Friday, August 29, 2025.
Back to Work
Staying at home all the time can get old pretty quick, especially for a guy used to running 3–4 meetings a day and putting out hundreds of fires a week. Sure, from home I was still solving problems, but it’s not the same as being out front, facing the mission head-on. Recovery doesn’t allow for much tackling, though.
So I tested the waters, back to the office, at least part-time. And what did I learn? Dealing with people sucks. Don’t get me wrong, I like people. A lot, actually. But not when it means colliding with their schedules and their terrible time management.
First off, Panama traffic. Back in the car at 0600hrs and it was horrible. The endless line of taxis creating their own “third lane,” the lack of courtesy, the near-miss accidents (some involving my car) made me want her to turn around and crawl back into bed.
After dropping the kids at school (five minutes late) my Uber, my Queen, drove me to my first appointment. We got there at 0815hrs, military-style punctual, only to be told our 0830a.m. appointment was on hold because the doctor hadn’t even arrived. Worse, the receptionist announced: “He has two other patients ahead of you.” Downstairs we went for coffee and an éclair. By 0845hrs, I’d had enough. “Let’s go,” I told her. She saw the look. She knew the appointment was done. “We’ve got better things to do than sit here for something I don’t even think I need,” I snapped.
And she didn’t argue. I hadn’t fought through the morning pain at 0545hrs just to let someone else waste my whole morning.
Thinking foolishly that the office would salvage the day, I headed there. Before noon I’d:
- Convinced the bank that YES, I really was trying to buy $5,000 worth of Sisco Smart Switches and Herdio Bluetooth Ceiling Speakers.
- Talked a client’s HR into finally accepting that two people really are needed at the reception desk.
- Explained to another client how installing AI equipment could shave $35,000 a month off their payroll.
- And somehow squeezed in a coffee before calling my Uber (a.k.a. my wife) to rescue me from the madness.
It wasn’t all bad, but what the bottom line here? After two months out of commission, going back to work feels overrated. At this point, staying home and embracing the art of being a “bum” sounds like a long-term strategy I could get behind.
Brett Mikkelson
Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc.
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
Brazil Adheres to the Panama Canal Neutrality Treaty During Mulino’s Visit
The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced this Thursday in Brasília, before his Panamanian counterpart José Raúl Mulino, Brazil’s accession to the Permanent Neutrality Treaty of the Panama Canal.
Lula made this announcement in a statement to the press alongside Mulino, during the Panamanian president’s visit to Brazil and amid veiled criticism of the United States.
“Brazil fully supports the sovereignty over the Panama Canal,” which “for more than 25 years has been administered with guarantees of neutrality and efficiency,” declared the Brazilian leader, confirming his country’s accession to the Neutrality Treaty.
Although indirectly, Lula reiterated his criticism of the policies and threats of U.S. President Donald Trump, who since taking office last January has hinted that his country intends to “take back” the Panama Canal.
By announcing Brazil’s accession to the Neutrality Treaty, Lula stated that Latin America is going through “a more critical moment,” in which “attempts are being made to restore old hegemonies” and “trade is being used as an instrument of coercion and blackmail.”
Mulino welcomed Lula’s statement and explained that “the issue of the Canal is always something very emotional for all Panamanians.”
According to the Panamanian leader, “it was a century-long struggle, until through negotiation both parties (Panama and the United States) agreed to the Neutrality Treaty.”
That document has already been signed by more than 40 countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and was the result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which in 1997 sealed the handover of the Canal to Panama.
According to the Neutrality Treaty, “the Canal, as a waterway of international transit, shall be permanently neutral” and shall remain under Panamanian sovereignty, in accordance with the regime established by the Torrijos-Carter Treaties.
Fourth Bridge Consortium Announces Closures on the Pan-American Highway for One Month
The Fourth Bridge Consortium over the Canal announced that cleaning works will be carried out at the entrances and exits of the sewer systems that cross the Pan-American Highway, specifically in the section adjacent to the project.
These works will take place from August 29 to September 29, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Drivers are advised to drive with caution, obey traffic signs, and follow the instructions of personnel in the area, with the aim of ensuring everyone’s safety and maintaining smooth traffic flow.
Panama Prepares for the Great National Beach and River Cleanup
Next Sunday, September 21, the national beach and river cleanup campaign will take place, an activity aimed at reducing pollution and raising awareness about the importance of protecting the country’s marine and river ecosystems.
The initiative, supported by environmental organizations, community boards, municipalities, and the National Government, will be carried out simultaneously at different locations across the country. In Panama City, activities will focus on the mouth of the Matías Hernández River, near the Bird Watchpoint in Costa del Este, and in Panama Viejo. Cleanups have also been confirmed in Colón Province and other regions inland.
The main goal is to sensitize the population about the need to prevent waste from ending up in rivers, streams, and ultimately the oceans, where it severely affects biodiversity and puts marine species and birds inhabiting these areas at risk.
Beach and river cleanups are not new in Panama: this year marks the 34th consecutive year these campaigns have been held, mobilizing thousands of volunteers nationwide.
In addition to waste collection, this edition will place special emphasis on categorizing the materials collected, so they can be reintegrated into the circular economy through recycling and reuse processes, especially plastics.
For the organizers, an increasing number of Panamanians are joining this initiative, reflecting citizens’ concern for the state of the seas, rivers, and beaches. They also made a call to actively participate in this environmental activity.
Foreign Ministry Announces the Reopening of Panama’s Consular Section in Venezuela
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that starting Monday, September 1, the Consular Section of the Republic of Panama in Venezuela will resume its consular services and public assistance, from Monday to Thursday, between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
This measure aims to optimize and ensure efficient service for all users. The Consular Section reiterates its commitment to providing assistance and support to both Panamanian nationals and the Venezuelan public.
Experts Warn About the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Crimes During Security Congress
Artificial intelligence used by criminal gangs in the Americas was one of the topics addressed at the First Security Congress of the Americas, held in Panama.
In the field of cybercrime, artificial intelligence currently tops the list of tools employed by criminal organizations behind various offenses committed worldwide.
“It is part of these initiatives, as a proud Panamanian and an expert in public and, in this case, private security, to bring this type of congress to Panama. The National Security Congress is held annually in Colombia. Last year, we were invited to Barranquilla, and from that arose the initiative to organize a Congress of the Americas, here in Panama, precisely because of our capabilities as a logistics hub, in an environment of collaboration and integration, to present to the State and private security all these tools that are currently evolving in this field,” said Oriel Ortega, organizer of the event.
Meanwhile, César Rodríguez, president of the Security Council of Colombia, explained that cybercrime offenses have increased in the region. He noted that they brought in experts who will present real cases: how extortion is carried out from prisons, how businesspeople fall victim to blackmail, how information is stolen through links or mobile phones, where cybercriminals extract banking data.
“We will have specific live cases with our attendees so they can take these experiences back to their countries and apply them in their organizations and associations,” he added.
Rodríguez also warned that, although everyone talks about cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, true experts in the field are still few in the region.
Researchers emphasize that extortion via traditional phone calls has become outdated. Nowadays, criminals use artificial intelligence to clone voices, mimic faces, and impersonate identities, affecting citizens in different countries.
Minister of Environment Confirms Audit of Copper Mine
The Minister of Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro, announced this Wednesday that an international company will soon be hired to audit the copper mine in Donoso, with the purpose of understanding “everything that has been done” in the area.
Navarro explained that this process has taken longer than expected, which is why the public has not yet been informed. However, once the company’s name is confirmed, the announcement will be made public.
“The legal and bureaucratic process has delayed us, so we are waiting to have everything ready before making the announcement,” he said.
He added that the hiring was conducted through a simplified bidding process and that a world-class company specializing in this type of audit was selected.
The Minister of Environment clarified that mining activity remains suspended. The only movements in the area are due to periodic environmental preservation inspections.
“There is no mining at the site, nothing is happening or has changed; everything remains normal. There is no news,” he emphasized.
Last May, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) authorized the company Cobre Panamá to begin its preservation and safe management plan for the mine, to prevent environmental impacts caused by the unexpected halt of its operations.
“This decision does not imply the reactivation of the mine. The preservation and safe management plan is a technical measure that is applied when a mine suspends operations,” stated the MICI Minister, Julio Moltó, at the time.
The plan stipulates that the company is responsible for maintaining the power plant, the port, the tailings ponds, and surrounding areas of the mine while a decision is made about its future.
The Government has repeatedly emphasized that mining is a priority issue on its agenda. However, before engaging in discussions with stakeholders, other legal matters, such as arbitrations filed against Panama, must be resolved.
President José Raúl Mulino has made it clear that he does not intend for this discussion to go to the National Assembly of Deputies. Unlike the previous administration, the new relationship with the company will be managed directly by the State.
It is estimated that Panama loses approximately five million dollars per day due to the suspension of operations at Minera Panamá.
