Economy

Over $52 Million owed to Social Security

A total of $ 52.4 million owes the State to the Social Security Fund (CSS) in worker-employer quotas that stopped reporting dependencies of the central and decentralized government, and those generated by special laws. The vice-president of the board of directors of the CSS, Roberto Valencia , provided a report …

Human Interest

Human Rights Groups watch as Nicaragua casualties rise

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) affirmed on Friday that the number of deaths due to “the repressive action of the State” in the framework of the protests against the government in Nicaragua amounted to at least 212. Nicaragua awaits the end of attacks in Masaya and the release …

Human Interest

Advocate claims Panama remains unobservant of Black Culture

Proudly Afro-descendant. This is how Alberto Barrow, director of the Panama Afro Observatory, feels. The persistent inequalities that exist for his peers have led him to become one of the most emblematic voices of the Afro-Panamanian social movement. Alberto Barrow spoke about his longing to live in a country where there …

Crime

State of Panamanian Prisons?? Don’t get arrested!!

Currently, our country’s prisons house more than 15,000 people deprived of their liberty. The state of the same does not facilitate reintegration into society. It is a fact that in our country some prisons, such as La Joya and La Joyita , present problems because they do not cover the …

Human Interest

Former Public Safety Minister throws support to Martinelli letter

The former Minister of Public Safety José Raúl Mulino , justified this Monday, May 28, the letter of former President Ricardo Martinelli – currently a prisoner in Miami – where he confesses that he followed the instructions of the US intelligence agency and that he served 100% of the interests …

Human Interest

Ortega protests turn deadly in Nicaragua

Eight dead in Managua and two in Estelí left the attack of armed groups to demonstrations that took place this Wednesday, May 30, in Nicaragua against the government of President Daniel Ortega . They repress opponents of Daniel Ortega, who demanded advancement of elections Federation of chambers of commerce condemns …

Crime

Prosecutor’s Office reveals massive spike in Corruption Cases filed

by James “JB” Bryson These stories do and will continue to dominate the PON.com site, as until we as both true Panamanians as well as the ex-pats that now call this country home, see a decrease in the massive amounts of “pay to play” incidents that occur in a country …

Economy

Panama City no longer the deal it was a few years ago, living costs rising steadily in Latin America

Panama City is the most expensive Latin American city in the world, followed by Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile, according to the benchmark index of the Swiss bank UBS published today, which places Zurich in the first position of the most expensive cities, ahead of Geneva and Oslo. The …

Church

Panama coordinating with Mexico for Papal visit on World Youth Day

A little more than seven months before the World Youth Day (JMJ) 2019, details related to this religious event are finalized. Recently, as part of an official visit to Mexico, Vice Chancellor Luis Miguel Hincapié held meetings with the main authorities linked to security, customs and migration issues. The purpose …

Environmental

UNESCO involved in dispute over use of Coiba National Park

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has requested the suspension of the land use plan of the Coiba National Park, which was approved on January 3. Unesco’s request is in a preliminary report in which it asks to evaluate the possible negative impacts of the plan on …

Health

Diabetes fatalities rising among Panamanian population

Diabetes is a silent disease and every day there are more people on your list, most unfortunate many young people are developing this condition and are unaware that they have it. So much so that this disease is the fifth cause of death in Panama. Data from the Comptroller General of …

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 …

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 …

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 …

"JB"
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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

Reprieve denied for former Martinelli secretary in unjustified enrichment case.

The Twelfth Criminal Court denied a request to lift the precautionary measures imposed on a beach house valued at $ 400 thousand, owned by Adolfo Chichi De Obarrio , former private secretary of former President Ricardo Martinelli. Adolfo ‘Chichi’ De Obarrio bought gold bullion for $ 759 thousand They ask …

Human Interest

Truce brief as Nicaraguans return to streets in protest

Thousands of Nicaraguans marched on Sunday, May 20, peacefully in the capital and other cities while accusing the government of breaching a truce, following an attack on a university, while the complaints continue before the IACHR . Four injured in full truce between government and opponents in Nicaragua IACHR asks …

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 …

Energy/Infrastructure

AdaptAmericas in Panama leads forum on climate change

The consequences of climate change have given rise to initiatives that turn situations of risk into opportunities in areas such as transport, water management and construction. In Canada, for example, the Pievc Protocol has been extended, which estimates infraestrategy vulnerability to environmental threats. It is a decision-making tool that assesses …

Human Interest

AG states National Assembly has “something to hide”.

The Attorney General of the Administration, Rigoberto González , said on Thursday, May 17 that the National Assembly should be an open-door institution and willing to receive the Comptroller’s Office to carry out the corresponding audits, since it is a “high institution” and the of greater reference “in the example …

Energy/Infrastructure

8 months after Hurricane, efforts end with 23,000 still without power

The US Army Corps of Engineers completes its efforts to rebuild Puerto Rico’s power grid despite residents’ fear that the island’s government can not return the service by itself to the 16,000 people who follow dark eight months after the passage of Hurricane Maria. 23 thousand Puerto Ricans will continue …

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 …

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 …

Environmental

Blooming of Latin American tree a wonderful sight in Panama.

The Tabebuia Chrysantha or guayacán, one of the most beautiful trees in the tropics, extends its presence from Mexico through Central America to the territories of Colombia and Venezuela. Its majesty is common and abundant in Panamanian forests. A strong trunk tree, compact, straight, cylindrical and approximately 60 centimeters in diameter. It …

Economy

Panama seeks to become Latin America leader in new Technology

This year Panama will present 130 technological patent applications to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), which means that the country aspires to become the first in Latin America to generate applications through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). in English), when measuring the number of applications per million inhabitants, …

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 …

Human Interest

Doctor becomes first ever Panamanian to run Antartctica

Dr. Enitza George became the first Panamanian person to run on the continent of Antarctica , participating in theMarathon of the Great Antarctic Wall , with a distance of 42,195 kilometers , on King George Island. The marathon was held on March 7. George , an athlete who has completed 38 marathons and even a 60-kilometer ultramarathon in New York, commented that participating in this …

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 …

Health

Words of caution to the trappings of Panama for newcomers; the Sex comes with consequences

by James “JB” Bryson When we first settled here, and I say “we” as I was lock step with my wife at all times, it is hard to deny the utterly open and transparent sex industry that prevails in Panama. Lovely women abound, all seemingly attractive to unwitting American men. …

Church

Vatican sounds off on Tax Havens for the wealthy

Tax havens and financial tools such as derivatives and credit default swaps are seriously immoral and unfair, the Vatican said Thursday, May 17, describing them as ” activated time bombs” that will especially harm the world’s poorest. The Vatican Doctrine Office collaborated with the Department of Social Justice in a …