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!
"JB"

Hello 2019 PANAMA!!!

by James “JB” Bryson So in the spirit of giving, my visiting family did a bang up job of giving me the flu. So apologies for the stagnancy on the site over the past few days. I do however, love the fact that I can get everything I need with …

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"JB"

End of 2018: Status of Varela in PANAMA.

OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson As I bring 2018 to a close on the first year of being online with PANAMA NOW, I reflected on how much time and effort I placed into examining and let’s face it “criticizing” a Varela Administration that I honestly feel is flawed to …

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Air Travel

Tocumen begins preparedness for massive influx for WYD.

The maneuverability of the Tocumen International Airport will be put to the test to receive a large part of the participants in the World Youth Day (WYD), which will run from January 22 to 27. Currently, in the hours of greatest demand (4:00 pm to 6:00 pm) the operation of …

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Infrastructure

Comptroller calls for bond to exceed $220 Million for Odebrecht project at Tocumen for protection

OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson A necessary step and actually shocking that the government does not have the ability to get out of bed with these pre-existing agreements with such a dangerous and sullied enterprise. Tocumen, SA will expand the scope and amount of the fourth addendum to the …

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Human Interest

New referendum calls to make Tax Evasion a harsher criminal offense

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Eyda Varela de Chinchilla , asked the National Assembly to restart the debate on the bill that increases tax evasion to criminal offense. Assembly concludes extraordinary sessions without ratification of judges They close extraordinary sessions without key projects “I ask the National Assembly to …

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Politics

Political opinion begs the question if Varela is acknowledging “lame duck” status as term comes to end.

The country is practically immersed in the electoral process towards the general elections of 2019 and various sectors of society begin to toughen their protests and claims towards the government of President Juan Carlos Varela. On the one hand, Customs officials paralyzed the customs activity earlier this month, claiming a …

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Legal

Martinelli enters 2019 with ever changing stable of Lawyers

The team of lawyers of former President Ricardo Martinelli , imprisoned in El Renacer while being investigated for spying on communications from at least 150 people, has had several changes in recent months. Ex-prosecutors Dimas Guevara and Cristóbal Arboleda , for example, stopped being members of the group for several …

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Church

Venezuela and Nicaragua tumult reach all the way to Vatican for Papal plea at Christmas

In St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican, before tens of thousands of pilgrims, dressed in a white dagger that held a cincture at waist height, Pope Francis held yesterday the message Urbi et Orbi (at the city ​​and the world), which did not let escape the difficult situation that exists …

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"JB"

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of the PNO.com Readers and Contributors

by James “JB” Bryson While we are not quite a mover and shaker in the world of the internet blogosphere at the moment, we are very thankful for the people that visit our site on a daily basis. We have a core group of followers or around 210, but when …

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Legal

Transfer of Martinelli due to lack of confidence and “refusal” of evaluation at National Hospital

The Ministry of Government (MinGob), attributed Friday the transfer of the former president of the Republic, Ricardo Martinelli, to the Santo Tomas Hospital, to the refusal of the exmandatario to perform studies and ambulatory medical examinations, as planned, at the National Hospital . Through a statement, the ministerial body indicated …

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International Relations

Tension mounts as Maduro ousts Colombian diplomat.

The Venezuelan government agreed Thursday on the expulsion of a Colombian consular official as a reciprocal measure to a similar action that Bogotá agreed against an employee of the Venezuelan Embassy in that city, an action that further cracks the strained relations between the two countries. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge …

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US News of note

Noose tightens on Ortega as US issues sanctions

President Donald Trump gave the green light on Thursday to a bill that seeks to limit the access of the Government of Nicaragua to international funds and sanction the countries that assist the Central American nation. Dictatorship of Daniel Ortega expels the IACHR from Nicaragua Nicaraguan journalist denounces police chief …

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Legal

Martinelli medically transferred yet again as health deteriorates.

Ricardo Martinelli, former president of the Republic, was transferred at dawn on Friday, December 21, to the Santo Tomás Hospital amid complaints from relatives, lawyers and supporters. Martinelli is transferred to the National Hospital; will undergo medical exams Martinelli – detained in El Renacer jail for the case of the …

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Crime

Inside Job as 26 arrested for Bank Fraud

The First Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime carried out a joint operation with the Directorate of Judicial Investigation in which approximately 26 people were arrested related to the damage of about $ 3 million against Banistmo. The prosecution charged the detainees, who worked in the bank, for financial crime. The operation …

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International Relations

Christmas Wish: Ortega rule hopeful to crumble! Nicaragua bloodshed to end!

The government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is in a “terminal crisis”, without direction and with the economy collapsed after eight months of protests, while leading the repression against human rights organizations and the media, he said in an interview with the AFP Carlos Fernando Chamorro, journalist critical of the …

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Sport

SuperClub MANCHESTER UNITED: Fire Jose’ Mourinho

The story is repeated for José Mourinho : the charismatic Portuguese coach, unable to stay more than three years on the benches of the great European teams, left “with immediate effect” Manchester United, said on Tuesday the prestigious English club, in the midst of an unprecedented sports crisis The richest …

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Politics

Early polls seem to still favor Cortizo.

The results of a public opinion study that measured the intention to vote with a view to the presidential elections of May 2019 place Laurentino Cortizo as the favorite at this time. OPINION STUDY Cult Advertising requested consultation of intention to vote for 2019 Laurentino Cortizo was the candidate with …

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International Relations

Eyes on Bolivia as corrupt Morales seeks 4th term.

La Estrella:   The Supreme Electoral Court of Bolivia authorized more than 3,000 precincts throughout the country for the militants of the eight presidential binomials to vote in the primaries, prior to the 2019 elections, said that electoral body yesterday. According to a communiqué from that court, 3,751 electoral precincts …

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Legal

Martinelli ends rumors of VP role; based off this picture he has other concerns

Former president Ricardo Martinelli yesterday declined his aspirations to become a potential running mate – as vice president – of Rómulo Roux , presidential candidate of Cambio Democrático (CD) for the 2019 elections. Formula Martinelli-Roux, the controversy takes the campaign of Democratic Change Roux and Martinelli would be political formula …

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US News of note

US News: Former TRUMP top Lawyer and confidante is singing like a bird!

Michael Cohen, guardian of President Donald Trump’s personal and business secrets, will go to prison, but has vowed to continue providing potentially damaging information to special prosecutor Robert Mueller and other judicial authorities. After cooperating half-heartedly with prosecutors, Cohen did not gain the indulgence he sought. Yesterday was sentenced to …

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Legal

Some Panamanians want Statute of Limitations to NOT apply to Jewish Faith.

The plenum of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) rejected an amparo filed by the anti-corruption prosecutor of discharge , Javier Miter, who sought to revoke the decision of the Second Superior Court to declare the criminal action against Aaron Mizrachi extinguished in the investigation related to an alleged payment …

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Environmental

Surrounded by Ocean,…How will Climate Change affect PANAMA?

Millions of years ago, where the narrow strip of land we now call Panama is located, there was a deep ocean. When the isthmus was formed, a cascade of global events was unleashed. Looking to the future, the isthmus could once again play an important role in global change. When …

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"JB"

Point of Interest: PUNTA CULEBRA NATURAL CENTER

by James “JB” Bryson Just noticed an nice story about a place I have actually visited upon settling in Panama. At the PUNTA CULEBRA NATURAL CENTER, you can visit a place that in conjunction with the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE brings attention to the natural beauty of Panama and all the things …

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Human Interest

PNO.com: EX-PAT Contribution Page: HOLIDAY RECIPE

by James “JB” Bryson Not only has this been a great first year for me personally on PNO.com. But my wife has also been able to use the forum as a way to meet and socialize with other people who have moved here. In the spirit of the Holidays, she …

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Politics

Follow Up: La Prensa article regarding Martinelli/Roux dual ticket for Presidency

Can former President Ricardo Martinelli be a candidate for vice president of Rómulo Roux , presidential champion of Cambio Democrático? Roux and Martinelli would be political formula for the elections of 2019 The Electoral Tribunal (TE) , an instance that serves as an arbitrator in the electoral tournaments, will not …

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Politics

Can’t make this SHIT up: Martinelli possible VP for Roux. This is PANAMA!!

Former President Ricardo Martinelli , detained in El Renacer prison, could be the payroll partner of the Democratic Change presidential candidate (CD) , Rómulo Roux , in the general elections of May 2019. This was announced on Wednesday, December 12, Luis Eduardo Camacho , spokesman for the ex-governor. “Former President …

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Crime

Odebrecht tentacles reach all the way back to the US.

One of the biggest corruption scandals in Colombian history took a new turn Tuesday when a billionaire’s banking group said the investigation had reached the United States. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores SA said in a notification to the regulatory authorities that it received a query from the US Department …

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US News of note

US NEWS: Former Trump personal Lawyer sentenced to 3 years in Federal Prison

OP ED: James “JB” Bryson I am am equal opportunity shot taker for any that read PNO.com. I pull no shots over the Varela administration of my new home, however I am not above my birth country either. We have quite the shit show back home and with far to …

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Crime

The (5) ODEBRECHT projects awarded under Varela Administration get lost in Martinelli fog.

The Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor’s Office reported that the investigation of the bribes that Odebrecht paid in Panama has an advance of 80%; could end in the first quarter of 2019; assets have been recovered for $ 255.1 million in money and goods apprehended; sum to 76 accused, 5 convicted and …

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