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"
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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

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
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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 …

Energy/Infrastructure

Rejection of proposed Port of Balboa stoppage

The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) and the Logistic Business Council rejected the afternoon of this Saturday, May 12, the stoppage of operations in the port of Balboa, as it is an action with millions of repercussions on the cargo and its transshipment as well as …

Labor

SUNTRACS set for arbitration

The arbritraje raised by President Juan Carlos Varela to the National Union of Construction Workers and the like (Suntracs) and the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac), to end the strike in the construction sector, will be analyzed Tuesday by the workers’ union. This was reported on Sunday, May 13, the …

Labor

SUNTRACS affecting all sectors of economy

The paralysis of work in the construction sector has generated an unprecedented impact for the Panamanian economy. To date, it is estimated that the country has lost about $ 750 million of productive activity. + info Strike generates chain of economic losses The construction companies, the transport sector, the food …

Labor

Varela seeking end to SUNTRACS with intervention

President Juan Carlos Varela today requested an arbitration if they do not reach an agreement at the parallel table between the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) and the Single Trade Union of Construction Workers and the like (Suntracs). day sunday “The government asks you very respectfully to go to an …

Labor

Government reaches accord with Banana plantation employees

Approximately at 2:00 am today an agreement was reached between the workers of the banana plantations of Bocas del Toro and the government, after 24 hours of work stoppage and street closures. The workers presented 12 points which they expect the government to comply with, among them public health, water …

Air Travel

Tocumen receiving bids to expand

The International Airport of Tocumen, SA -which operates the terminal under the model of a private company- informed on Wednesday May 9 that it received five technical and economic proposals for the first phase of construction of the free zone that will be developed adjacent to the terminal of cargo. …

Labor

Another meeting held to end SUNTRACS

The third meeting of the “parallel table” between the leadership of the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (CAPAC) and the Single Union of Construction Workers and Similar (SUNTRACS), the parties moved their positions, which seems to put more close an agreement and put an end to the strike that is now …

Labor

No vacation from SUNTRACS

by James “JB” Bryson So we are back from our little coastal trip and find that the labor strike is still affecting the areas near our home. The logjam coming into the city (which is already at a slow crawl generally) was quite worse. Hoping this ends quicker than expected. …

Labor

National Assembly hiring all askew

Civic and business organizations rejected the increase in funds, by more than 600%, in three budget items used to hire personnel managed by the deputies of the National Assembly (AN) . These are items 02 (temporary staff); 080 (trusted staff) and 172 (professional services contracts), which went from $ 5 …

Economy

Subsidy approved for the SUNTRACS strikers

The Single Trade Union of Construction and Similar Workers ( Suntracs ) continued this Friday, May 4 with the granting of the strike subsidy to the workers who started this measure since April 18. + info $ 9 million, disbursement that Suntracs must assume in two weeks of strike Varela …