Friday, October 10, 2025.
Pride in Perspective: In Light and Shadow
Columbus Day is in the news again. Here’s my take on it when it comes to national pride, etc. Frist of all, pride is never a simple declaration. It is at once a source of strength, a door to dignity and also a battleground for contested memory. We wear pride to affirm who we are, and we wrestle with its weight when history reveals its darker corners.
Columbus Day was originally reclaimed by Italian Americans in an era of exclusion and prejudice. For immigrants facing hostility, Columbus was less a conquistador and more a symbol: “We belong too, we have contributed greatness.” That narrative of uplift carried forward into a national holiday. Over time, however, more of the story could no longer be ignored when we consider the exploitations, violence, and upheavals that followed in the name of “discovery”. In recent years, many towns and states have shifted toward “Indigenous Peoples’ Day”, choosing to wrestle with the full sweep of history rather than shy away from it.
This year, President Trump has publicly declared his intention to reinstate Columbus Day “under the same rules, dates, and locations” as before, calling it a return of honoring “Italian heritage” and resisting what he frames as “left-wing efforts to erase our history.” His rhetoric frames the shift as a battle over identity, symbolism, and memory: is Columbus a national hero to be defended, or a complex figure to be reexamined?
Of course, a president cannot unilaterally erase or create federal holidays. Those powers rest with Congress. But the symbolic weight of a public proclamation, especially in our age of culture wars, is heavy.
Even in his past proclamations, Trump has framed Columbus Day as an act of cultural defense, warning that “radical activists” seek to tarnish the explorer’s legacy.
But let us also turn to Leif Erikson, a figure who so often hovers in the margins of our collective memory.
Leif Erikson: The “Viking Discoverer”
Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer of Icelandic and Scandinavian lineage, is widely believed to have led the first European expedition to North America (Vinland, likely in Newfoundland) around the year 1000 CE: nearly 500 years before Columbus.
The exact date of his arrival is lost to time; the sagas record only that it was in the autumn.
The date October 9 was chosen not for a documented landing date but for symbolic resonance as it marks the arrival of the Norwegian ship Restauration to New York Harbor in 1825, which is seen as a milestone in Norwegian-American immigration.
Leif Erikson Day became a federal observance via Public Law 88–566 in 1964, instructing the president to proclaim October 9 each year in honor of his legacy and Nordic-American heritage. Each president, Republican or Democrat, since has issued a proclamation. In 2024, for example, the White House honored Erikson “in recognition of Nordic-American heritage.”
Across the U.S., states with significant Scandinavian-American populations (Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas) tend to mark the day more visibly. I remember it to be a great time when we would eat a lot of Smelt and conduct “boil overs”. Yum.
The statue of Leif Erikson in Reykjavík (designed by American sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder) stands as a high-profile memorial. In Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, historically rich in Scandinavian heritage, a bronze Leif Erikson statue has served as a local landmark and a rallying point for community celebrations.
Leif’s legacy also reminds us that history is rarely singular. His journey is less about replacing Columbus and more about broadening our lens, to honor multiple lines of heritage and to recognize that discovery, identity, and legacy are contested terrains. His landing on the shores of North America nearly five centuries before Columbus reminds us that achievement wears many faces, often forgotten ones. His commemoration came from Scandinavian-Americans who, too, sought acknowledgment of their place in the American story.
Pride, then, is not the enemy. It’s the mirror. It reflects what we value and challenges us to ensure that our pride builds rather than divides. Whether it’s pride in heritage, in progress, or in perseverance, what matters most is that it’s tempered by humility and guided by truth.
May this month’s reflection on pride remind us to celebrate achievement without losing sight of compassion, and to carry forward the best of who we are together.
Brett Mikkelson
Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private investigations in Panama
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
National Police Now Using 200 Body Cameras to Record Interventions Across the Country
Around 200 body cameras distributed nationwide are now being used by the National Police to document incidents that occur during officers’ interventions.
According to the institution, these devices were first implemented in 2020 and are used in preventive, investigative, and operational activities, based on requests from the competent authorities.
Their distribution mainly covers the provinces of Panama, Colón, Panama Oeste, Chiriquí, and the central provinces, prioritizing areas with a higher incidence of incidents related to police conduct.
The use of the cameras aims to ensure transparency in procedures, support judicial investigations, and provide evidence of officers’ work, in accordance with established protocols. Among citizens, opinions are divided: some believe the cameras strengthen trust in police actions.
However, others view their implementation unfavorably, arguing that they hinder police work. It is worth noting that Law 466, which regulates the use of body cameras by the police, was enacted and published in the Official Gazette in April of this year.
The regulation establishes that officers must inform citizens when they are being recorded during an intervention, although the person’s authorization is not required to begin filming.
Panama Will Remain on the EU’s List of Non-Cooperative Jurisdictions
The National Government reported that Panama will remain on the European Union’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, which will be updated this month, confirming its inclusion among the eleven territories currently listed.
“This does not mean we are being added to a new list; it is one we are already on. However, the process to be removed is somewhat long and tedious, and we are making progress,” stated President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday during his weekly press conference.
Panama Will Remain on the List of Non-Cooperative Jurisdictions
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) emphasized that it is working in coordination with all relevant stakeholders to meet the necessary requirements and achieve removal from the list, as was recently done with the list of jurisdictions linked to money laundering.
“We are working in coordination with all the relevant actors with the goal of being removed from this list, just as we did recently with the money laundering list,” the MEF stated in an official communiqué.
The government reaffirms its commitment to advancing regulatory and fiscal improvements, with the aim of strengthening Panama’s international reputation and maintaining the confidence of investors and international organizations.
Panama Enters the Era of Telesurgery: First Procedure Scheduled for This Friday at Ciudad de la Salud
The Social Security Fund (CSS) will perform the country’s first telesurgery on Friday, October 10, at 7:30 a.m. In this procedure, a robot will carry out the surgery while doctors supervise remotely from another building within Ciudad de la Salud.
Dr. Marcos Young, Director of Services and Benefits at the CSS, explained that this represents an unprecedented advancement in Panama and Central America, with the goal of “providing an educational and accessible way for highly experienced surgeons to work alongside less experienced surgeons.”
“This is the first time it will be done in the region. In all of the Americas, the first case was conducted very recently in Brazil this past Monday, because there is growing interest in treating complex pathologies in remote locations,” Young emphasized. The procedure will be performed using two robots connected via 5G technology, which allows data transmission with a delay of less than 200 milliseconds—virtually imperceptible.
The surgeon will operate from a remote console while the patient remains next to the robot and surgical team. “The system can perform any type of surgery: urological, oncological, gynecological, general, or thoracic, and next year we plan to implement it for cardiac surgery as well,” explained the director.
The operation will take place during the Congress of the American Confederation of Urology, which brings together over 2,000 specialists in Panama. “We will be working with Professor Vipul Patel, who has performed more than 20,000 cases and is a world-renowned expert in robotic surgery,” Young noted.
The formal training program will begin in January 2026 and will include sessions in Panama City, Chiriquí, and Chitré, where the robots will be moved, and local medical staff will be trained.
“The plan is for our experts in Panama to assist surgeons in Chiriquí remotely, avoiding patient transfers and reducing family costs,” he said.
Regarding the cost of the technology, Young explained that each robot is priced at approximately $4 million, but the CSS acquired them “practically at half price.” The current equipment is for demonstration purposes, and the final units will be installed once they receive approval from the Comptroller General’s Office.
“Our goal is to reduce surgery times, increase success rates, and ensure maximum patient safety. Ultimately, the greatest beneficiary is the patient,” concluded Dr. Young, noting that the procedure will be broadcast live from the Amador Convention Center, marking a historic milestone for Panamanian medicine.
Panama Approves Two New Submarine Telecommunications Cables
The Cabinet Council approved two resolutions authorizing the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to sign 20-year administrative concession contracts with Telconet Submarine Networks and Trans Caribbean Fiber Systems to install and operate two new submarine telecommunications cables in Panamanian waters.
Telconet’s project, called Carnival Submarine Networks-1 (CSN-1), is estimated at $1,238,522 and includes eight fiber-optic pairs from Anconcito, Ecuador, and twelve pairs from Florida, United States.
Trans Caribbean Fiber Systems’ system, named TAM-1, has an estimated value of $2,439,112.
According to the statement, as part of the negotiations, the MEF updated the fee companies pay for using the seabed, which had not been revised since 2000, increasing it from $0.35 to $0.60 per square meter. Both companies accepted the adjustment following a comparative study showing that the previous rate lagged behind prices in other jurisdictions.
With these projects, Panama adds two new international fiber-optic routes to the country’s existing submarine cable network, which connects Central America with South America, the Caribbean, and the United States.
Maritime Authority Restores Permits for Fuel Commercialization in Panamanian Waters
The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has repealed ADM Resolution No. 224-2019 of October 4, 2019, which had restricted the commercialization of fuels, lubricants, or petroleum derivatives via floating equipment, including barges.
The decision was formalized through ADM Resolution No. 125-2025, which restores the procedures for issuing new operating licenses for fuel transportation and supply services using floating equipment.
According to the AMP, lifting this restriction “aims to make the licensing process for this maritime activity more transparent, as well as to encourage competition in this market,” which is supported by the country’s strategic position and Panama Canal operations, through which hundreds of ships engaged in international trade pass.
The measure will allow companies interested in providing fuel supply services to submit new license applications or requests to include vessels before the General Directorate of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries, in compliance with current procedures and regulations.
In its statement, the authority reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the national maritime sector.
“The AMP reiterates its firm commitment to strengthening the national maritime sector, promoting economic development through efficient auxiliary maritime services and a competitive market, in line with the National Maritime Strategy,” the statement emphasizes.
Panama Among the Fastest-Growing Economies in 2025, According to the World Bank
Panama ranks among the Latin American economies with the highest projected growth over the next three years. According to the World Bank’s semiannual LACER (Latin America and the Caribbean Economic Review) report, the country is expected to grow 3.9% in 2025 and 4.1% in 2026 and 2027, following 2.9% in 2024. These levels place Panama above the regional average, which is projected at 1.8% in 2025 and just 2% in 2026–2027.
The report shows that several economies will rebound compared to 2024. Notably, Argentina is expected to rise from -1.3% to 4.6%; Paraguay would maintain 4.2%; Guatemala would increase from 3.7% to 3.9%; and Panama would advance by one percentage point. Costa Rica (from 4.3% to 3.6%, a slight downward adjustment), Honduras (from 3.6% to 3.5%, nearly stable), and Nicaragua (from 3.6% to 3.1%, a slight decrease) also show improvement. In contrast, countries like Mexico would decelerate from 1.4% in 2024 to 0.5% in 2025; Brazil would fall from 3.4% to 2.4%; and Chile would maintain a moderate pace of 2.6%.
Looking at 2026–2027, the Dominican Republic stands out, projecting growth acceleration from 3.0% in 2025 to 4.5% in 2027. Panama would remain stable at 4.1%, keeping it in the upper range for the region. Paraguay would sustain 4.2% through 2027, while Argentina, after its strong recovery in 2025, would decline to 4.0% in 2027. Costa Rica and Guatemala would continue around 3.6% and 3.7%, respectively, while Brazil and Mexico would remain below 3%.
The LACER report warns that low growth in Latin America and the Caribbean limits poverty reduction and job creation. It highlights key obstacles such as low investment, structural and institutional challenges, infrastructure gaps, and complex regulations. Externally, the effects of high U.S. interest rates, weaker global demand, and declining commodity prices persist.
In this context, Panama stands out for maintaining growth above the regional average with a stable trend through 2027, although still below the double-digit levels achieved during the post-pandemic rebound of 2022 and 2023.
Panama Reaffirms Commitment to Energy Cooperation Before World Leaders
During World Energy Week 2025, Minister of the Presidency Juan Carlos Orillac highlighted that Panama is consolidating its position as a reliable country, open to international cooperation and committed to a sustainable energy transition.
Representing the National Government, Minister Orillac reiterated to world leaders at the World Energy Council (WEC) the promotion of key projects such as the electrical interconnection with Colombia, the National Biofuels Program, and a transparent schedule of energy and capacity tenders for the next four years.
Panama Reaffirms Commitment Before World Leaders
“Panama positions itself as a country with open doors, eager for good investments and with major projects underway,” stated Orillac.
The event, which brings together more than 100 international delegations, featured the participation of Ángela Wilkinson, Secretary General of the WEC; Adnan Amin, President of the World Energy Council; and Héctor Cotes, President of the Panama chapter.
Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Advancement
Orillac emphasized that the electrical interconnection with Colombia will strengthen regional energy integration, facilitating electricity exchange between Central and South America, and consolidating Panama as a strategic hub for sustainable regional development.
Wilkinson noted that energy is the foundation of human progress and that international dialogue is essential to building a sustainable energy future. World Energy Week is being held in Panama from October 6 to 9, 2025, bringing together experts, business leaders, and global officials to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition.
