Two Panama Ex-Presidents Accused in the Odebrecht Corruption Scandal


News from Panama

Panama’s anti-corruption prosecutor said on Wednesday she wants to see 50 people, including two former presidents, stand trial for their role in a bribing scheme involving the Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht. Panama’s former president, Ricardo Martinelli. (Photo: Wikimedia)Lead Prosecutor Tania Sterling told local media that former Panamanian presidents Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) and Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019) were among the […]

June 1, 2021

Guatemala to extradite former Panama president’s son to US


News from Panama

The two sons of former Panama president Ricardo Martinelli were arrested in  Guatemala on  Monday, July 6   were detained in Guatemala on Monday, July 6  following a request for extradition to the United States, where they are required in a case of an alleged conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Guatemalan National Civil Police reported that thr […]

June 1, 2021

Panama adopts measures to reanimate tourism


News from Panama

The Cabinet Council of Panama approved the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (PMTS) as a planning instrument aimed at reanimating the sector in Panama.   In this regard, the administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), Ivan Eskildsen, said that the program intends for Panama to be recognized as a world-class sustainable tourism destination, thanks to […]

June 1, 2021

One of Panama”s most wanted captured in Coronado


News from Panama

Ricardo Gabriel González Pérez, alias ”Rirri one of the most wanted people in Panama was captured on  Saturday afternoon May 22, in the Coronado sector, Panama Oeste. A telephone call from the public warned that there were strange citizens who could be hiding illicit substances, reported  Carlos Valencia, director of Judicial Investigation. Valencia said that, […]

May 25, 2021

Panama still has no firm plans to deploy 5G


News from Panama

Panama’s public services regulator Asep has no plans to launch 5G networks, at least until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Asep’s head of regulation strategies, David Ramos, told a webinar on Monday that no operator has yet approached the watchdog with any intention of deploying the new technology in the country. “At the moment, operators are still […]

May 25, 2021

Environmental permitting begins for 670MW Panama thermo


News from Panama

Panama’s environment ministry has accepted for review an environmental impact study for a 670MW natural gas combined cycle power project. Generadora Gatún submitted the document – prepared by URS Holdings – for the US$700mn plant in Colón province. The developer holds a provisional license for the project issued by public services regulator Asep. “Due to the growing demand for energy in […]

May 25, 2021

Panama claims early win in push for mining growth


News from Panama

Panama’s government claimed an early victory in efforts to bolster mining, with a planned investment of US$480mn. Panama – which aims to establish mining as a key economic driver – said it secured a commitment by privately owned Canadian firm Broadway Minerals to fund a restart of the suspended Molejón gold mine and construct a refinery. The […]

May 25, 2021