The Chain Reaction of Uninformed Decisions; Balboa and Cristóbal Ports to Be Separated; Panama to Dissolve 300,000 Inactive Corporations; Fiscal Deficit Closes at 3.68%.

Friday, February 6, 2026. The Chain Reaction of Uninformed Decisions One action rarely exists in isolation. Every decision, especially the uninformed or emotional ones, sets off a chain reaction, often far beyond what was intended. Recently, a woman from the United States planned a visit to Panama to see a friend. Her husband strongly opposed the trip. In an attempt to stop her, he secretly placed a handgun in her luggage, assuming she would be intercepted while departing the U.S. She wasn’t. Instead, she was detained upon arrival in Panama. She now faces serious criminal charges, potential jail time, and consequences that extend far beyond the airport, into her marriage, her family, and her husband’s career. One impulsive act, rooted in control rather than foresight, changed multiple lives overnight. In another case, a stunning luxury building was constructed in the heart of Casco Viejo, architecturally beautiful, meticulously designed, and undeniably impressive. What wasn’t fully accounted for was its immediate environment. Surrounded by long-standing gang territories, the building has since been repeatedly hit by gunfire. While no one has been physically harmed, the damage is extensive, the risk is constant, and residents are understandably unwilling to live “under fire.” What was envisioned as a dream investment has become an unresolved liability. Both situations share a common thread: decisions made without fully understanding the surroundings, the risks, or the downstream effects. The takeaway is simple, but not always easy. Check your surroundings. Pack your own luggage. Conduct proper due diligence. Trust is important, but trusting yourself enough to verify, question, and assess risk is critical. Because when decisions are made blindly, it’s rarely just one person who pays the price. Brett Mikkelson Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Panama Will Separate the Concessions of the Ports of Balboa and Cristóbal The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, stated that the country will not grant a single concession again for the joint operation of the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal, following the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice that declared the current concession contract unconstitutional. During his weekly press conference, the president announced that the new scheme will be different and that each port will be treated separately when the State defines the concession model to be applied once the transition period concludes. Mulino explained that, once this process is completed, Panama will evaluate under which framework the two ports will be administered and emphasized that “there will no longer be a concession of two ports under the same company.” He noted that this decision is part of a strategy designed in advance and responds to the new legal scenario created by the Court’s ruling. The president clarified that, while the ruling is not yet final, Panama Ports Company continues to operate normally, as it has in recent weeks, and that no disruption to port operations has occurred. He indicated that the transition period will begin once the ruling becomes final and will be administered by the Panamanian State in accordance with what was previously announced. When asked why APM Terminals, a subsidiary of Maersk, had been designated for the transition, Mulino stated that Maersk is a relevant actor during the transition stage because it is the main user of the Port of Balboa and has operational experience on a global scale. He explained that the relationship with this company will take place within the framework of the temporary control and administration of the ports, while the State later defines the definitive concession scheme. The president also referred to the arbitration announced by the Hutchison conglomerate, noting that the company has the right to resort to that mechanism, just as Panama has the right to defend itself. In this regard, he categorically rejected the claim that the Panamanian State had harassed or threatened the company for a year, as stated in the communiqué issued by Hutchison when announcing the arbitration. He also said that Panama is a dignified country and would not allow itself to be threatened by any other, in reference to statements coming from China and Hong Kong following the ruling. Finally, Mulino reiterated that the Government’s strategy was not improvised and that work had been carried out for a year on different possible scenarios. He stressed that the objective is to guarantee stability for the shipping market and the port community, and assured that Panama will act with responsibility and sovereignty in the decisions it adopts regarding the future administration of its ports. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE Panama Will Dissolve Nearly 300,000 Inactive Corporations in the Fight Against Money Laundering The Government of Panama announced this Wednesday a process to eliminate nearly 300,000 “suspended legal entities,” inactive corporations, from the registry as part of its efforts to stop being considered a tax haven and to continue exiting money-laundering blacklists. “This dissolution process is something that is helping the country get off international blacklists. This process identified corporations that have been delinquent for more than 10 years, in some cases up to 20 years, in the payment of the annual franchise tax,” Vice Minister of Economy Eida Gabriela Sáiz explained to EFE. Panama’s Ministry of Economy and Finance detailed that the process will begin on February 27 and will be carried out in two stages: a first stage covering “legal entities that have a marginal note of dissolution due to non-payment of the annual franchise tax for more than twenty years, specifically before and after 2016,” and a second stage encompassing those with “suspended status in the Public Registry.” Authorities will also consider whether corporations have lacked a resident agent—the attorney or law firm that represents the entity before authorities or the Public Registry—for more than 90 days after the agent’s resignation, removal, or termination, as explained during a press conference by the various entities involved. The process will be implemented in phases, starting with an initial block of 180,883 corporations with harmonized information, according to the Ministry of Economy. In addition,