Friday, July 07, 2023
This morning I woke to this insatiable craving for blueberry pancakes. As usual, my queen was already stirring around the kitchen… …quite literally… …stirring her coffee, stirring pancake batter, and probably stirring a protein shake for later. The smells were amazing and I couldn’t wait to have some of her mystical creations with a few perfectly ripened blueberries we had left in the fridge.
As she pulled away from the house with our loveable lads, in route to eagerly absorb the teachings of their socratic pedagogues, I happily snuck my way to the kitchen, giggling all the way. I know I shouldn’t have pancakes. I have a goal to lose weight and I’ve been keeping at it quite nicely these last 3 weeks since my birthday, but today I’m having my damn blueberry pancakes and I’m going to love it. Hoping there was left over batter, I checked the counters, fridge and even the freezer. Nope, no batter. “Darn it, now I’m actually going to have to make them myself from scratch!”, I whined to myself. But that’s ok because I was on a mission…
So I grabbed the flour, baking powder, eggs, milk, coconut oil, salt and a little bit of sugar, at which point I started feeling nervous. I hadn’t had a gram of granulated sugar in a while. Nonetheless, I pushed ahead once again. I made the batter as I heated the pan and folded in these amazing blueberries. In a short time, I had more than enough to placate my urges; 6 to be exact. I mean, I wasn’t actually going to eat SIX pancakes, was I? No sir, I still need to stay true to myself and eat just ONE pancake. I’ve been doing great on my weight loss and there’s no need to fall apart now just because my brain was screaming at me to gobble them all down. So, I ate 3 of them. (Ugh.). In Spanish there’s a saying, “Primero el gusto y despues el disgusto.”, which loosely translates to “First the like and then the dislike.”. I was full-on disgusto after that. Ooohhhhh but they were sooooo good! “Oh hell.”, I thought, “let’s just call it a cheat meal and move on like it never happened.”, I tried to convince myself. I mean, if I say, “I had my cheat meal this morning.”, it’s sure as hell better sounding than “I cheated on my diet today!” or “I caved to my ancestral yearnings!”. This way, it’s sounds like it’s just a part of the diet plan. “I had my cheat meal this morning”, is perfectly ok.
And that’s when it hit me…. We don’t use “cheat” as often as we should to cover for our daily pitfalls. Heck yeah, we need to use that more often. For example, if you fool around on your spouse or somehow significant other, don’t say “I cheated on my wife.”, just say “I had a cheat meet.” and it’s ok! Did you spend more than your scheduled family budget?, or, did you embezzle money from your boss’ company?, don’t confess to any failures silly man, just say, “I took a cheat bonus!”. I wonder how far we could go with this??? Hhhmmmm…. Murder? That’s probably taking it too far, but what if they “had it coming to them”? Nope, too dark even for me…. Although, in panama, this type of cheating is already pretty common. Here we just call it “jugando vivo” and the person that does it, is a “juegavivo”. If you’re new to Panama, learn it quick. If you’ve been on the ass-end of being played by a juegavivo, you’ve already been taught the intricacies of the term.
Just my golden thoughts provoked by a delusional hunger.
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Yoli’s Wisdom
CSS HAS 605 DRUGS; THERE ARE STILL COMPLAINTS ABOUT SHORTAGES
Discussion on expediting purchases of medicines and supplies.
The Social Security Fund (CSS, for its initials in Spanish) has a total of 605 medicines listed in its official inventory, as reported on Thursday during the \”Conversation on streamlining the procurement of medicines and supplies.\”
Out of this total, approximately 50 medicines are difficult to acquire.
Eliécer Cortés, the national deputy director of Health Technology, explained that in 2022, the CSS dispensed 16,944,606 medicines, while in the first four months of 2023, there have been 5,712,938 dispensations.
However, the reality for many Panamanians is that they are unable to obtain the medicines and find themselves in need of purchasing them with their own money.
According to Cortés, it was decided to make the dispensation of medicines a state issue so that CSS pharmacies, as well as other healthcare entities, can be adequately supplied, and patients can have all the necessary medicines.
For this purpose, the Technical Committee for Medicine Supply was created, with the participation of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), the CSS, the regulatory entity for Pharmacies and Drugs, and the Association of Patients with Chronic Diseases.
During the conversation, Medicsol was also discussed. It was created to provide an immediate response to patients in case of medicine shortages.
Cortés specified that Medicsol is installed in the polyclinics and in some units in the city, with 12 lines of products, as well as in implementing units in Chiriquí.
Negotiations are currently underway with suppliers to extend the plan to the central region of the country. Additionally, there are plans to expand the list so that patients can have an immediate response.
Enrique Lau Cortés, the director of the CSS, stated that their objective is to pay suppliers within a maximum of 30 days.
He added that with the endorsement of the Comptroller\’s Office and the budget allocation, the supplier can deliver the medicines, and they must pay as quickly as possible.
Regarding the loss of fentanyl at the CSS, Lau Cortés mentioned that the institution detected this situation and that it is a matter in the hands of the Public Prosecutor\’s Office.
He noted that he cannot provide any insights into this investigative process since it is up to the Public Prosecutor\’s Office to disclose what is happening.
READ HERE: CSS TIENE 605 MEDICAMENTOS; AÚN HAY QUEJAS POR ESCASEZ
COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF DAVID MURCIA GUZMÁN; REVOKES 10-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE
The Superior Liquidation Court revoked the 10-year prison sentence imposed on David Murcia Guzmán and declared the criminal action against him time-barred/prescribed.
The Superior Liquidation Court overturned a ruling by the Attached First Liquidator Court, which sentenced David Murcia Guzmán and Ernesto Chong Coronado to 10 years in prison, and declared the criminal action time-barred.
Through edict number 1092 posted at the courthouse, the parties were notified of the court\’s decision to nullify a sentence by Judge Fernando Basurto, who had convicted Murcia Guzmán and Chong Coronado as the main perpetrator and accomplice, respectively, for the crime of illegal fundraising.
At the time, Judge Basurto accepted the argument of the Public Ministry, which stated that the defendants engaged in a business activity dedicated to the commercial and habitual collection of money, in exchange for receiving percentage dividends without proper authorization and regulation. The Public Ministry argued that various anonymous companies were used to transfer income among themselves. These companies were established and directed by Murcia Guzmán, who benefited from the activity. They were administrated by Chong Coronado under a professional services contract.
Among the legal grounds used by the Liquidation Court to overturn the sentence was Article 393 D of the 1982 Penal Code, which was in force at the time of the investigated events. This provision states that \”anyone who habitually and massively collects financial resources from the public without the prior authorization of the competent authority shall be punished with imprisonment from 3 to 5 years.\”
During the investigation, the Public Ministry seized several real estate properties and luxury cars owned by Murcia in Panama. The confiscated assets included 10 cars, six of which were luxury vehicles, two apartments, three motorcycles, paintings by famous artists, office furniture, clothing, and $1.3 million deposited in bank accounts. Several luxury cars, including Maserati, Lamborghini, and Ferrari, valued between $250,000 and $350,000 each, were placed under the custody of the National Police.
Ronier Ortíz, who defended Murcia, considered the court\’s decision to be in accordance with the law, as the events were already time-barred.
Murcia Guzmán was arrested in Panama on November 20, 2009, and handed over to Colombian authorities after being accused of money laundering and illegal fundraising. He was later extradited to the United States, where he served a nine-year prison sentence. Upon his release, he was sent to Colombia, where he is serving a 22-year sentence.
He consistently claimed that his arrest in Panama was illegal and that he was never informed of the charges against him. In a recent interview with Colombian media, Murcia Guzmán stated that at the time of his arrest, there were sufficient funds to compensate the victims, but he is unaware of what happened to the money.
READ HERE: TRIBUNAL FALLA A FAVOR DE DAVID MURCIA GUZMÁN; REVOCA SENTENCIA DE 10 AÑOS DE PRISIÓN
THE NUMBERS OF IRREGULAR MIGRANTS WHO HAVE CROSSED THE DARIÉN IN 2023
Irregular migrants who have crossed the Darién in 2023.
As of Wednesday, July 5th, 201,167 irregular migrants have crossed the Darien jungle in 2023, according to figures from the Ministry of Security, which show a significant increase compared to the first quarter of 2022.
On a daily basis, between 800 to 900 individuals from different parts of the world, including babies, children, women, men, and elderly people, arrive in search of continuing their journey to North America.
The Government of Panama has implemented joint mechanisms with international authorities to provide essential assistance to those transiting through this area.
The predominant nationalities are Venezuelan (103,028), Haitian (33,553), and Ecuadorian (25,925). They are followed by Colombian citizens and individuals from Asia.
April 2023 was the month with the highest number of migrants entering Panama through Darien. In January, 24,634 people arrived; in February, there were 24,657; in March, 38,099; in May, 38,962; in June, 29,722; and as of July, there have been 4,796 travelers, as reported by the authorities.
Total people who have crossed the jungle from 2021 to 2023
Reports indicate that in the last three years, 2022 had the highest influx of irregular migration in the Darien region:
- 2021: 133,726
- 2022: 248,283
- First 6 months of 2023: 201,167
READ HERE: LAS CIFRAS DE MIGRANTES IRREGULARES QUE HAN CRUZADO EL DARIÉN EN EL 2023
LAWYER EXAM SCORES GENERATE DEBATE
Dean of the Faculty of Law defended the students.
About 9 participants out of a total of 150 passed the examination to obtain the qualification to practice law, a situation that has sparked controversy.
The Judicial Authority published the list of the 9 participants who obtained the qualification of \”suitable\” in the Initial Training Program for the Practice of Law.
Since the implementation of Law 350, which regulates the legal profession and was approved in October 2022, to become a lawyer, each applicant must pass this examination in addition to holding a bachelor\’s degree from the corresponding university.
Before the test date, students must take a 40-hour course either in-person or online, taught by different professors from the Institute of Legal Studies and Professional Upgrading (Isjup). They must also complete 120 asynchronous hours as part of the preparation to pass the exam.
Some of the applicants pointed out that they failed because the questions were confusing and poorly structured, especially the multiple-choice ones.
Professor Anayansi Turner stated that the universities that trained these individuals are the ones being evaluated poorly, which reflects the fact that the new law on the practice of law is not being fulfilled.
\”I can deduce from these results that the students are not proficient in ethical matters and the practical exercise of the profession, so I don\’t know what criteria were evaluated.\”
Turner believes that this exam should not be an obstacle to practicing the profession because the university from which the student graduates is the one that assesses the level of knowledge regarding the content of the law.
Hernando Franco, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Panama, commented that there may be deficiencies, but they need to know how these exams are applied.
\”There are a thousand ways to give an exam, and it should be considered that these are recently graduated students. It turns out that just because they didn\’t pass this little exam, we\’re going to deprive them of their qualifications,\” said Franco.
READ HERE: RESULTADO DE EXÁMENES DE ABOGADOS GENERA DEBATE
ATTENTION! ROAD CLOSURES FOR 10 DAYS: HERE, THE AFFECTED STREETS
Road closure for 10 days.
The Panama Sanitation Program, through the SAB Consortium, announces that partial road closures will be taking place for 10 days in the Pueblo Nuevo and San Francisco districts of Panama City. The affected sectors will be Hato Pintado, La Loma, La Sabana, and Carrasquilla from July 6th to July 15th, 2023.
Road closures: Streets affected
Partial and temporary road closures will be carried out on Calle 75B Este, Calle Jorge Zarak, Avenida 1B Norte, Calle 68 Este, up to Fernández de Córdoba. These closures will take place from Monday to Saturday during daytime hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and during nighttime hours from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. This is due to geotechnical exploration works (Section 4) for the execution of the project \”Design and Construction of the Main Collector of the Matasnillo River\”.
No work will be done on public holidays in order to maintain the well-being of the community and its residents. Additionally, safety measures will be implemented as a preventive measure in the direct vicinity.
The Panama Sanitation Program apologizes to residents and merchants for any inconvenience that may arise and appreciates their understanding and cooperation in completing the work.
If any issues arise, you can contact the BRD Matasnillo Consortium, Lcda. Elia Avilés, at the following cellphone number: 6926-1848 or email: eaviles@consorciobrd.com. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You can also contact the Panama Sanitation Program at 235-8601 ext. 1443, Lcda. Dagmar López (Social Management), or email: dagmarlopez@minsa.gob.pa. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
You can corroborate this information by entering the website of Programa Saneamiento Panamá at the link below:https://www.saneamientodepanama.gob.pa/
READ HERE: ¡ATENCIÓN! CIERRE DE VÍAS POR 10 DÍAS: AQUÍ, LAS CALLES AFECTADAS
COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR SPILL IN JUAN DÍAZ RIVER IDENTIFIED
AMP official observes the magnitude of the hydrocarbon spill.
The Maritime Authority (AMP) has reported that the company allegedly responsible for the hydrocarbon spill into the Juan Díaz River has been identified.
In a statement from the entity, it is informed that in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente), the company was located, which acknowledged its responsibility for the damage and contacted one of the authorized mitigation companies authorized by the AMP to initiate containment, mitigation, and cleaning operations in the area.
Meanwhile, personnel from the Pollution Prevention and Control Department of the AMP mobilized to the river estuary to place booms, absorbent material used to contain the spilled hydrocarbon and prevent further contamination.
It has been confirmed that the contaminating agent, presumed to be bunker fuel, was coming from a pipe that discharges into the river and originated from one of the fuel tanks used in the company\’s boiler.
The responsible company was not identified, and the AMP only informed that it is not related to maritime activities.
Other parts of the river, one of the main rivers in the capital, were inspected by AMP personnel in search of the source of contamination and its magnitude.
Furthermore, it was announced that investigations will continue to determine the degree of responsibility and the sanctions to be imposed.
The Panama City Sanitation Program has made significant investments, with international financing, to clean up the Juan Díaz River, including the construction of collectors costing over $70 million, to prevent further contamination.
This river has a length of 28 kilometers and originates 700 meters above sea level, receiving water from Cerro Azul, the east of San Miguelito, and Panama Norte.
READ HERE: IDENTIFICAN EMPRESA RESPONSABLE DE DERRAME EN RÍO JUAN DÍAZ
SOUTH KOREAN PRIME MINISTER HAN DUCK-SO VISITS PANAMA
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-so visits Panama.
Panama received a visit from the Prime Minister of South Korea, Han Duck-soo, and his delegation, as part of an important official mission in the country. The visit includes a meeting with the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, with the aim of strengthening the common agenda in diplomatic, commercial, and cultural matters.
The Minister in charge of Foreign Relations (MIRE), Vladimir Franco Sousa, welcomed them at the Panama Pacific International Airport.
The Prime Minister and his delegation will visit the Panama Canal, the construction site of the third Metro line – currently the largest public project in Panama – and the Concrete Plant in Vacamonte, where Korean companies are involved.
This is the first official visit by a high-level Korean official to Panama in thirteen years. The previous visit was made by then-President of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak, in 2010.
During his visit, Prime Minister Duck-soo and his delegation will participate in an expanded Cabinet Council meeting with the following Ministers: Federico Alfaro Boyd, Minister of Trade and Industry; Vladimir Franco, Minister in charge of Foreign Relations; José Rojas Pardini, Minister of Private Investment; Saleh Asvat, Chief of Staff and National Secretary of Public-Private Partnership; Jorge Almengor, Vice Minister of Economy; Isbeth Quiel Murcia, Acting Vice Minister of Foreign Relations.
READ HERE: PRIMER MINISTRO SURCOREANO HAN DUCK-SOO VISITA PANAMÁ
PROTECT YOUR ASSETS! THESE ARE THE MOST COMMONLY COMMITTED CRIMES IN PANAMA
Security and investigative authorities have carried out a series of operations in recent weeks.
Stealing, robbery, and fraud have become the \”hobby\” of many criminals who take advantage of their victims\’ goodwill or use cunning tactics to forcefully achieve their objectives.
According to authorities, crimes against property are the most commonly committed, with theft in its various forms being the favorite among criminals.
Marcos Lorenzo, a circuit prosecutor in the metropolitan area of Panama, detailed in an interview with TVN-2.com that they have received 13,035 reports of alleged property-related offenses until May of this year, which represents an increase of 407 cases compared to the same period last year.
Who is carrying out these crimes?
Authorities have identified various criminal gangs operating to commit these types of crimes through joint operations with the National Police, primarily consisting of individuals between 18 and 30 years old. However, when it comes to fraud, the profile changes, as it involves older and more experienced individuals who know how to gain the trust of their victims.
Statistics for fraud offenses nationwide from January to May 2023 / Public Ministry
Most thefts occur in crowded areas such as public transportation, busy streets, or residential areas, where criminals use their skills unnoticed by the victims.
On the other hand, robbery has a direct impact on the physical integrity of the victim, involving intimidation and even violence.
Statistics for robbery offenses nationwide from January to May 2023 / Public Ministry
According to the law, if these crimes are considered simple, such as pickpocketing, and the amount stolen is up to $1,000.00, the jurisdiction lies with a local magistrate; but if the crime is aggravated and exceeds $250.00, the jurisdiction falls under the Public Ministry, explained Lorenzo.
“Initially, they address all complainants regardless of jurisdiction. They receive the complaint and then conduct a legal analysis to determine the appropriate jurisdiction,” Lorenzo emphasized.
Lorenzo explained that each case represents an interesting logistical process. \”In the case of a robbery, for example, if necessary, an expert analysis must be conducted. This involves coordinating with the police, investigative procedures, gathering testimonies or evidence such as surveillance videos from the crime scenes. All of this requires diligent investigative work due to the high number of cases.\”
Recommendations
Finally, the prosecutor from the Metropolitan Section of the Public Ministry recommended that the population take physical and asset security measures. \”In the case of scams, if an offer seems too good to be true, that\’s a red flag, and it\’s important not to expose yourself with attractive belongings.\”
READ HERE: ¡CUIDE SU PATRIMONIO! ESTOS SON LOS DELITOS QUE MÁS SE ESTÁN COMETIENDO EN PANAMÁ
URGE TO VISIT THE NEW HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN PORTOBELO
Admission to the Museum of Afro-Panamanian Memory is free.
\”Discover their history and legacy\” is the slogan presented by the Ministry of Culture at the new Afro-Panamanian Memory Museum, located in downtown Portobelo, on the Costa Arriba of Colón. It is an innovative space that tells the story of the enslaved and their cultural influence.
The museum features three interactive rooms that highlight the participation of Afro-descendants in society and their intangible heritage, enriching the heritage value of this historic site.
The first room covers the history of the enslaved from the moment they arrived in Portobelo and their development in society, their participation in the economy of Portobelo, and the liberation processes that emerged.
The second room focuses on the intangible heritage we have inherited from Afro-descendants, such as the Congo cultural expressions (declared intangible heritage by UNESCO), aspects related to their rituals and beliefs, the traditions of the Black Christ, why so many believers, and the history of how it arrived at this location. Visitors will also learn more about the gastronomy and music of Portobelo.
The third room, called the outdoor room, consists of available panels that discuss the customs building, its surrounding fortifications, and the fairs that gave it worldwide relevance, especially in commercial aspects, which are now part of the isthmus\’ history.
The museum will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and admission will be free.
So far, a total of 646 students, national and foreign tourists, have visited the restored Customs House building and the Afro-Panamanian Memory Museum.
It is expected that this new historical element in the Costa Arriba of Colón will attract more tourists to the area to learn about the history of Black people upon their arrival in the isthmus.
READ HERE: INSTAN A VISITAR EL NUEVO MUSEO HISTÓRICO EN PORTOBELO
PANAMA ADHERES TO THE UN WATER CONVENTION, THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE REGION
The oceans must be protected.
Panama became the first country in Latin America to join the UN Water Convention, which promotes the sustainable use of transboundary water resources, on Thursday.
\”This is a crucial commitment that reaffirms our leadership as a blue and green country on a global level,\” said Panamanian Foreign Minister Janaína Tewaney Mencomo, who presented the document signed by President Laurentino Cortizo to the UN legal service in New York in a brief ceremony.
The minister hopes that countries like Costa Rica and Colombia, with whom Panama shares river basins, can also join the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention).
With a population of just over 4 million, the Central American country has approximately 33,000 cubic meters of freshwater per capita available, nearly six times the global average, and relies mainly on surface water resources.
The total area of transboundary river basins represents approximately 25% of the national territory.
For the country, the main transboundary river basin is the Sixaola River basin, located in the border region with Costa Rica, which is home to significant biodiversity and agricultural activities, and has cultural importance due to the presence of indigenous peoples and Afro-Caribbean populations.
It is expected that the Water Convention will help establish monitoring and data exchange systems on the quality, quantity, and use of water in this basin, where Panama and Costa Rica are already working together through a Binational Commission.
Furthermore, it is expected to support cooperation between Panama and Colombia, enhancing capacity for effective water governance and trust based on clear rights.
According to the UN, 153 countries around the world share rivers, lakes, and groundwater resources.
In Latin America, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Uruguay are in the process of joining the convention, which currently has 51 countries, mostly from Europe, but also including some African nations.
READ HERE: PANAMÁ SE ADHIERE A LA CONVENCIÓN DEL AGUA DE LA ONU, PRIMER PAÍS DE LA REGIÓN
HOW TO APPLY FOR HELP AT THE MAYOR\’S OFFICE OF PANAMA FOR FOOD, BURIAL OR MEDICINES?
How to request help from the Mayor\’s Office of Panama for food, burial or medicine?
To request assistance from the Mayor\’s Office in Panama City, individuals are required to submit several documents, including a letter addressed to the Mayor, a copy of the person submitting the request\’s identification card, and a receipt for a paid utility service (electricity, water, telephone, internet).
If the assistance is needed for a burial, the Municipality of Panama also requires a copy of the deceased person\’s identification card and death certificate. If the individual requires support for the acquisition of medication, they should include a copy of the prescription.
The letter should be addressed to the Mayor, explaining the reason for the assistance request. All documents must be submitted at the Mayor\’s Office building, Tower C, ground floor, Correspondence Department, Citizen Services.
Municipal support during the first half of 2023
The social management team of the Mayor\’s Office of Panama City has addressed the requests of 1,673 heads of households who applied for assistance for urgent needs, according to the corresponding statistical report.
Out of these assistance cases, 229 were provided in June, 556 in May, 315 in April, 215 in March, 132 in February, and 226 in January. May was the month with the highest demand due to various disaster situations.
During this first semester, 26% of the assistance requests were made by men and 74% by women, all of whom were heads of vulnerable families according to the individual cases registered by the Department of Social Work.
The corregimientos (districts) with the highest number of applications were Chilibre and Curundú with 206 requests, Pueblo Nuevo with 155, Ancón with 147, La 24 de Diciembre with 115, and Pacora with 83 applications.
They were followed by Tocumen with 77, Alcalde Díaz with 70, Juan Díaz with 67, El Chorrillo with 56, Don Bosco with 55, Las Garzas with 48, Parque Lefevre with 48, Pedregal with 45, Las Cumbres with 44, and Las Mañanitas with 39.
The corregimientos with the fewest applications were San Felipe with 6, Santa Ana with 9, Caimitillo with 11, San Martín with 17, Bella Vista with 19, San Francisco with 24, Ernesto Córdoba with 25, Betania with 27, Río Abajo and Calidonia with 37 each.
The Department of Community Works distributed 21,065 units of materials, the Social Work Department provided 2,603 supplies, the Sports Department distributed 605 sports equipment, the Disaster Response Department provided 571 household items, the Department of Equal Opportunities distributed 30 items, and the Foundations distributed 72 items, making a total of 2,448 various articles.
READ HERE: ¿CÓMO SOLICITAR AYUDA EN LA ALCALDÍA DE PANAMÁ PARA COMIDA, SEPELIO O MEDICAMENTOS?
TOUR TO DETECT CHILD LABOR IN THE CAPITAL
MITRADEL Route against Child Labour in January 2023.
In the Tocumen district, personnel from various government institutions conducted a tour following reports of child labor in this area of the capital, where witnesses have seen underage children engaged in work activities.
The Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (MITRADEL) reported that, at the national level, 87 inspections have been carried out in 2023, with 11 adolescents detected performing other types of tasks.
Personnel from the institution explained that among the solutions to this situation, they seek to establish joint family contact through the Directorate Against Child Labor of MITRADEL.
The Prevention and Eradication Program of Child Labor of the National Secretariat for Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (SENNIAF) conducts socioeconomic assessments of the identified child population and beneficiaries of the program.
In addition, they monitor and evaluate the co-responsibilities of parents, mothers, or legal guardians within the program.
SENNIAF also works daily to reintegrate children and youth into the education system and ensure their rights.
The Family and Child Code, in Article 508, states that \”A minor is considered to be working under conditions not authorized by law when they are under fourteen (14) years of age in any case of employment, and when they are older than that age but under eighteen (18) years of age, and engaging in work activities expressly prohibited by law.\”
Contact numbers to call if you have reports of child labor are as follows:
- Hotline (24 hours) for the protection of children: 6378-3466
- Psychological assistance line 6378-7876
- SENNIAF telephone central line 504-4052.
- National Child Helpline: 147
- Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (MITRADEL): +507 500-4700
- National Police: 104 (emergency) or +507 511-9292 (non-emergency)
- Ministry of Public Security: +507 511-9292
- Ministry of Social Development: +507 500-5000
Please note that these numbers are specific to Panama and can be used to report cases of child labor or seek assistance related to child labor issues.
READ HERE: REALIZAN RECORRIDO PARA DETECTAR EL TRABAJO INFANTIL EN LA CAPITAL
JULY 2023 ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS CALENDAR: THERE WILL BE METEOR SHOWERS!
Calendar of astronomical events for July 2023.
The astronomical events calendar for July 2023 indicates that there will be several phenomena related to the Supermoon, meteor showers, and even conjunctions. However, we cannot overlook the lunar phases of this month, which are as follows: full moon on July 3rd, third quarter moon on July 10th, new moon on July 17th, and first quarter moon on July 26th.
Calendar of astronomical events for July 2023
Deer Full Moon
On July 3rd, the first phase of the Full Moon occurred, coinciding with the satellite being at its closest point to Earth (perigee). This resulted in a Supermoon, which is characterized by being 7% larger and 15% brighter than any regular Full Moon.
Conjunction of the Moon and planets
The conjunction of the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars will be next Wednesday, July 19 and Thursday, July 20, they will be very close to each other in the sky.
Meteor shower
On Sunday, July 30th, the Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers will reach their peak intensity, resulting in a higher number of meteors. As a result, around 30 meteors per hour can be observed.
READ HERE: CALENDARIO DE EVENTOS ASTRONÓMICOS DE JULIO 2023: ¡HABRÁ LLUVIAS DE METEOROS!
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THREADS, THE NEW SOCIAL NETWORK THAT COMPETES WITH TWITTER
The new platform is already trending number one on the social media platform known as \”the little bird\” (referring to Twitter). Meta, the company that owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, has now created its own version of Twitter.
Threads is the proposal from Meta, the company owned by Mark Zuckerberg, that competes with the concept created by Twitter, where users can post microblogs or short text messages and start public conversations based on them.
This free-to-use application was launched on Wednesday, July 5th, and it reported 5 million downloads in its first four hours of release.
Threads replicates many of the features and format of Twitter, the social media platform founded 16 years ago and acquired by entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2022.
Here are five aspects you should know about this new messaging application and how it differs from its rival Twitter:
- If you already have an Instagram account, you don\’t have to create a new one for Threads. This makes it easier to access the application by skipping the steps of creating a profile, passwords, and other aspects usually required when joining a social network as a new user. If you already have an Instagram account, Threads will import your profile (including your photo, name, username, bio description, and even your followers) to this new app.
- Users who are blocked on your Instagram account will also be restricted on your Threads. This means they cannot contact you or view your content through this network.
- Threads has a limit of 500 characters per post compared to Twitter, which currently has a limit of 280 characters for unverified users who do not subscribe to the monthly Twitter Blue subscription. Twitter Blue provides users with a blue checkmark to verify their profile, allows them to edit their tweets after they are published, and allows for longer tweets.
- There is no daily consumption limit for Threads. In early July, this became the main controversy on Twitter when the company announced that users could only read 600 tweets per day if they did not pay for a subscription to the platform. Twitter quickly updated these numbers (due to the criticism received), and currently unverified profiles can read 2,400 tweets per day, while Twitter Blue subscribers can read 10,000 tweets per day. Threads has been launched without such a limit, allowing for unrestricted consumption.
- Currently, Threads does not offer the ability to send direct messages to other users, nor does it have a section where trending topics can be seen, as is the case on Twitter. Its home page, when you start using the application, shows the Threads posted by the profiles you follow or by pages that the algorithm deems may be of interest to you. In this new Meta application, you can share links, photos, and videos up to five minutes long.
READ HERE: 5 ASPECTOS QUE DEBES CONOCER DE THREADS, LA NUEVA RED SOCIAL QUE COMPITE CON TWITTER
END NOTES:
Panamanian breakfasts, like their culture, are full of color, flavor and diversity. The traditional roasted or fried corn tortilla, cassava, egg and sausage are ingredients that cannot be missing in a good breakfast. Today we want to offer you some breakfast ideas with which you can accompany your mornings to give them a different touch every day. Let\’s start!
Panamanian Carimañolas
As we already mentioned, cassava is one of the favorite options to prepare a good Panamanian breakfast. Although it is very traditional to eat them al mojo with a rich coriander or parsley-based sauce, fried is the most enjoyed, standing out for its crunchy texture and golden color.
The carimañolas, is a typical Panamanian dish that takes all the credit for using this tuber in a creative way. Cassava dough and an exquisite, minced meat stew come together to stand out. This is the recipe!
Ingredients
- ½ kg of cassava
- ¼ kg of meat
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves of garlic.
- 1 small red bell pepper
- 1 tbsp. tomato puree
- Shall.
- Pepper.
- Olive oil.
Preparation
- In a pot, place the cassava with water and bring to a boil for about 25 minutes or until softened.
- After the time, remove from the heat and let it drain.
- Add a tablespoon of oil and blend well, until you achieve a smooth and homogeneous mass. Add salt to taste.
- Cut the onion, the two cloves of garlic and the red paprika into small cubes.
- Separately, in a frying pan, place oil and fry the seasonings. When transparent, add the minced meat and cook until it turns coloured.
- Then add the tomato puree, salt and pepper to taste.
- Let cook over medium low heat until dry a bit.
- Take the cassava and make a kind of small tortillas, add the meat in the center and close giving an oval shape.
- Take a pan with oil over high heat until golden brown, remove from heat, drain and that\’s it.
Panamanian Hojaldres
Panamanian puff pastry is another classic dish, easy and practical to prepare, designed for a snack, as a snack and why not, a breakfast. Traditionally, it is usually accompanied with cheese, eggs, ham, meat stew, sausages, grains or some delicious dips. They are perfect with everything!
Puff pastry or torrejas, as we also know them, are a golden and crunchy wheat flour tortilla that has always been in our homes. In this recipe we are going to add a little extra to give it much more flavor!
Ingredients :
- 2 cups flour.
- ½ tsp. of baking powder.
- 1 tsp. of salt.
- 1 tbsp. of sugar.
- 1 tbsp. of oil.
- 1 egg Melo.
- ¼ cup grated cheese.
- 1 cup of water.
Preparation
- In a bowl add the wheat flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix.
- Add the egg, the oil and the cup of water little by little to mix until all the ingredients are integrated.
- Place the grated cheese and integrate it.
- Take the mixture to a clean and smooth surface and proceed to knead until you achieve a smooth texture without lumps.
- Take to the mold, cover with napkins or a dry cloth and let it rest for about 20 or 30 minutes.
- After time, proceed to cut into small pieces and form balls and then flatten them.
- In a frying pan, pour oil and fry the puff pastries until they are crispy and golden.
- Remove from heat, drain, and serve with chicken stew, beef, more cheese, or eggs.
These recipes are quick and easy to make for those days when you want to enjoy and entertain your little ones with a different breakfast. Panamanian gastronomy is rich in diversity of texture, flavors and colors, let\’s take advantage of it!
Brett Mikkelson, CII, CPE
Director, B.M. Investigations| M1 Consultants Inc
Mobile (+507) 6674-1183
brett@bminvestigations.com/www.bminvestigations.com
Proud Member of: Council of International Investigators (CII – Past President 2018-2019; Executive Regional Director 2021-Present), World Association of Detectives (WAD), The Fraternal Order of Investigators (Founding Member), Victory Services Club (London), Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA – Isthmian Chapter), Association of Certified Anti-money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Association of Fraud Examiners (AEF – Panama), Business Security Alliance (ASE – Panama).
