Friday, January 23, 2026.
Embracing Change
I was sitting in a coffee shop the other morning with a large cinnamon cappuccino warming my hands and a chocolate croissant I probably didn’t need but absolutely enjoyed. I was there to write the intro for this week’s newsletter, expecting, out of habit, that my thoughts would land somewhere familiar: security, investigations, risk, human behavior.
Instead, the speakers overhead were playing “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, and for a few minutes everything else faded out. The song isn’t loud or dramatic. It’s calm, honest and almost reassuring. And as I listened, my thoughts drifted away from work and toward something far more personal.
My oldest son, Brett Jr., has just graduated high school and will be heading off to college in just a few months. He’s standing at that edge between adolescence and adulthood, excited, capable, and deeply uncertain. He’s thinking about who he’s supposed to become, whether he’s ready, and whether he’s making the right choices. In short, he’s doing exactly what a thoughtful young man should be doing at this moment in his life.
As a father, I feel that tension right alongside him. Pride mixed with concern, confidence in who he is, paired with the natural worry that comes from knowing how unpredictable the world can be. You want to protect them from uncertainty, but you also know that uncertainty is where growth happens.
Listening to that song also reminded me that these feelings aren’t limited to youth. Even as adults, major transitions can stir the same doubts and anxieties. Leaving the comfort and familiarity of Western civilization to start a life in a place like Panama, for example, can bring on those exact same questions: “Am I ready? Am I making the right move? What if this changes everything? What if I fail?”
The truth is, meaningful change almost always feels uncomfortable at first. Whether it’s a young man stepping into adulthood or an adult stepping into an unfamiliar culture, progress rarely comes without uncertainty. The challenge and the opportunity is learning to embrace those moments, trusting that growth lies on the other side of them.
That morning, the song felt like a quiet reminder that change is inevitable, fear is normal, and moving forward doesn’t require having everything figured out. We only need the willingness to step forward and believe that what the future holds can be good, even if it’s different from what we’ve known.
This week’s intro isn’t about investigations or security. It’s about transitions. For me it’s about watching my boy prepare to take on the world. For you it could be remembering your own leaps into the unknown, and recognizing that embracing change is often the first step toward something better.
Brett Mikkelson
Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
Government Promotes Bioethanol Project Expected to Generate More Than 10,000 Jobs
The National Government urged the National Assembly to discuss as soon as possible the bioethanol bill, an initiative that, according to official estimates, would stimulate the economy, strengthen the agro-industrial sector, and generate more than 10,000 direct jobs and approximately 20,000 indirect jobs, primarily in rural areas.
The call was made by the Minister of the Presidency, Juan Carlos Orillac, who emphasized that implementing the project would represent a significant investment for the country, in addition to delivering a positive environmental impact and serving as a strategic opportunity within the national energy policy.
“We have once again submitted the bioethanol project, and its approval is what would allow it to move forward. It is a comprehensive project with a positive environmental impact that generates substantial employment in rural areas. It is estimated that it could create around 10,000 direct jobs and about 20,000 indirect jobs,” Orillac stated.
Government Calls on the Assembly to Debate the Bioethanol Project
The minister’s remarks were made during the opening of the forum Bioethanol: Job Creation, an Opportunity for Agriculture, and an Economic Catalyst, organized by the Panama Association of Sugars and Alcohols (AZUCALPA) and the Panamanian Industrialists Association (SIP).
Orillac explained that while the bill is being reviewed by lawmakers, the Government continues to engage with the private sector, the agro-industrial industry, and producers—including independent farmers—with the aim of addressing concerns and ensuring that bioethanol development becomes a joint effort with a high social and economic impact.
“Part of what has been requested is to facilitate financing for small producers through state-owned banks so they can be integrated into this production scheme. Today, there are more than 320 independent sugarcane producers, and this number could double,” he noted.
Panama and Its Dependence on Fossil Fuels
The minister underscored that Panama lacks significant fossil fuel resources and depends almost entirely on imported fuels, exposing the national economy to international price volatility and affecting the trade balance. In this context, bioethanol emerges as a viable alternative within a sustainable energy policy.
“If the project is approved, 10% of fuel costs would no longer leave the country and would remain here, energizing the economy. It is a direct benefit for rural areas and job creation,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Rosmer Jurado, president of the SIP, stressed that the bioethanol debate must be conducted with information, data, and a national vision, noting that it is not merely about fuel, but about a value chain that can translate into employment, investment, agro-industrial development, improved air quality, and greater energy resilience.
“We are talking about tangible opportunities. A program of this nature can generate jobs, drive investment in equipment, irrigation, expanded cultivated areas, and new productive capacities,” he stated.
During the forum, panelists agreed on the need for the project to be approved and properly regulated in order to establish clear rules and legal certainty that guarantee return on investment and enable increased sugarcane production to meet the program’s objectives.
The First Specialized Medical Cannabis Pharmacy Opens
The Ministry of Health has already given the green light, and seven licenses have been granted for the commercialization of medical cannabis. One of them has already materialized into a concrete development: the opening of the first pharmacy in Panama specialized in this type of product.
The confirmation came from the Ministry of Health (MINSA) itself, through the Director of Pharmacies and Drugs, Uriel Pérez, who explained in an interview on TVN that one of the license holders decided to open an exclusive, standalone location.
Pérez also stated that other licensees will be able to distribute products through existing pharmacies that are already operating and hold the corresponding permits, all under health authority supervision and with clearly defined controls.
To ensure transparency in the process, MINSA activated a dedicated medical cannabis section on the website of the National Directorate of Pharmacies and Drugs. There, the public will be able to consult which products are authorized, the available batches, and the pharmacies where they can be found. This information will be accessible to both patients and healthcare professionals.
Authorities emphasized that these medications are not for unrestricted use. They are not sold for self-medication or for common ailments. Access will depend on a medical diagnosis and the specific compound prescribed for each case, always requiring a prescription and professional medical follow-up.
The products are divided into two categories. CBD (cannabidiol) may be obtained with a standard medical prescription and will be used for conditions such as chronic pain, in presentations including oils, creams, or tablets.
Special Prescription
On the other hand, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) will require a special prescription, similar to those used for controlled medications, and will be intended for more complex conditions such as refractory epilepsy or multiple sclerosis.
At this time, all medications are imported. Regulations establish a two-year transition period during which authorized companies may cultivate, process, and manufacture these products in Panama, under MINSA regulation and with the support of the Ministry of Agricultural Development.
Health authorities also acknowledged that the challenge is not only technical. Breaking the stigma surrounding medical cannabis remains a pending task. For this reason, they announced that informational campaigns will be promoted for the general public and healthcare professionals, focused on the medical and controlled use of medical cannabis.
Panama’s Economic Activity Index Reflects 4.37% Growth in November 2025
The Monthly Economic Activity Index (IMAE), in its original series, recorded a year-on-year growth of 4.37% in November 2025. In cumulative terms, between January and November, the variation reached 4.36%, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).
This figure is lower than the 7.44% recorded in the same month of 2024. The trend-cycle component of the indicator also showed a slower expansion, with a year-on-year increase of 4.17% in November 2025, compared to 6.94% in the same month of the previous year, reflecting a deceleration in the pace of economic growth.
During the November 2025–2024 period, Panama’s economy posted positive results across most productive sectors. Key contributors included transportation, storage, and communications; construction; commerce; financial intermediation; community and recreational activities; and hotels and restaurants.
The transportation, storage, and communications sector sustained its growth, driven mainly by the Panama Canal, as reflected in toll revenues and net tonnage transported by vessels. This performance was further supported by air transportation and the movement of TEU containers through the National Port System.
The construction sector recorded growth supported by building activity, additions, and repairs, as measured by municipal permits, albeit with a lag. This trend generated increased demand for basic inputs, benefiting mining and quarrying activities. Commerce posted moderate positive rates, both in local retail and wholesale trade, as well as in new vehicle registrations and fuel sales.
Financial intermediation maintained an upward trajectory, supported by growth in deposits and credit, along with the dynamism of the insurance sector. Within insurance, notable growth was observed in personal accident, fire and multi-risk, individual and group life, health, automobile, and other transportation lines.
In contrast, some activities posted unfavorable performance. The Colón Free Zone recorded a negative rate associated with lower re-export values. In the agricultural sector, banana cultivation for export showed adverse results, as did fishing activity, which was affected by reduced exports of fish and fillets, both refrigerated and frozen.
IAEA to Support Technical Training for Operating High-Complexity Equipment in Panama
The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, met today with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, to review progress on the cooperation projects the organization maintains with the country.
During the meeting, Grossi detailed the progress of the project for the installation of a linear accelerator at the new Bugaba Hospital in Chiriquí.
For his part, President Mulino proposed expanding cooperation to include the technical training of Panamanian professionals in the field of nuclear health.
The objective of this initiative is to have qualified personnel capable of operating and maintaining high-complexity equipment, such as the linear accelerator expected to become operational by the end of this year. In response to this request, Grossi committed to establishing a short-term technical training program.
The meeting took place within the framework of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.
Official Gazette: The Government Ordered the Closure of National and Municipal Public Offices on Monday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 18, 2026
The Government ordered the closure of national and municipal public offices on Monday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in observance of the Carnival festivities, as established by Executive Decree No. 3 of January 12, 2026, published in the Official Gazette.
The decree provides that public servants must work one additional hour beyond their regular workday on January 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, as well as on February 2, 2026, in order to compensate for the hours corresponding to the days of closure.
The measure excludes entities that, due to the nature of the services they provide, must remain operational, including healthcare institutions, the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewerage (IDAAN), the Benemérito Fire Department, the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC), the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT), the Panama Metro, the National Migration Service, the National Customs Authority, and other agencies linked to essential services and international trade.
During Monday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 18, administrative procedural deadlines will also be suspended, in accordance with applicable legislation. The decree will take effect upon its promulgation.
Panamanian Red Cross Presents Its Portfolio of Humanitarian and Emergency Response Services
Executives of the Panamanian Red Cross presented their portfolio of services, detailing the various forms of assistance and humanitarian programs the institution provides nationwide, particularly in the areas of emergencies, disasters, humanitarian crises, and community health strengthening.
During the event, it was explained that the catalog aims to clearly present the strategies, operational capacities, and programs that the Red Cross makes available to public institutions, private companies, and communities requiring humanitarian support or training.
The President of the Panamanian Red Cross, Elías Solís, highlighted that one of the institution’s main pillars is its response to emergency and disaster situations, a task carried out in coordination with the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC). He also emphasized the preventive work conducted directly within communities.
“We work very intensively on disaster risk management with the objective of ensuring that communities are prepared and resilient in the face of these phenomena,” Solís stated.
Another fundamental component of the presented portfolio is training in first aid, considered a key tool for saving lives. “Learning first aid is one of the greatest acts of humanity, because it is not done to save our own lives, but the lives of others,” the president of the organization emphasized.
The Panamanian Red Cross has thousands of volunteers nationwide, who receive continuous training to respond promptly to emergencies, natural disasters, and health crises, thereby reinforcing its commitment to protecting life and human dignity.
