Stronger Together; Túnel del Toyo; Law 374 (sentence review); APM Terminals Balboa.

Friday, February 27, 2026. Stronger Together: The Untapped Power of the Expat Community I look around and see dozens of expat groups, thousands of people from every imaginable background. Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Asians, fellow Latinos, and yes… even a few Wisconsinites like me. We come from different cultures, political perspectives, professions, and life stories. Middle-of-the-roaders, idealists, hardliners, you name it. The diversity is real. What surprises me isn’t our differences. It’s how often we allow those differences to divide us. When we move abroad, we all step into unfamiliar territory. Different systems, different rules, different rhythms of life. That alone should be enough to remind us that we have more in common than we think. Yet too often, I see external political frustrations, old grudges, or ideological battles imported into spaces that could otherwise be constructive, supportive communities. The bigger picture we’re missing is this: by sheer numbers alone, expats represent influence. Knowledge. Experience. Resources. Networks. If we operated like a well-oiled machine, sharing information, helping newcomers, supporting businesses, guiding each other through bureaucracy, celebrating wins, and solving problems collectively, the impact would be enormous. Not just for ourselves, but for the communities we’ve chosen to call home. There is real potential here. The opportunity to build something more than a social group. We could foster a genuine brotherhood or sisterhood, one built not on uniformity of opinion, but on mutual respect and shared purpose. We all made the courageous decision to step beyond our comfort zones and build lives somewhere new. That alone binds us together.  Let’s not waste that bond. Instead of infighting, imagine alignment. Instead of suspicion, imagine mentorship. Instead of division, imagine strength in numbers. The power is already here. The question is whether we choose to use it. Brett Mikkelson Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama Comic Spotlight: Don’t miss The Mikkelson Files: #2 – The Case of the Madderdahdy, featured at the end of this article. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: APM Terminals Resumes Container Reception at the Port of Balboa APM Terminals Panamá reported that the stabilization phase of operations at the Port of Balboa, on Panama’s Pacific coast, is progressing according to plan. The process aims to ensure operational continuity with minimal impact after the company assumed temporary management of the terminal. As part of the schedule, on February 24 the reception of export and empty containers via the gate resumed. Gate access remains open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. For the time being, import containers are not being released. The company indicated that all refrigerated containers carrying perishable goods remain connected to power and under constant monitoring to preserve the cold chain. APM Terminals also noted that personnel continue advancing in training on the new operating system to ensure a smooth transition in data and cargo management. Bianca Morán, from the Panamanian Association of Exporters and exporter at Ecotopía, explained that since yesterday several members have been unable to retrieve empty containers at the Port of Balboa, causing delays during peak fruit export season. “We have members who have all their empty containers reserved in Balboa and have not been able to collect them. The Port of Manzanillo has been very supportive, and we are moving cargo there, but not all routes depart from Colón,” she stated. Morán said they expect the situation to normalize within 48 hours and expressed confidence that APM Terminals can resolve the issue within that timeframe, although she warned that the sector had already been experiencing accumulated delays. She explained that retrieving “empties” refers to collecting containers without cargo that had already been reserved—particularly refrigerated units intended for exports such as pineapple or watermelon, which require confirmed vessel space and strict cold-chain maintenance. She also indicated that those needing to retrieve loaded containers have likewise been unable to do so. “The port operates 24/7 and the government does not,” she added, calling on public institutions to assign additional staff over the weekend to prevent further disruption to exporters. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE President of the Spanish Senate Expresses Support for Panama Regarding the European Union Tax List The President of the Spanish Senate, Pedro Rollán Ojeda, visited Panama’s Asamblea Nacional de Panamá this Tuesday, where he met with Panamanian lawmakers and addressed, among other issues, the country’s continued presence on the European Union’s list of tax havens. Rollán Ojeda was accompanied by Spanish senators who are part of the official delegation. During the meeting, matters of bilateral interest were discussed, including an invitation for Panama to participate in the upcoming Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in Spain next November. They also discussed the interest of Spanish companies in investing in Panama and strengthening economic ties between the two countries. When asked about Panama’s continued inclusion on the European Union list and Spain’s 2023 decision to remove the country from its own list of tax havens, the Senate President stated that Spain had been on the right side of the issue and expressed confidence that Panama’s removal from the European list could materialize soon. “The enormous effort made by the Panamanian government to leave behind certain past tax treatments associated with transparency should not be overlooked. Spain is working and will continue working so that Panama is recognized as a full-fledged country with explicit acknowledgment of sharing the highest standards of transparency and taxation. I can assure you that sooner rather than later this will happen, and it will not only be the result of friendship, but of the work you are carrying out in your country,” he said. Later, Rollán Ojeda addressed the plenary session of the National Assembly, where he reiterated the importance of the Ibero-American meeting scheduled for November in Spain and expressed his hope that Panamanian lawmakers would be able to participate. Summons Fails Meanwhile, the plenary continued with its regular agenda. During the session, Congresswoman Yamireliz Chong, from the Vamos party, attempted to promote a summons for the administrator of the Autoridad