Writer’s block; This Weekend There Will Be a Nationwide Massive Vaccination Campaign; Tropical Wave No. 1: Rain Surveillance Advisory Issued; Government Signs and Publishes Decree in Official Gazette Regarding Firefighters’ Promotions; These are Some of the Best Writing Tips I’ve Seen

Friday, June 02, 2023

Writer\’s block sucks.  It’s a good thing, I’m not a writer, eh?  This morning I had the opportunity to talk with two teachers from my boys’ school.  Both of them got bad grades on a final this semester and they requested a meeting with me.  With me??  Why me?  I’m the dad, go talk to the mom!  Anyways, we talked and I was intent on getting down to solving the problem.  But what I got out of the meeting was something better.  They both painted a picture of my kids as being good boys, very respectful and good natured in general.  Yes, I care about their grades, but screw that!  The best point of my day has been listening to someone of authority talk about how awesome my boys are (other than one bad test).  So I’m floating on cloud 9 today and no-one can take that away from me, not even writer’s block…

TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:

Yoli’s Wisdom

GOVERNMENT DECLARES STATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY

Government declares State of Environmental Emergency.

On Tuesday, May 30th, the State of Environmental Emergency was declared by the National Government in a Cabinet Council, due to the prolonged dry season experienced by the country.

The climatic conditions affecting the world, such as high temperatures, evaporation, and lack of rainfall, are a prelude to the possible arrival of El Niño phenomenon, as reported by the Ministry of Environment.

The Western region, located in the province of Chiriquí and a center of agricultural production in the country, is forecasted to experience a decrease in rainfall.

Prior to the approval of the State of Environmental Emergency, a presentation on \”Scenarios of Climate Change: Vision 2030, 2050, and 2070\” was given to the State ministers by Dr. Ligia Castro, Director of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, and Eng. Berta Alicia Olmedo, Deputy Director of the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The Ministry of Agricultural Development, Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, Ministry of Environment, National Authority of Public Services, and the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama are the authorized entities to carry out the necessary special contracts to address the State of Environmental Emergency, according to the approved resolution.

READ HERE: GOBIERNO DECLARA ESTADO DE EMERGENCIA AMBIENTAL

PANAMA CANAL DOES NOT RULE OUT EXTREME MEASURES DUE TO DROUGHT

The Panama Canal, as an extreme measure, would have to limit the transit of ships.

The administrator of the Panama Canal, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, stated in a statement released on Thursday that, if the drought continues in the Central American country, they will have to decide, as an \”extreme measure,\” to limit daily transits through the canal from the current 36 vessels to a maximum of 28.

\”The Panama Canal, as an extreme measure, would have to make the decision to limit the number of transits through the Panama Canal. Let\’s see what this means: currently, we transit between 35 and 36 vessels per day. We would have to reduce it to 32 to 28, those are extreme situations,\” Vásquez said in a video.

This announcement comes in the same week when the Panamanian government declared a state of environmental emergency due to the prolongation of the dry season, which is causing water supply problems.

The measure is based on the fact that high temperatures, evaporation, and lack of rainfall are precursors to the possible arrival of an El Niño phenomenon. The artificial lakes of Alhajuela and Gatun, which supply water to over half of the country\’s population and the Panama Canal, \”have been drastically reduced due to the prolongation of the dry season,\” according to the government\’s report.

Years of warning

The administrator of the Panama Canal, through which around 3% of global trade passes, stated that the \”climate emergency is a topic\” they have been warning about for many years.

\”We simply never knew in which year a case like the one we are experiencing now would occur, but it could happen at any time. The last period of intense drought we had was in 2019-2020, and these cycles usually repeat once every five years. What we are seeing now is that it is repeating once every three years. That should alert us to the urgency,\” he emphasized.

During the severe drought Panama experienced in 2019, the maximum draft in the neopanamax locks, which are used by vessels passing through the expansion inaugurated in 2016, temporarily decreased to 44 feet (13.4 meters), resulting in a drop in toll revenue.

On April 19, the Panama Canal implemented its fifth draft restriction for neopanamax vessels, which are three times larger than those crossing the century-old locks, offering them a draft of 47.5 feet instead of the maximum allowed 50 feet, thus reducing cargo volume.

According to Vásquez, the \”climate impact\” and its effect on water availability should be discussed, as it is a problem that affects various sectors such as agriculture and energy consumption.

Guaranteeing water for 50 years

In addition to ensuring that it uses \”less water per transit,\” the Panama Canal is awaiting the results of research work with which they hope to \”make a national proposal to resolve the water issue, at least in the operation of the Canal and human consumption, for the next 50 years.\”

For now, one of the measures the Canal is implementing to reduce consumption, explained Vásquez, is to transfer \”water from one side of the lock to the other,\” as well as to \”schedule transits in such a way that\” they can reuse the maximum amount of water \”within each chamber to accommodate more vessels.\”

The passage of ships through these locks occurs through the filling and emptying of water to allow the vessels to navigate through sections of different levels in the Canal.

\”So far, transit has not been affected. The only early warning we have is the fact that fewer vessels are arriving in Panama. That is, we used to receive 40 arrivals every day, and now that number has decreased, and that is an early warning of what could happen,\” the administrator noted.

However, he clarified that \”this is the time of year when there are fewer arrivals,\” so it may be more of a \”seasonal\” issue than a decision by shipping companies to opt for another route, which takes time.

Panama\’s climate is characterized by a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season typically begins in May when the cycle is normal and lasts until approximately November, while the dry season occurs from December to April, except for the Caribbean region, where it rains almost year-round. In 2023, the drought has been prolonged.

READ HERE: CANAL DE PANAMÁ NO DESCARTA MEDIDAS EXTREMAS POR SEQUÍA

SCHOOLS MUST OFFER HEALTHY FOOD IN KIOSKS

Schools must offer healthy food at kiosks.

The country\’s educational centers must offer healthy and quality food to ensure the well-being of the student population, as reported by the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA).

All schools and colleges that have kiosks and cafeterias selling products have a surveillance and monitoring committee responsible for conducting internal assessments of the premises\’ conditions and the food offerings, according to the National Directorate of Nutrition and School Health of MEDUCA.

When anomalies or recurrences are found, a report is made to notify the nutritionist-dietitian from the Ministry of Health (MINSA), and the tenant is subject to a initial fine of B/ 500.00, as they are part of private establishments.

Nutrition specialists from MEDUCA continuously carry out training sessions on monitoring and supervision of food with the aim of providing information regarding Resolution 049, which adopts the Basic Guide for the offering of healthy products in official and private educational institutions.

For this week, 30 employees from the school regions of Darien, Chiriqui, Colon, and the Guna Yala and Embera Wounaan regions participated in one of the workshops conducted by the institution. The workshop was attended by nutritionists from MINSA and MEDUCA, environmental sanitation technicians, and coordinators of the school health program from MINSA.

The emphasis was placed on the supervision and monitoring of the food offerings and the review of the different instruments used by each region.

Topics addressed in the training

These were the topics discussed in the MEDUCA training session:

  • Nutritional situation in childhood and adolescence and global strategies to combat obesity;
  • obesity in Panama;
  • basic guide for offering healthy food in kiosks and cafeterias;
  • monitoring the offering of healthy food;
  • SWOT analysis,
  • among others.

READ HERE: CENTROS EDUCATIVOS DEBEN OFRECER ALIMENTOS SALUDABLES EN LOS KIOSCOS

GOVERNMENT SIGNS AND PUBLISHES DECREE IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE ON PROMOTIONS OF FIREFIGHTERS

Logo of the Fire Department of Panama.

Executive Decree No. 13 of June 1, 2023, approving the \”Plan for the Recovery of the Firefighting Career and the Reorganization of the Hierarchical Structure of the Meritorious Fire Department of the Republic of Panama,\” was published on Thursday, June 1, in the Official Gazette.

The delay in signing the agreement to formalize the so-called \”promotions for justice\” in the Panamanian Fire Department has caused discontent among the firefighters, who have been exerting various forms of pressure in several provinces of the country since last week. They reject what they perceive as a \”delay in the process\” by the authorities to fulfill the salary adjustments that had already been promised to them.

The decree is signed by the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, and the Minister of Government, Roger Tejada.

Upon learning of the publication of the Executive Decree in the Official Gazette, the firefighters put an end to the measures of pressure they had been carrying out in recent weeks.

The Plan

The general components of the Plan to be implemented by the administration of the Fire Department are framed within the analysis and review of records, a comprehensive audit report of positions in the eleven (11) regional zones, review of the position structure by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, presentation of the new position structure, and formalization of promotions for firefighting personnel.

The Plan has a scope that applies to the defined phases in the schedule structured by the Fire Department, which will be in effect until December 31, 2023.

The units that will be evaluated based on the Plan are those that have entered permanent service, meeting the requirements established in Law 10 of 2010, the General Regulations, and the resolutions issued by the Board of Trustees of the Fire Department.

Upon completion of the effects of the procedure established in the Plan, firefighters aspiring to new promotions must meet the requirements established in Law 10 of 2010 and the General Regulations of the Fire Department.

In this way, the overall objective of providing justice to those active operational units that, according to the Law and the General Regulations, must be promoted and advanced within the eleven (11) regional zones of the Fire Department, is fulfilled.

Click here to know the decree published in the Official Gazette.

READ HERE: GOBIERNO FIRMA Y PUBLICA DECRETO EN GACETA OFICIAL SOBRE ASCENSOS DE LOS BOMBEROS

REGIONAL ROBOTICS OLYMPICS WILL BE UNTIL AUGUST

Regional Robotics Olympics will be until August.

In the first phase called the 2023 Regional Robotics Olympics, which has already started and will run until August 11, 2023, as informed by the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA), over 1,600 students have registered, forming 550 teams in different categories.

Students from primary, middle, and high schools, both public and private, from different educational regions, will begin the 2023 Regional Robotics Olympics to select those who will represent the country in the World Robotics Olympiad, which will be held from November 7 to 9 in Panama.

The competitions will take place from June 1 to August 11, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the opening ceremony will be held at Colegio La Salle de Margarita in the province of Colón on Thursday, June 1.

The Minister of Education, Maruja Gorday de Villalobos, emphasized that \”there has been a awakening with robotics, classes become more interactive, and young people are working on solving problems in their community such as recycling, environmental conservation, home support, medication distribution, and through these needs, a more collaborative learning is generated, along with the development of programming and technological skills.\”

According to the minister, the strategy is an implementation for the improvement of education through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and all that it implies, in terms of project skills, soft skills, technological skills, problem-solving, and how to improve the world around us.

The First Lady, Jazmín de Cortizo, added, \”I am confident that Panama will have a well-prepared delegation at the World Robotics Olympiad, of which we are the host. I invite educators who have taken the STEAM diploma to encourage their students to participate in the regional competitions and enhance their projects. To those who have prepared as judges, join this process for the benefit of the students and the country.\”

READ HERE: OLIMPIADAS REGIONALES DE ROBÓTICA SERÁ HASTA AGOSTO

MIAMBIENTE TAKES ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL LOGGING

MiAmbiente.

The Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) has taken measures to suspend eleven concessions for forest exploitation in the Aruza area, Yape district, Pinogana district in Darien, in order to stop illegal logging and the community conflicts that arise from this practice.

Likewise, pending permit requests have been halted, as reported by the regional director of the institution in the province, Enrique Castillo.

Based on Resolution No. 064-2023 of April 14, 2023, protective measures were taken as ordered by the guarantee judge after receiving complaints in the areas of Tamagantí, Papanatí, and Cochino in the Yape district, Pinogana.

MiAmbiente carries out inspections in areas with complaints.

MiAmbiente dispatched a technical team from its headquarters to carry out various inspections in the locations where illegal logging practices were reported. Subsequently, a report was prepared, which established \”the existence of illegal logging within and outside the granted permits in the Aruza sector.\”

Finally, the document was sent to the relevant authorities, specifically the Deputy Prosecutor\’s Office for Environmental Crimes, for them to conduct the investigation process and take appropriate measures against those involved in this crime.

READ HERE: MIAMBIENTE TOMA MEDIDAS CONTRA LA TALA ILEGAL

THIS WEEKEND THERE WILL BE A MASSIVE VACCINATION DAY NATIONWIDE

More than 70 thousand doses of bivalent covid-19 vaccines arrived for children from 6 months to 12 years old.

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) announced that 71,520 new doses of bivalent vaccines against COVID-19 have arrived exclusively for the population of children aged 6 months to 4 years, 5 to 11 years, and 12 years.

Minsa is carrying out a nationwide mass vaccination campaign through the Expanded Program on Immunization (PAI).

Itzel Yolanda Slocum de Hewitt, coordinator of the Minsa\’s PAI, explained that, for the first time, 6,000 doses of bivalent vaccines exclusively for children aged 6 months to 4 years have arrived in the country, along with 47,520 doses for children aged 12 years and 18,000 doses for children aged 5 to 12 years.

\”This weekend, we will have extended vaccination hours nationwide in all provinces, as well as in shopping centers, bus terminals, supermarkets, and metro stations, so that we can make all the vaccines from the National Schedule available,\” mentioned Slocum.

Minsa explained that the batch of bivalent vaccines will be distributed equitably to all regions of the country based on the population denominator.

The objective of these new doses of bivalent vaccines is to reinforce and increase the percentage of people receiving bivalent and general vaccination doses.

Minsa is calling on parents who have not yet vaccinated their children against COVID-19 or who are missing any vaccines from the National Schedule to attend and bring their children to the nearest vaccination facilities in their area this weekend.

READ HERE: ESTE FIN DE SEMANA HABRÁ JORNADA MASIVA DE VACUNACIÓN A NIVEL NACIONAL

ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES TO COMPETE AT BERLIN 2023 GAMES

Athletes with disabilities will compete at the World Summer Games Berlin 2023.

A total of 13 Panamanian athletes with intellectual disabilities will participate in the 16th edition of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Berlin 2023, which will take place in Germany from June 17th to 25th.

After several months of training and acquiring skills, these young athletes will participate in disciplines such as athletics, bowling, bocce, rhythmic gymnastics, and swimming. The teams are composed of 2 to 3 athletes.

During the preparation, the competitors had two training sessions between March and April, and another one is scheduled for June before traveling to Germany in order to demonstrate their competitiveness.

The Minister of Education, Maruja Gorday de Villalobos, said it is gratifying to have young people who, despite their condition, dare to excel and participate in activities such as the Special Olympics World Summer Games, where they will contribute their talents and compete to represent Panama with distinction.

Alexandra Neira, who excels in bowling, commented, \”I am happy, I will bring medals so that my family can feel proud of my participation in these Olympics.\”

As part of the games, various assemblies will be held, such as the Global Athletes Congress, where representatives and leaders from countries around the world can express their opinions on the matter.

Germany will host this grand event for the first time, welcoming a total of 7,000 athletes, 20,000 volunteers, and 190 delegations who will compete in 26 sports disciplines during nine days filled with competition and emotions.

READ HERE: ATLETAS CON DISCAPACIDAD COMPETIRÁN EN LOS JUEGOS DE BERLÍN 2023

2023 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS

2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, the hurricane season in the Atlantic began. The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) explains that the eventual occurrence of 13 to 14 storms has been anticipated, of which 6 or 7 will develop into hurricanes, and three of them could reach categories higher than 3.

Once the hurricane season begins in the Atlantic, the prolongation of 21 tropical cyclones is expected. Additionally, between 13 and 14 tropical storms have been forecasted, of which 6 to 7 could become hurricanes, and up to 3 could reach category +3.

How many cyclones will there be in the Eastern Pacific?

There will be 24 cyclones registered in the Eastern Pacific, and it is forecasted that there will be 15 storms during the cyclone season in the Pacific, with 8 of them potentially becoming hurricanes and up to 4 reaching category +3.

The list of approved names for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic for 2023, as designated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), is as follows:

  • Arlene
  • Bret
  • Cindy
  • Don
  • Emily
  • Franklin
  • Gert
  • Harold
  • Idalia
  • Katia
  • Lee
  • Margot
  • Nigel
  • Ophelia
  • Phillipe
  • Sean
  • Tammy
  • Vince
  • Whitney

Previously, the IMHPA announced that the hurricane seasons for both the Eastern Pacific and the Atlantic had started. Specifically, the hurricane season for the Eastern Pacific began on Monday, May 15, and will continue until November 30, 2023.

This week, Panama experienced the first arrival of a tropical wave. The Meteorological Institute explains that this weather condition will remain in the country for a few days, and significant rainfall is expected.

Due to the expected El Niño phenomenon this year, the rainfall will not be regular or in line with previous years. There will be periods of two or three days of rain followed by dry spells. This irregular pattern is expected for this year, as explained by Martínez.

READ HERE: INICIA TEMPORADA DE HURACANES 2023 EN EL ATLÁNTICO

FUEL PRICES CHANGE THIS FRIDAY HOW MUCH DO YOU SAVE WITH THE SUBSIDY?

Image of a fuel dispenser.

The Ministry of Energy has announced that there will be new fuel prices starting from Friday, June 2nd.

The price of 95 octane gasoline will increase by 4 cents, reaching a total of $1.05 per liter. The price of 91 octane gasoline will increase by 3 cents, reaching 98 cents per liter.

Low-sulfur diesel will increase by 1 cent, reaching 85 cents per liter. These prices will be in effect until 5:59 am on June 16th.

With these new fuel prices taking effect this Friday, the subsidized savings per gallon for 91 octane gasoline will be 46 cents.

And for diesel, the savings per gallon will be 7 cents. The price for a gallon of 91 octane gasoline and subsidized diesel remains at $3.25.

The government has approved extending the validity of the fuel price of $3.25 until July 15th.

READ HERE: PRECIOS DE LOS COMBUSTIBLES CAMBIAN ESTE VIERNES ¿CUÁNTO AHORRAS CON EL SUBSIDIO?

TROPICAL WAVE No. 1: RAINFALL WATCH ISSUED

Tropical Wave No. 1: Rainfall Watch Issued.

The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) has issued a rainfall watch for several areas of the country due to the passage of Tropical Wave No. 1. The advisory is valid from May 31st until 11:59 p.m. on June 3rd, 2023, as explained in the forecast released by meteorologists Elicet Yáñez and Emanuel Velásquez.

The National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) advises the population to avoid outdoor activities during the storms due to the influx of cloudiness from maritime areas to the mainland. The sky will be mostly cloudy throughout the country, and rainfall is expected to persist in the Eastern and Metropolitan regions as well as in maritime zones.

Areas under prevention notice

The areas under the prevention watch, from those most prone to heavy rainfall to lighter ones, are:

  • Chiriquí
  • Veraguas
  • Bocas del Toro
  • Ngabe Bugle Comarca
  • Darien
  • Emberá Wounaan Comarca
  • Guna Yala Comarca
  • Coclé
  • Herrera
  • Panama Este
  • Los Santos
  • Panama Oeste
  • Colón
  • Panama Metro and Norte

On the other hand, the maritime conditions are as follows: in the Caribbean coast, waves of 0.3 to 0.7 meters in height are expected, with periods of 5 to 7 seconds. On the Pacific coast, waves of 0.8 to 1.2 meters in height are expected, with periods of 12 to 17 seconds.

READ HERE: ONDA TROPICAL N °1: EMITEN AVISO DE VIGILANCIA POR LLUVIAS

PANAMA SEEKS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO BECOME A PHARMACEUTICAL HUB

Images of medicines.

During the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Conference on Biomedicine and Health Industry, the Ambassador of Panama to China, Leonardo Kam, presented the initiative developed by President Laurentino Cortizo to establish Panama as a regional Pharmaceutical Hub.

The purpose of this presentation was to seek international cooperation, as Ambassador Kam explained during his speech.

In his address, the Ambassador explained that the Pharmaceutical Hub is an initiative born out of the government\’s determination to efficiently and effectively respond to the need for improving the quality and availability of medications in the Panamanian market and the region.

\”Panama is venturing into the scientific and healthcare field following the Covid-19 pandemic,\” he explained.

According to the government, the Pharmaceutical Hub aims to \”improve the quality and availability of medications in the Panamanian market\” by contributing to the launch of new products, optimizing the training of technical and scientific human capital, enhancing existing synergies within the pharmaceutical sector, and attracting foreign manufacturers of generic drugs to make Panama their regional production base.

Leonardo Kam, Ambassador of Panama to China.

The conference held in the Chinese city of Cangzhou brought together important professionals, experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, and academics in the field of biomedicine and the health industry. They showed interest in the Panamanian proposal considering its geographical position, the Panama Canal, its logistical infrastructure, the capacity of its ports, and the Colón Free Zone.

The objective of these types of conferences is to stay updated on scientific and technological advancements in the field of biomedicine and the health industry. It also provides an opportunity to establish contacts with other professionals and promote collaboration in the search for innovative solutions to improve people\’s health and well-being.

READ HERE: PANAMÁ BUSCA APOYO INTERNACIONAL PARA CONVERTIRSE EN HUB FARMACÉUTICO

STATUS UPDATE:

Saturday, May 27, 2023

PANAMA REPORTS A TOTAL OF 1,040,230 DETECTED CASES OF INFECTION AND 8,624 DEATHS BY COVID-19

  • 1,040,230 positive cases
  • 835 new cases
  • 8,624 deaths
  • 695 Home Isolation (0 Hospital Hotels)
  • 56 are hospitalized (56 in ward / 0 intensive care)
  • 1,030,855 clinically recovered.

END NOTES:

There’s no doubt that I\’m a total PANTSER.  You may not know the definition of a pantser, but once you read this article you will AND you’ll agree that I’m obviously a pantser.  But once again, it’s a good thing I’m not a writer.

https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-tips/

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).