Friday, November 7, 2025.
November in Panama: A Month of Independence, Parades, and Peaceful Chaos
If you’ve been in Panama for more than five minutes this month, you’ve likely noticed that something’s… different. The streets of Panama City feel eerily calm, restaurants that are normally bustling with chatter have fallen silent, and your favorite barista may have vanished, probably to the interior.
Welcome to Panama’s Independence Month, a time when the nation takes well-deserved pride in its history and everyone takes off to celebrate it.
The first few days of November mark the separation from Colombia, and the city becomes a ghost town. This year was no exception. For five straight days, Panama City felt almost cinematic in its emptiness. Our family decided to spend a night at one of the city’s hotels, only to find ourselves as the sole diners in the restaurant. The bartender, who looked like he hadn’t seen a customer in days, practically lit up when we walked in for a cocktail to close out the evening.
Even restaurants in Casco Viejo, normally teeming with tourists and locals alike, were shutting down for the holidays. “We’re closing for the celebrations,” one manager told us cheerfully, as though this were the most natural thing in the world. And truthfully, in Panama, it can be.
But don’t think it’s over just yet. The 10th of November, commemorating the Cry for Independence in Los Santos, and the 28th of November, marking independence from Spain, are still ahead. Each brings its own round of parades, patriotism, and, yes, gridlock.
So, what’s the takeaway for those of us who call Panama home but weren’t born here? Simple: embrace it or escape it. Either join the locals in the joyous celebrations, or plan ahead, stay off the roads, and let the country have its well-earned month of festivity and pride.
Whichever route you choose, one thing’s certain: by December, life (and traffic) will be back to normal. OK, just kidding, traffic will actual start getting worse as we celebrate Mother’s Day, decimotercer mes and last minute shopping. For now, enjoy the quiet, or the chaos, depending on where you stand.
Brett Mikkelson
Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
Four Malaria Deaths Reported in Panama So Far This Year
Four malaria-related deaths have been reported so far in 2025, according to Carmen Pérez, head of the Vector Control Department at the Ministry of Health (Minsa).
According to Pérez, two of the deaths occurred in the Panama East region, one in Veraguas, and one in the metropolitan region.
As part of Malaria Day in the Americas, Pérez explained on TVN Noticias that malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, and that its control is particularly challenging in tropical countries like Panama, as humans continue to encroach upon the mosquito’s natural habitat.
The official noted that Panama has seen a sustained increase in malaria cases since 2018, a trend also observed in other countries in the region such as Costa Rica, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, Brazil, and Venezuela.
She recalled that in 2023, Panama declared an epidemiological alert due to an increase in cases beyond expected levels. Among the factors potentially contributing to this rise, she mentioned climate change, increased rainfall, and human mobility.
Pérez specified that internal mobility within the country has had a greater impact on the spread of the disease than external mobility associated with foreign nationals.
She added that Minsa is strengthening the work of community agents, who are being trained to provide support in areas with limited access to health services.
The specialist urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache, general discomfort, vomiting, or nausea—and living in endemic areas such as Panama East, Darién, Guna Yala, northern Veraguas, or the Ngäbe-Buglé comarca—to visit the nearest health facility or contact vector control technicians or community agents for timely care.
Importance of Transparency in the Negotiation of International Trade Agreements
In the case of the negotiation with Mercosur, the majority of the population must be fully aware of what is currently being negotiated and of the commitments that will have to be fulfilled later on.
The Government of the Republic of Panama has pushed forward our country’s incorporation into economic and commercial agreements such as the OECD and Mercosur at such an impressive speed that, in good Panamanian slang, one could say it is going “like a bullet”—and while this is fine, it may be too fast.
When the Canal Treaties were being negotiated, General Torrijos stated that no treaty would be signed unless it first went through a discussion at the University of Panama—and so it was, in a historic session where the negotiators went to the University Auditorium and explained in detail what had been negotiated. This was not the experience with the mining contract, which—due to its broad scope—seemed more like a treaty between Panama and a company. As a consequence of this lack of transparency, the contract was rejected both legally and by the public. Everything seems to indicate that with the current administration, we may face the unfortunate experience of negotiating and approving agreements that very few truly understand.
It has been said, regarding Mercosur, that “there is no need to be afraid since what is being negotiated is not a free trade agreement.” In this regard, it must be noted that while it is true that the current negotiation is not about an FTA, those familiar with economic integration frameworks know that these preliminary agreements will later serve as the basis for joining an integration scheme that—much like the European Union—could eventually lead to monetary unions. In other words, they will indeed end up being much more than a Free Trade Agreement.
The negotiation of international trade agreements does not always result in a scenario where all parties benefit equally. In some cases, one side may not receive all the benefits it expected. The fundamental mechanism for mitigating the potential negative impacts of these agreements is to conduct negotiations with the highest possible level of transparency. This includes involving relevant producers so that, through the “fourth room” mechanism, they can be informed of and consulted on issues immediately. Professional sectors that can contribute valuable insights to strengthen our negotiation positions—or be informed of decisions that will ultimately affect them—must also be included.
In the case of the negotiation with Mercosur, the majority of the population must be clearly informed about what is currently being negotiated and the commitments that will need to be fulfilled later. Being a member of Mercosur, for example, implies accepting:
- The free movement of goods, services, and factors of production through the elimination of customs duties and non-tariff restrictions on the movement of goods, as well as any other equivalent measures.
- The establishment of a common external tariff in relation to States or groups of States, and the coordination of positions in regional or international economic–commercial forums.
- The coordination of macroeconomic and sectoral policies among the member States—foreign trade, agricultural, industrial, fiscal, monetary, capital, services, customs, transportation, and communication policies, among others—to ensure adequate competitive conditions among member States.
- The commitment by member States to harmonize their legislation in relevant areas to strengthen the integration process.
Did the legislators who approved the Mercosur framework agreement in its second debate truly understand that at some point they will need to discuss provisions that allow citizens of the member States to circulate and work freely within this integration zone without any limitations?
The negotiation processes for international commercial agreements require the highest possible level of participation and transparency. The National Government must explain how it intends to resolve the contradictions that will arise between the agreements to be signed with Mercosur and the agreements already approved and in effect under the Central American Economic Integration System, or the Trade Promotion Agreement currently in force with the United States.
Another sensitive area of negotiation involves Panama’s ongoing discussions to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The government must fully explain how the proposal to introduce changes to Panama’s tax system—without affecting its territorial nature—would work, especially when European authorities have made it clear that Panama will not be removed from their discriminatory lists unless it modifies its “harmful tax system under which Panamanians pay income tax only on income generated exclusively within the territory of the Republic of Panama.”
Although it is true that significant benefits are associated with participating in these integration systems and economic agreements, it is equally true that there are provisions that most Panamanians will find difficult to accept once they are made aware of them. We cannot continue promoting only the nice side of the story, evidently with the intention of generating political gains for the government and economic gains for its allies.
“Vishing” and the Risk of Strange Calls
Cybercriminals continue to refine their techniques to carry out their crimes. One of the attacks that has gained ground is vishing, or the use of fraudulent calls to obtain sensitive information.
Martín Henao, country manager of IFX Panama, explains that through artificial intelligence, cybercriminals use phone calls to capture voice expressions and tones, which later allow them to execute their schemes.
“Today, AI is highly advanced. When you answer something (‘hello,’ ‘good morning’), cybercriminals capture your tone of voice, vocal expressions, your pauses, and they can later reproduce them directly,” Henao told Panamá América.
According to Henao, vishing is currently causing the highest number of vulnerabilities for companies because data administration personnel may believe they are receiving an instruction, when in reality it is an altered voice—leading them to hand over information to cybercriminals.
Because of this, if you receive a strange call from an unknown number, the expert recommends not answering, or using phrases such as: “hello,” “good morning,” or “I can’t hear you.”
In addition to vishing, another very common attack in Panama and the region is ransomware, which occurs when malicious software blocks a user’s access to their files or device and then demands payment to restore access.
Phishing is also among the most frequent attacks. In this type of scam, criminals impersonate trusted sources to deceive people and steal confidential information—such as passwords, banking data, and credit card numbers—through links sent via email, text messages, or WhatsApp.
“There is a ransomware attack every 11 seconds worldwide. Central America is among the regions with the lowest level of cybersecurity awareness. Cybercriminals who are learning these crimes come to Central America to ‘work.’”
Uzbekistan Reaches Agreement with Panama on a Commitment to Non-Discriminatory Treatment as Part of Its Accession to the WTO
Panama and the Republic of Uzbekistan have reached agreements on market access for both goods and services, with special emphasis on the financial sector, as part of the bilateral negotiations related to Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
As part of these understandings, Uzbekistan made a formal commitment not to include Panama on any discriminatory tax list or classification, commonly known as “blacklists.” This commitment ensures that Panamanian financial service providers will receive the same treatment as operators from other countries, in accordance with WTO principles.
“The commitment to non-discriminatory treatment in financial services is a very positive outcome for Panama and a decisive step toward Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO,” stated the Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó.
For its part, Panama’s Permanent Mission to the WTO highlighted that this result represents progress in defending the country’s strategic interests and in protecting the competitiveness of its international services platform.
The negotiations took place within the framework of Uzbekistan’s WTO accession process, in which Panama has actively participated through its permanent mission in Geneva. During the meeting of the Working Party on accession, Panama expressed its expectation that Uzbekistan will become a member of the organization during the next Ministerial Conference, scheduled for March 2026 in Cameroon.
Seven Dead and More Than 400 Traffic Accidents During National Holidays
The National Directorate of Traffic Operations (DNOT) of the National Police reported a tragic balance during the first days of national holiday celebrations, with seven people killed and more than 400 traffic accidents recorded nationwide.
According to Lieutenant James Vigil, an officer with Traffic Operations, four of the victims were registered within the road safety operation deployed for the national festivities, while the other three occurred outside the controlled zones, mainly in interior provinces.
The report also states that 114 people were injured as a result of accidents that occurred between November 3 and 4, dates on which thousands of Panamanians traveled to the interior of the country to participate in national celebrations.
“More than 112,000 vehicles traveled from the capital city toward the interior, and so far, around 90,000 cars have returned. The rest of the travelers are still expected to come back, and a new wave of traffic is possible during the long weekend of November 10,” Vigil explained.
The lieutenant reported that traffic operations will remain active in the coming weeks, including a lane reversal on November 8, from El Nazareno in La Chorrera to Loma Campana in Capira, and possibly in other sections depending on traffic conditions.
The main infractions detected during the operation were speeding and failure to obey traffic signals, according to the police report.
Vigil reiterated the call for drivers to respect speed limits, check the mechanical condition of their vehicles, and stay focused on the road before undertaking long trips. “It is essential to inspect the brake system, tires, and lighting before heading out,” he emphasized.
The National Police and the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) reminded the public that enforcement operations will continue during the upcoming patriotic weekends to prevent further tragedies on the roads.
Chiquita Brands and Panamanian Authorities to Coordinate Plan to Reactivate Banana Production in Bocas del Toro
Representatives of Chiquita Brands and officials from the Government of Panama will hold an inter-institutional meeting to review the progress of the banana reactivation plan in the province of Bocas del Toro.
The meeting, which was initially scheduled for October 30, was postponed to November. The minister also indicated that banana exports could begin in December and January.
The meeting will be attended by Carlos López, President of Chiquita Brands, and Jorge Solergibert, Legal Advisor for Corporate Affairs of the company. Days earlier, the Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó, told SNIP Noticias that “the executives are coming to talk, to touch base. Regional manager Jorge and Carlos are coming to see how things are going, to exchange information and propose items for the working table, because we have many things to do and move forward with what the memorandum of understanding establishes,” during the “Panama is Innovation 2025” forum organized by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Grupo TX, held in Panama last week.
Moltó noted that the meeting, which will also include the participation of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), aims to coordinate the next steps of the plan. “We need to establish the working table with them. That’s what we’re here for: to meet with the company’s representatives, with MIDA, and with all the involved institutions, so that this moves forward correctly,” he stated.
According to the minister, the memorandum of understanding signed between Panama and the company has generated more than 3,000 jobs in the first phase, focused on cleaning and preparing the farms. The second phase, expected between December and January, includes the resumption of exports and the creation of another 2,000 jobs, reaching a total of around 5,000 direct jobs.
Rio de Janeiro Counts Its Dead After the Deadliest Police Operation in Brazil’s History
Amid sobs and the smell of death, residents of a favela in northern Rio de Janeiro laid out dozens of bodies in a town square on Wednesday, one day after what is now the deadliest police operation in Brazil’s history, with the latest official toll reaching 119 dead.
An AFP journalist saw a decapitated body, another with a destroyed head, and several residents reported “executions.”
The lethal operation—carried out one week before Brazil hosts COP30 in the Amazonian city of Belém—aimed to weaken the Comando Vermelho, Rio’s main criminal organization operating in the favelas.
After initially reporting around sixty deaths the previous day, Rio authorities announced an updated toll on Wednesday: 119 dead, including 115 suspected criminals and four police officers. The state public defender’s office put the total at 132 in an email sent to AFP.
On Tuesday, scenes resembling a war zone unfolded in Rio: shootings, fires, and clashes between security forces and alleged criminals who used buses as barricades and drones to drop “bombs,” according to authorities.
“A Success”
The operation was a “success,” said conservative governor Cláudio Castro, insisting that the only victims were the four police officers who died.
Rio authorities defend their hardline stance against “narcoterrorism,” while organizations such as the UN criticized the police action.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was also “horrified,” according to his Justice Minister, Ricardo Lewandowski, who said the federal government had no prior knowledge of the operation.
The bodies found by residents were placed near one of the main roads in the Complexo da Penha, one of the areas where the operation took place.
“The State came here to massacre, this wasn’t an operation. They came to kill, to take lives—there are many dead,” said a woman who did not identify herself, placing her hand on the face of a young deceased man.
“There are people who were executed, many of them with a shot to the back of the head or a shot in the back—this cannot be considered public security,” said Raull Santiago, a 36-year-old local resident and activist.
Attorney Albino Pereira Neto, who represents three families who lost relatives, stated that the victims “were subdued and coldly executed.”
The bodies were later placed in bags and taken to the morgue.
Governor Castro denied that police could have killed innocent people during the operation, which he said was the result of an investigation lasting more than a year.
“The conflict took place in the forest. I don’t believe anyone would be strolling through the forest on a day of conflict; therefore, we can safely classify the deceased as criminals,” said Castro, an ally of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.
“Any classification error will surely be minimal,” he added.
