fishing villages, small boats and children at play dot the landscape along the shallow waterways of Colombia’s Magdalena River. But an invasive species left behind by one of the country’s most infamous figures is threatening the ecosystem and, possibly, a way of life. That species? Hippos. The giants, native …

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Crime

Varela and buddies got “fat” on the take under Martinelli rule, and then went full hypocrite.

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/un-nuevo-aire-para-el-caso-odebrecht/ The Odebrecht case took a new momentum this week with the decision of the Public Ministry (MP) to investigate figures close to former President Juan Carlos Varela , including the detention of former Panamanian deputy Jorge Alberto Rosas. + info Prosecutor orders the arrest of former deputy Jorge Alberto RosasProsecutor’s office investigates former deputy …

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Air Travel
2

With visitors arriving,what does Panama need to know about Coronavirus strain?

https://www.prensa.com/mundo/el-mundo-debe-prepararse-para-una-eventual-pandemia-dice-la-oms/ The viral pneumonia epidemic accelerated on Monday, February 24 worldwide, with new countries affected, a situation that put financial markets on alert and led WHO to warn of the risk of a pandemic. Two months after the appearance of the new coronavirus in central China, five countries announced their …

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Conservation

Panama finally addressing “waterfront” hotels of water that can’t be used.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/200224/bahia-panama-estaria-saneada-ano The waters of the Bay of Panama would be clean by 2050. Although, the administration of the Sanitation of Panama explained that there have been significant improvements in the quality of the bodies of water (streams, rivers and the Bay of Panama) in those sectors Having been intervened by …

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Crime

First US “conviction” is handed down from massive “Panama Papers” scam.

https://www.prensa.com/economia/excliente-de-mossack-fonseca-se-declara-culpable-en-eu-se-expone-a-75-anos-de-prision/ Before a US federal court, Harald Joachim von der Goltz pleaded guilty this February 18 to having participated in conspiracies to evade taxes and launder money, in addition to not properly informing the US authorities of his finances and making false statements to the authorities Americans The secret of 50 million …

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Crime

SHOCKER! Questionable transfers from Foundation to Varela. The Opus Dei hypocrite that persecuted Martinelli.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/200219/transferencias-fundacion-don-james-familia Between 2009 and 2013 from the Don James Foundation account, multiple bank transfers, management checks and cash payments were made to members of the Varela family. In total, the intelligence reports to which La Estrella de Panamá has had access reveal that from the Don James Foundation expenditures were made …

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Politics

Nito Scorecard= His people still suck. His cabinet and ministry is infested with duplicity.

OP ED: James :JB” Bryson– Just to be clear, what exactly is a “sentimental” relatonship? Did they watch movies and cook together? More information please. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/politica/200219/sheyla-grajales-renuncia-ministerio-gobierno The newly appointed Minister of Government, Sheyla Grajales would have resigned from the position, just two weeks after assuming the ministry.  Grajales, who previously …

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Colón

Superhero movie bringing needed jobs to impoverished area of Colon.

https://www.prensa.com/economia/las-plazas-de-empleo-que-genera-la-filmacion-de-escuadron-suicida-ii/ A group of colonists showed satisfaction for the employment opportunity generated by the shooting of the film Suicide Squad II , which uses locations between 7th and 9th streets and Amador Guerrero and Justo Arosemena avenues, in the city of Colon. Sequence of ‘Suicide Squad II’ will be filmed in the …

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Crime

Of course I’m back on ODEBRECHT. New faces every week.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/200217/continuan-hoy-indagatoria-jaime-lasso-caso-odebrecht The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) resumed on Monday morning the inquiry followed by the former ambassador of Panama in South Korea, Jaime Lasso, in relation to the Odebrecht case. Lasso, alleged to have received bribes from the Brazilian construction company, showed up at the …

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"JB"

Hoping all PNO couples had a pleasant Valentine’s weekend.

OP ED: James “JB” Bryson Sorry for the sporadic posting lately, but much has been going on behind the green Oz curtain over here. Not only are we following some corruption cases pretty closely, but we are trying to organize a fundraising function for WOUNDED WARRIOR in Old Town over …

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Conservation

The Panamanian Capital of “Illegal Logging” is actually RICH with History.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/200126/expedicion-darien Since the discovery of the South Sea by Vasco Núñez de Balboa in 1513, the great powers of the world saw the need to make a passage between the two oceans that would facilitate trade and navigation in times of war. There were many expeditions and studies carried out since …

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Crime

VOTE FOR THIS: Proposal before Assembly looks to remove cushy punishments for those on the TAKE!!!

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/proponen-impedir-la-sustitucion-de-penas-en-casos-de-corrupcion/ That persons who commit a crime against the public administration are excluded from the benefit of substitute penalties for house arrest and community work. This is one of the proposals raised in a preliminary bill submitted to the plenary of the National Assembly. The initiative, promoted by the independent deputy Gabriel Silva , …

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Energy/Infrastructure

Keep an eye on this “BULLSHIT”. Contract has $3.5 Million of FLUFF baked in.

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/aaud-gastara-cerca-de-20-millones-en-contratos-directos/ Ten contracts drawn up in November 2019, by the Urban and Home Cleaning Authority (AAUD), for the rental of heavy equipment for the amount of $ 19.5 million, rest in the Comptroller General of the Republic pending endorsement. The contracts, whose endorsement was rejected in December last year by the then …

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Economy

WOW, a massive contract that Odebrecht did not win. Pinch me.

https://www.prensa.com/economia/metro-de-panama-adjudico-hoy-a-consorcio-hph-joint-venture-diseno-y-financiamiento-de-la-linea-3/ The Panama Metro awarded the HPH Joint Venture Consortium on Tuesday, February 4, the design, construction of civil works and financing of the third line of the transportation system. The HPH Consortium is made up of the Korean Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Posco E&C. The ACPC Consortium, formed by the Spanish Acciona …

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Politics

Roux and Martinelli battles continue as CD party fractures.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/politica/200204/200203-martinellistas-anuncian-inscripcion-nuevo-partido The decision of the Board of Democratic Change (CD), to deny the convening of an Extraordinary National Convention, apparently ended up atomizing the collective founded by the former president of the Republic Ricardo Martinelli. The conventional CD, which collected the signatures to convene the Extraordinary National Convention to renew …

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Crime

Charges levied against those involved in massive prison massacre.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/200203/doce-imputados-masacre-joyita The crimes are: aggravated intentional homicide and aggravated intentional homicide for the 13 dead and 14 wounded, resulting in the killing in hall 14 of the prison. Prosecutor David Mendoza says he has the evidence supporting his accusations The Superior Prosecutor of Homicide Prosecutor, David Mendoza, got the Guarantees Judge, …

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"JB"

Nito “triples down” on the actions of his administration.

https://www.prensa.com/politica/el-presidente-laurentino-cortizo-evalua-hoy-a-su-equipo-de-trabajo/ OP ED: James “JB” Bryson: My 3rd post on this, so obviously I am fascinated by the quotes coming from Cortizo. He’s backing himself into a corner and drawing a line in the sand with his insistence that all the bullshit of the past Political officials, Ministers, Comptrollers, Assembly …

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International Relations

Got my eye on these young kids, as Colombia goes to shit.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/internacional/colombia/200131/200130-continua-reclutamiento-menores-colombia More than 7,400 children and adolescents were victims of the recruitment of illegal armed groups in Colombia between 1985 and 2019, a “generalized and systematic practice” that adapts to the new dynamics of the conflict in the country, a report presented Thursday said. After the signing of the peace …

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Bocas del Toro
16

PNO knew this and did NOT post: Legality of Red Frog Titles to be determined by Supreme Court.

OP ED: Steven– I have occasionally jumped on these issues for JB since the rhetoric and nasty comments from the “Bocas Brigade” ramped up. To be clear, PNO was aware of these issues from lawyers requesting information from us which was refused, and others contacting us from email. I am …

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"JB"
1

This should be STUNNING!! C’mon Nito….Open Your Eyes!!

OP ED: James “JB” Bryson: I hope all my readers and any visitors to PNO.com can take the time to go back in our archives and see what a STAUNCH supporter of Nito Cortizo we were during the past year. OPENLY supporting him. I am not foolish enough to imply …

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Environmental

Environmental exhibition up to raise awareness in Panama.

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/vivir/una-ciudad-en-resiliencia/ Global warming and its consequences are undeniable, bringing with it a climate crisis from which Panama does not escape. That is why, in search of finding and promoting actions that help the isthmus in its fight against these effects, the Biomuseo inaugurated its new temporary room “Your new city: how to …

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Sport
1

UPDATE: Basketball Legend Kobe Bryant dies at 41.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28572984/helicopter-carrying-kobe-bryant-made-climbing-turn-rapid-dive NBA legend Kobe Bryant and one of his daughters were among nine people killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, a source confirmed to ESPN. Bryant was 41. Bryant was on his way to a youth basketball game with his daughter Gianna Bryant, who was 13, when …

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