April 1, 2020
It’s almost impossible to keep up with all of the changes. For those of us who are fortunate and cursed enough to be able to continue working, you really have to watch what MINSA, MITRADEL, MP and the rest of the government are doing every single day.
TAXIS
In a communication from the ATTT…T.TT.T, etc., (I never know when to stop), Taxis are now being regulated as to when they can transit according to their license plate number. As of April 3, 2020, taxis with license plates that end in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8) are allowed to circulate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 05:00 a.m. and 09:00 p.m. Taxis with license plates ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) can be out on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between the hours of 05:00 a.m. and 09:00 p.m. And as with everyone else in the country, there will be no movement by taxis on Sundays. (BTW and FYI the ATTT is the Autoridad de Transito y Transporte Terreste. Which translates to be the Land Transit and Transport Authority. It’s like the DMV in the USA, OK?)
The only exception is with taxis being used to transport medical personnel or for related emergencies. ATTT also stated that all taxi drivers will be “verified and supervised” by health and security authorities. How they plan on coordinating that I have no idea. I guess we’ll have to wait and watch.
UBER
UBER announced that they are shutting down operations temporarily in Panama as well.
So, if you depend on local public or contracted transportation, you’re limited to a minimized Metro System and an unreliable Metro Bus system. I’m going to start selling horses and bicycles next week unless there’s any hint that these will be regulated as well.
BANKS
The banks have changed their schedules again. Keep in mind that the banks only make their changes to manage the ongoing adjustments made by the government on their (our) war on the CoronaVirus. Just yesterday my wife was complaining that with the new separation decree where men go out only on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays and my hour is between 330 p.m. and 530 p.m., that she was now forced to go to the bank instead of me.
Those are the same days that banks were only opened during the morning hours. (Oh, the horror.) But now, lucky for her, this is the new schedule:
As per announcement by the Panamanian Superintendent of Banks, as of April 1, all banks will open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday they open from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
They add however that although the banks will be open, they recommend that you try to do all of your banking online to avoid unnecessary contact with others.
Banco Nacional de Panamá announced the temporary closure of several of their offices which were either too out of reach for their employees or had experienced little movement and transactions. These include:
- 4 Altos and Zona Libre (Colón); Alanje, Boquerón, El Carmen and Gualaca (Chiriquí);
- Circunvalación, Divisa, La Arena, Las Minas, Los Pozos and Parita (Herrera); Belén, Chanis,
- Hatillo, La Exposición, Las Cumbres, Órgano Judicial, Pedregal, Registro Público and aeropuerto de Tocumen (Panamá); Chame, Panamá Pacífico (Panamá Oeste); Cañazas and
- Las Palmas (Veraguas).
I didn’t even want to post anything for April 1. I was certain no one would believe the news because of April Fool’s day. I hope the updates help. Let me know if you have any other questions relating to the ongoing changes with CoronaVirus and its effect on your lives in Panama.
Keep the faith.
Stay safe…
Stay healthy…
And by all means STAY HOME!!
Brett Mikkelson, CII, CPE
Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. | M1 Consultants Inc
Mobile (+507) 6674-1183
brett@bminvestigations.com | www.bminvestigations.com
Proud Member of: Council of International Investigators (International), World Association of Detectives (International), Victory Services Club (London), Examinadors de Fraude Autorizados (Panama), Alianza de Seguridad Empresarial (Panama)
