Friday, November 21, 2025.
Panama Makes History…Again!
Panama is celebrating in a way only Panama can. With an impressive 3–0 victory over El Salvador, our selección has officially secured its place in next year’s World Cup, becoming the only Central American nation to advance. This triumph is more than a win on the pitch; it is a statement of identity, perseverance, and national pride.
For a country of just over four million people, reaching the World Cup is not something inherited, it is earned with sweat, discipline, and a belief that anything is possible. Panama’s last appearance on the world stage was in 2018, a historic debut where the team learned, fought, and showed the world the unmistakable grit of the Panamanian athlete. That moment ignited a permanent flame in the hearts of fans nationwide. Today, that flame burns even brighter.
This qualification is symbolic. It arrives during November’s mes de la patria, when Panamanians celebrate their independence from Colombia, their separation from Spain, and the stories that shaped this republic. The country is already covered in red, white, and blue, but now that flag flies even higher. You can feel the energy everywhere:
- streets buzzing with car horns and cheers
- families gathering around TVs and radios
- children and adults alike wearing their Panamá jerseys to school and work
- a renewed sense of unity that connects generations
This is the kind of joy that reminds us what Panama stands for: resilience, pride, and the unbreakable bond of its people. As we continue this month with parades, civic events, and national celebrations, the win against El Salvador has given the country a powerful emotional boost, a perfect opening to a month already filled with patriotism.
In the days ahead, expect a Panama that celebrates louder, smiles wider, and walks with a little more swagger. Because qualifying for the World Cup, especially as the region’s sole representative, is a milestone that will echo long after the final whistle.
Today, Panama doesn’t just advance in football. Panama advances in spirit.
And the world will be watching and screaming when Panama scores their first goal.
Brett Mikkelson
Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
Civil Aviation Authority to Purchase Land on Isla Colón for Expansion of the Local Airport
The Cabinet Council has approved the Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) to purchase a property on Isla Colón, in the province of Bocas del Toro, for 6 million dollars, in order to move forward with the expansion of the local airport.
The property, owned by Héctor Fitzgerald, covers an area of 13 hectares, 9,988.618 square meters, and 618 square decimeters (13 Has + 9,988.618 m²).
With this acquisition, the AAC will be able to carry out adjustments and improvements to the airport facilities to expand operational capacity, allowing for a greater number of simultaneous operations.
In addition, the aim is to increase passenger flow, ensure compliance with operational safety standards established under current regulations, and strengthen Isla Colón as a strategic tourist destination for Panama.
Chiquita to Resume Production in January and Reach Full Export Capacity by Late 2026
The banana industry in Bocas del Toro is moving toward recovery. This Tuesday, President José Raúl Mulino held a meeting with the president of Chiquita Panamá, Carlos López Flores, to review the progress of the company’s farm reactivation process and agricultural operations, which have been halted since the illegal strike that occurred in early 2025.
According to López Flores, Chiquita Panamá has already incorporated 2,000 workers under various hiring modalities to accelerate the cleaning and preparation of the farms. This week, the company will begin signing direct contracts with the goal of restarting banana production and exports in January 2026, and expanding its workforce to 5,000 employees by February of next year.
The company president highlighted that the process is advancing even better than expected. “The plantation is in better condition than we estimated, and we expect to continue with the plan at a slightly faster pace,” he said. The projection is that between February and March 2026, production will reach full capacity. Additionally, by the end of that same year, banana exports—in both tons and boxes—are expected to return to pre-shutdown levels.
The meeting also included the participation of the Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó; the Minister of Labor and Workforce Development, Jackeline Muñoz; and Executive advisers. Both ministries have been supporting Chiquita at each stage of the process, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government and the company last August.
Moltó emphasized that compliance with the memorandum has been key to advancing the recovery of the country’s main agricultural export product. Muñoz, for her part, noted that many of the new jobs are being filled by young people and women from the province. “President Mulino is 100% committed to the economic reactivation of Bocas del Toro,” she said.
The company reiterated its confidence in Panama and expressed gratitude for the government’s support in restoring an operation that is strategic for the local economy, employment, and the country’s exports.
No More Pennies in Panama: Banco Nacional Proposes Price Rounding to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF)
The U.S. government’s decision to halt the production of one-cent coins has sparked an immediate debate in Panama, a country whose economy uses the U.S. dollar. In anticipation of the impact on daily transactions, the National Bank of Panama (BNP) has submitted a formal proposal to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to implement price rounding.
The U.S. measure, driven by President Donald Trump, seeks to reduce the high production costs of the lowest-denomination coin, which exceed its actual value.
The Dollar Effect in Panama
In the United States, the measure aims to save the Treasury millions and modernize the monetary system. However, in Panama, where the dollar circulates alongside the balboa, the National Bank has moved quickly by proposing rounding to mitigate the shortage of one-cent coins and to establish a clear mechanism for cash transactions.
Trump Justifies Public Savings
The decision to eliminate the penny is based purely on economic criteria. U.S. economists have been pointing out for more than a decade that the coin is no longer efficient.
President Trump, when announcing the measure on his social network Truth Social, was blunt:
“For far too long, the United States has minted one-cent coins that literally cost us more than two cents to make. It’s a complete waste! I have instructed my Secretary of the Treasury to stop producing new one-cent coins.”
How Would Rounding Work in Panama Without the Penny?
The BNP’s proposal to the MEF focuses on how to handle final cash transaction amounts that end in cents. Generally, rounding involves adjusting the final price up or down to the nearest 5 or 10 cents.
This measure will require clear legislation or regulation to ensure fairness for both Panamanian consumers and merchants, preventing the shortage of pennies from turning into hidden price increases.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance now has the responsibility of reviewing the proposal and determining the best course of action to ensure stability and efficient transactions within Panama’s dollarized economy.
AIG Authorized to Contract Telecommunications Service for the State with Annual Savings of $39 Million
The Cabinet Council has authorized the National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG) to contract, through an exceptional procedure, the provision of telecommunications services for State entities for a 60-month period, from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030, through the National Multiservice Network (RNMS).
Three resolutions—No. 133-25, No. 134-25, and No. 135-25—received Cabinet approval.
The first authorizes contracting for Data Center services; the second covers the provision of Internet Service (No. 211); and the third authorizes the Communications Links service, which integrates data transport (No. 200), Internet access (No. 211), and an integrated security platform.
This will represent annual savings of at least 39.1 million dollars for the State beginning in 2026.
Among the considerations outlined in the Cabinet resolutions is that the RNMS constitutes a telecommunications ecosystem under a centralized and unified architecture, allowing public entities to connect with each other, with citizens, and with State digital platforms. It is also the only authorized channel for access to critical systems, such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s ISTMO System.
Other interoperability services between public entities are provided through the RNMS, which currently serves more than 120 entities, with coverage exceeding 7,000 sites nationwide, offering fixed voice services, Internet access, communications links, data centers, and cybersecurity.
By virtue of Resolution 10 of September 29, 2025, the National Council for Government Innovation approved the use of the exceptional procedure, including the data center service, with the following companies: Servicios de Tecnologías de Información de Misión Crítica, S.A., Panama Digital Gateway, S.A., Cable & Wireless Panamá, S.A., and Telecomunicaciones Digitales, S.A.
Likewise, through Resolution 9 of September 29, 2025, the contracting of Internet service (No. 211) and its operation as part of the RNMS platform was approved. The aim is to ensure coverage to the greatest number of sites through a physical medium, to have robust and reliable platforms, and to achieve savings, new capabilities, and enhanced services that benefit and safeguard the best interests of the State.
The companies designated for this service are Metro MPLS, S.A., Trans Ocean Network Corp., Galaxy Communications Corp., Cable & Wireless Panamá, S.A., and Telecomunicaciones Digitales, S.A.
Meanwhile, through Resolution 8 of September 29, 2025, the contracting of the Communications Links service was approved. This integrates three services: data transport (No. 200), Internet access (No. 211), and the integrated security platform, along with complementary elements, with the companies Cable & Wireless Panamá, S.A., Telecomunicaciones Digitales, S.A., TransOcean Network Corp., and Galaxy Communications Corp.
Following technical, administrative, and financial evaluations of the market companies interested in providing the service, and after standardizing technical conditions with these companies and incorporating new capabilities for public entities—as well as unifying tariffs—the Cabinet approval was requested and granted.
The resolutions specify that the contracts to be signed with the companies are of indeterminate value and will depend on the demand of the entities requesting the services. Based on technical evaluations and projections by the AIG, the total amount is estimated to exceed B/. 3,000,000.00.
This Is the Date of the 2025 Christmas Parade in Panama City
The 2025 Christmas Parade in the district of Panama will take place on Sunday, December 14, along Calle 50. On November 30, the city will kick off the season with the lighting of decorations in several parks located across the district’s neighborhoods.
Under the theme “International Christmas Festival 2025 – City of Stars,” the Panama City Hall, in partnership with the private sector, cultural organizations, embassies, sponsoring companies, and local communities, will host activities and contests for the whole family.
In parallel, private companies will organize additional events such as themed fairs, concerts, exhibitions, holiday markets, and light tours, promoting an inclusive and community-oriented Christmas season.
The main goal of Panama City Hall is to position the capital as a top tourist destination, internationally recognized for its diverse range of Christmas activities for different audiences. This will help attract more visitors during the season and boost the local economy.
Network for Exchanging Cigarette Butts at Tocumen: How It Operated and How It Affected Passengers
Statements from Tocumen’s general manager, José Ruiz Blanco, clarified how a network inside the airport was swapping luggage tags to replace legitimate suitcases with others containing illicit substances.
This week the case became public, leading to the apprehension of the network. The investigation is now in the hands of the Public Ministry, which will determine how many people are involved, but the manager confirmed the participation of current and former airport employees.
Ruiz Blanco explained that a traveler would check in their suitcase normally, usually on flights to Europe. At that moment, staff inside the airport—coordinating with people outside—would allegedly introduce a suitcase loaded with drugs (“the stuffed suitcase”), remove the passenger’s original luggage, and switch the baggage tag so that the illicit suitcase would travel under the passenger’s registration while the real suitcase never left Panama.
At the destination, the passenger would arrive without their luggage and be unable to trace it, because the tag associated with their suitcase was no longer present. The suitcase containing drugs would then be collected by a member of the network at the arrival airport. Ruiz Blanco noted that this pattern caused a spike in cases where airlines could not identify reported missing luggage, which alerted the administration.
According to the manager, this operation required the involvement of multiple people both inside and outside the airport, as well as coordination across several points, including camera areas and restricted internal zones. He noted that this was a structure that had been operating for some time and that the airport cannot disclose further details while the investigation is active.
For passengers, the main impact was the loss of their luggage with no possibility of tracking it — a scenario that is uncommon in regular operations. Ruiz Blanco stressed that travelers cannot do anything to prevent this: “The passenger can’t do absolutely anything; it is up to the airport and the authorities to put things in order.”
Tocumen has reinforced the presence of SENAN, increased controls, and launched a security logistics center that brings together all entities responsible for surveillance and oversight inside the airport. The manager added that there are additional measures being implemented that cannot yet be disclosed.
World Diabetes Day: Warning Over Rising Cases and the Need for Prevention
World Diabetes Day is observed every November 14, a date promoted by the International Diabetes Federation and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) to draw attention to the growing impact of this disease. Diabetes currently affects more than 530 million people worldwide, and according to WHO estimates, this figure could rise significantly if prevention and early detection strategies are not strengthened.
The WHO warns that type 2 diabetes continues to account for the majority of cases, driven by factors such as sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, excess weight, and limited access to timely healthcare services. “Early detection and education are key tools for reducing diabetes-related complications,” the organization notes, stressing that health systems must guarantee comprehensive support for individuals diagnosed with the disease.
Diabetes Raises Concern in Panama
In Panama, the numbers are alarming. The Social Security Fund reported last December that around 14% of the Panamanian population lives with diabetes — approximately 200,000 people. The sustained increase in cases has raised red flags among specialists, who emphasize that the disease is manageable but requires lifestyle changes and continuous access to treatment and monitoring.
In addition to promoting prevention, this year’s observance highlights the importance of undergoing regular testing, recognizing symptoms such as excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, or persistent fatigue, and reinforcing education on nutrition and physical activity. Health organizations around the world are launching campaigns to encourage more people to check their glucose levels and act before serious complications arise.
World Diabetes Day serves as a reminder that this disease not only affects quality of life but is also one of the leading causes of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, and cardiovascular disease. Becoming more aware of our nutritional health can help us reduce the prevalence of diabetes and allow us to lead fuller, healthier lives.
