Writer’s block; This Weekend There Will Be a Nationwide Massive Vaccination Campaign; Tropical Wave No. 1: Rain Surveillance Advisory Issued; Government Signs and Publishes Decree in Official Gazette Regarding Firefighters’ Promotions; These are Some of the Best Writing Tips I’ve Seen
Friday, June 02, 2023 Writer\’s block sucks. It’s a good thing, I’m not a writer, eh? This morning I had the opportunity to talk with two teachers from my boys’ school. Both of them got bad grades on a final this semester and they requested a meeting with me. With me?? Why me? I’m the dad, go talk to the mom! Anyways, we talked and I was intent on getting down to solving the problem. But what I got out of the meeting was something better. They both painted a picture of my kids as being good boys, very respectful and good natured in general. Yes, I care about their grades, but screw that! The best point of my day has been listening to someone of authority talk about how awesome my boys are (other than one bad test). So I’m floating on cloud 9 today and no-one can take that away from me, not even writer’s block… TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom GOVERNMENT DECLARES STATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY Government declares State of Environmental Emergency. On Tuesday, May 30th, the State of Environmental Emergency was declared by the National Government in a Cabinet Council, due to the prolonged dry season experienced by the country. The climatic conditions affecting the world, such as high temperatures, evaporation, and lack of rainfall, are a prelude to the possible arrival of El Niño phenomenon, as reported by the Ministry of Environment. The Western region, located in the province of Chiriquí and a center of agricultural production in the country, is forecasted to experience a decrease in rainfall. Prior to the approval of the State of Environmental Emergency, a presentation on \”Scenarios of Climate Change: Vision 2030, 2050, and 2070\” was given to the State ministers by Dr. Ligia Castro, Director of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, and Eng. Berta Alicia Olmedo, Deputy Director of the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. The Ministry of Agricultural Development, Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, Ministry of Environment, National Authority of Public Services, and the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama are the authorized entities to carry out the necessary special contracts to address the State of Environmental Emergency, according to the approved resolution. READ HERE: GOBIERNO DECLARA ESTADO DE EMERGENCIA AMBIENTAL PANAMA CANAL DOES NOT RULE OUT EXTREME MEASURES DUE TO DROUGHT The Panama Canal, as an extreme measure, would have to limit the transit of ships. The administrator of the Panama Canal, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, stated in a statement released on Thursday that, if the drought continues in the Central American country, they will have to decide, as an \”extreme measure,\” to limit daily transits through the canal from the current 36 vessels to a maximum of 28. \”The Panama Canal, as an extreme measure, would have to make the decision to limit the number of transits through the Panama Canal. Let\’s see what this means: currently, we transit between 35 and 36 vessels per day. We would have to reduce it to 32 to 28, those are extreme situations,\” Vásquez said in a video. This announcement comes in the same week when the Panamanian government declared a state of environmental emergency due to the prolongation of the dry season, which is causing water supply problems. The measure is based on the fact that high temperatures, evaporation, and lack of rainfall are precursors to the possible arrival of an El Niño phenomenon. The artificial lakes of Alhajuela and Gatun, which supply water to over half of the country\’s population and the Panama Canal, \”have been drastically reduced due to the prolongation of the dry season,\” according to the government\’s report. Years of warning The administrator of the Panama Canal, through which around 3% of global trade passes, stated that the \”climate emergency is a topic\” they have been warning about for many years. \”We simply never knew in which year a case like the one we are experiencing now would occur, but it could happen at any time. The last period of intense drought we had was in 2019-2020, and these cycles usually repeat once every five years. What we are seeing now is that it is repeating once every three years. That should alert us to the urgency,\” he emphasized. During the severe drought Panama experienced in 2019, the maximum draft in the neopanamax locks, which are used by vessels passing through the expansion inaugurated in 2016, temporarily decreased to 44 feet (13.4 meters), resulting in a drop in toll revenue. On April 19, the Panama Canal implemented its fifth draft restriction for neopanamax vessels, which are three times larger than those crossing the century-old locks, offering them a draft of 47.5 feet instead of the maximum allowed 50 feet, thus reducing cargo volume. According to Vásquez, the \”climate impact\” and its effect on water availability should be discussed, as it is a problem that affects various sectors such as agriculture and energy consumption. Guaranteeing water for 50 years In addition to ensuring that it uses \”less water per transit,\” the Panama Canal is awaiting the results of research work with which they hope to \”make a national proposal to resolve the water issue, at least in the operation of the Canal and human consumption, for the next 50 years.\” For now, one of the measures the Canal is implementing to reduce consumption, explained Vásquez, is to transfer \”water from one side of the lock to the other,\” as well as to \”schedule transits in such a way that\” they can reuse the maximum amount of water \”within each chamber to accommodate more vessels.\” The passage of ships through these locks occurs through the filling and emptying of water to allow the vessels to navigate through sections of different levels in the Canal. \”So far, transit has not been affected. The only early warning we have is the fact that fewer vessels are arriving in Panama. That is, we used to receive 40 arrivals every day, and now that number has
Vacations; Events that the Regional Disaster Response and Humanitarian Assistance Simulation will recreate in Panama; Social Security Fund (CSS) and Ministry of Health (Minsa) Recommend the Use of Masks due to Influenza Cases; Ministry of Foreign Affairs Informs that Panamanian Citizens Can Travel to Canada Without a Visa; My English Teacher Mr Gabriel
Friday, June 09, 2023 We’re all traveling around the Midwest right now, visiting moms, entertaining sisters, riding bike trails, getting the flu, eating cheese curds and getting in a Packers game. Enjoy this week’s newsletter and check out End Notes catch a bit from my scholarly past. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom WHAT EVENTS WILL THE REGIONAL SIMULATION RECREATE IN PANAMA? The passage of a tropical wave will be one of the events that will be simulated. The III Regional Simulation of Disaster Response and Humanitarian Assistance should not disrupt the regular performance of daily tasks, clarified the Ministry of Government on Wednesday. According to the institution, from June 13th to 16th, regular work and classes will continue as scheduled. The Joint Task Force has taken the necessary measures to ensure that the simulation does not disrupt the country\’s activities. The event will simulate a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, a tropical wave, a cyber attack, and a biological threat. For this purpose, there will be various scenarios with collapsed structures, building fires, hydrocarbon spills, and water rescues. \”We urge the population to remain calm and undisturbed, and to follow the recommendations and guidelines of the participating experts,\” the statement reads. These evacuation exercises will be carried out only in pre-selected locations starting at 12:05 noon, beginning on Tuesday, June 13th, at schools, hospitals, and government institutions that have been previously trained. The evacuation processes will be supervised by members of the Joint Task Force, who will guide the participants in the exercises. Likewise, prepared and trained communities from the provinces of Chiriquí, Coclé, Darién, and Herrera will also participate, after undergoing six months of preparation. \”Messages will be sent to cell phones. Alerts will be activated for the first time through a program that has received significant investment,\” commented the Minister of Government, Roger Tejada. The purpose of the simulation is to test mechanisms, tools, and technical guidelines for emergency response in disasters. READ HERE: ¿QUÉ EVENTOS RECREARÁ EN PANAMÁ EL SIMULACRO REGIONAL? CORTIZO HONORS FIVE PANAMANIANS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNTRY\’S DEVELOPMENT Cortizo presented the recognition to the writer Álvaro Menéndez Franco. A group of five Panamanians received the General Victoriano Lorenzo Medal for their contributions to the country\’s development, presented by President Laurentino Cortizo on Wednesday, June 7. The medals were awarded during a ceremony held at the Belisario Porras Palace, the headquarters of the Governor\’s Office in the province of Panama. The recognition was received by Álvaro Menéndez Franco and Adán Ríos, while posthumously awarded to Idian Reiss Flores, better known as Sor Lourdes, Haralambos Bobby Tzanetatos, and Evangelos Koumanis. Cortizo emphasized that all of them are, and have been, Panamanian citizens whose lives have contributed to the human and economic growth of the country. \”I have had the opportunity to know some of those who are being honored today, some who are present here and others who live in our memories and in our hearts,\” said the President. He added, \”It is truly gratifying to reward these five compatriots with the honors bestowed upon them by the homeland, and with the recognition and gratitude of the citizens for their contributions to the nation.\” In his remarks, Cortizo referred to Menéndez Franco as an intellectual with great militancy, a tireless warrior with a deep passion for all things Panamanian. Regarding Ríos, it was highlighted that he was an outstanding doctor and oncologist, proudly raised in the El Chorrillo neighborhood, who has made significant contributions in the fight against cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). As for Tzanetatos, the President highlighted his humanitarian vocation, his big heart, and social vision, always thinking about the common good. Cortizo recalled that Sor Lourdes dedicated her life with great devotion to caring for children in vulnerable conditions, providing them with a home and opportunities for their development. Regarding Koumanis, he described him as a joyful, supportive, selfless man with unwavering principles and values. \”He was an example of what can be achieved through entrepreneurship, effort, and sacrifice, contributing to the construction of a better society,\” he said. READ HERE: CORTIZO CONDECORA A CINCO PANAMEÑOS POR SU CONTRIBUCIÓN AL DESARROLLO DEL PAÍS USE OF MASKS: THE REASON WHY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND RECOMMEND IT Due to cases of influenza, the Social Security Fund (CSS) and the Ministry of Health (MINSA) recommend the use of masks. The Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the Social Security Fund (CSS) have made a recommendation to the public regarding the use of masks due to the increase in influenza cases in the country. The entities are carrying out mass vaccination campaigns in different parts of the country and have administered thousands of doses to prevent the spread of the virus. \”In light of the increase in AH1N1 influenza cases in the country, health authorities inform that the mandatory use of masks remains in effect in all healthcare facilities and for patients with chronic diseases, as established by Executive Decree No. 101 of July 1, 2022,\” states the communication. Dr. Yelkys Gill, National Executive Director of Health Services and Benefits, emphasized that the use of masks will be essential in the following cases: The authorities reiterate that the population must maintain the biosecurity measures implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as constant hand washing, the use of masks in crowded places, by individuals aged 60 and above, and by chronic patients to prevent contagion. READ HERE: USO DE MASCARILLAS: LA RAZÓN POR QUE EL MINSA Y LA CSS LO RECOMIENDAN \”CIUDAD DE LA SALUD WILL BE DELIVERED IN ADVANCE, CSS REPORTS Ciudad de la Salud. The Social Security Fund (CSS) reported that they are preparing for an early delivery of the Ciudad de la Salud (City of Health) according to the agreed-upon date in the contract, as confirmed by Engineer Rogelio Robles, the project manager of Ciudad de la Salud. They hope that the phases could be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2023. In the follow-up meeting,
The Latest Family Adventure; Ensa, Power Outages in Colón and San Miguelito; Minsa Opens Vaccination Center at Parque Omar; Panama and the Region Assess Response Capacity to Risks; Property Highlights; Some Pictures of our Vacation
Friday, June 16, 2023 Never has the world experienced such a compelling personality dreamt of or divined, as that of my Queen, Sayira. Always at the ready for the latest family adventure, always thinking ahead to our internal mini-celebrations and always happy to make us happy, she truly is the spark that keeps our family alive. Last week, we all went on a quick adventure to my home state of Wisconsin. Well, first we stopped off at Chicago to visit the Field Museum, swim in sprinkles at the Museum of Ice Cream, eat deep dish pizza, watch the Taylor Swift concert from the rooftop of a neighboring building, watch the Navey Pier fireworks and go around their Ferris wheel, and get bludgeoned with insults at the Weiner Circle. Young Brandon was flipped off by one of the cute waitresses too, and all he did was say thanks for the hot dog… …check out the video: Then it was on the Sparta-Elroy trail. I’ve found that maps don’t really give you the proper feel of distance; you truly need to ride the trail to understand what 20 miles is really like on a bicycle. The trail used to be a train path that passed through 3 tunnels. They decommissioned the trains and removed the tracks years ago, opening the possibility of locals and travelers an experience like no other. The temperature of the tunnels drops so drastically, that you can feel the cold from them at least 200 yards before arriving. The water filtrating through created these massive stalactites that need to be removed every now and again and the walls look and feel like slick marble. It’s cold enough to where you see your breath and the drops of “rain” cause chills on contact with exposed skin. The next three days weren’t the greatest though as all of us got sick with the flu. First me, then Brandon, Sayira and Brett Jr in that order seemingly each within 12 hours of the other. I won’t go into the details, but if you’ve ever heard of Montezuma’s Revenge, all I can say is that he’s a worthy foe who I never want to meet up with again. On our way back we took in a Brewer’s game. They lost to the seemingly paltry Oakland A’s 2-1 in overtime, but the game was still filled with excitement and a few amazing plays by both teams. But alas, it was time to return. I think the only thing I don’t like about coming back to Panama is that gust of hot air we get coming off the plane while still on the tarmac. Wow, it gets hot out there, eh? TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY: LEARN WHICH BLOOD TYPES ARE MOST NEEDED World Blood Donor Day. Every June 14th, World Blood Donor Day is celebrated to express gratitude to all individuals who voluntarily donate blood and help save lives. It also aims to promote better measures to ensure universal access to safe blood transfusions. In Panama, Elvin López has become one of these heroes since he made the decision to become a voluntary blood donor in 2001. Undoubtedly, the countless lives he has managed to save are remarkable. \”I come every four months to donate and do it to help those in need. Additionally, they conduct blood tests here that allow me to know about my health,\” shared López, who currently works at the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). During the months of April and May of this year, there was a slight increase in the number of donors, surpassing a thousand people. \”Despite these figures, it is never enough, and this is a practice that should be encouraged, considering that blood is the only medicine that cannot be manufactured,\” emphasized Arthur Bradley, the medical technologist in charge of the Blood Donation Center at the Social Security Fund (CSS). Bradley added that the most required blood type is O+, while O- and AB- are the most difficult to obtain. Requirements According to the Social Security Fund (CSS), the main requirements to be a blood donor are: This process takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes and can be done at two centers of the institution located at: READ HERE: DÍA MUNDIAL DEL DONANTE DE SANGRE: CONOZCA QUÉ TIPOS DE SANGRE SON LOS MÁS REQUERIDOS ENSA, WITHOUT POWER: SECTORS IN COLÓN AND SAN MIGUELITO GET READY! ENSA, without power: Areas in Colón and San Miguelito, get ready! Elektra Noreste S.A. (ENSA) has announced that they will carry out various power supply interruptions on Saturday, June 17, 2023, in different sectors of the Colón province and the San Miguelito district. These are maintenance works by the company to ensure reliable energy supply to all homes in our concession area. In the San Miguelito district, Amelia Denis de Icaza and Pan de Azúcar townships will experience a 4-hour power outage (9:30 a.m. – 01:30 p.m.). ENSA explains that the task involves maintenance work on the electrical network. In the Colón province, there will also be interruptions in the following townships: A total of 1945 customers are expected to be without electricity for 4 to 5 hours. ENSA Communiqué Meanwhile, in the Ancón township, Panama district, the Camino de Cruces residential area will be affected by a power outage due to maintenance work by ENSA for a duration of 5 hours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. READ HERE: ENSA, SIN LUZ: SECTORES EN COLÓN Y SAN MIGUELITO ¡PREPÁRENSE! CUSTOMS INFORMS TRANSPORTERS OF RULES FOR ENTERING EL SALVADOR Customs. The National Customs Authority informs international land freight transporters that starting from Saturday, July 17, every cargo unit entering El Salvador will be required to have a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, which has three designated placement points in Panama. Customs: Placement points for labels in Panama What are radio frequency tags? Radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags are intelligent tags that store data to be transmitted via radiofrequency to RFID readers or antennas. The tags,
Who’s Stupid?; How to Obtain Legal Eligibility to be a Lawyer in Panama? We Explain; Municipality Announces Moratorium on Fine Payments; Government to Manage Resources to Activate the ‘Amber Alert’; My Favorite Comedians
Friday, June 23, 2023 “Panamanians are stupid!”, the random newbie expat reported on the Facebook thread. Man, that got my blood boiling. I don’t know if his insult was unintentional as he made a poor play at being innocently playful or if this banter was just simply some profound level of ignorance. I’m leaning towards profound ignorance… Ironically it came from a U.S. expat. Ironic, because we all know how us gringos are the best at everything, right? And where Panama may have a few “stupid people”, the US absolutely excels at stupidity Canada too though, right? I mean, you’ll note how in Panama, there’ll be that one guy who gets into a heated argument with an unsuspecting telephone pole, but the northern hemisphere seems to consistently elect our village idiots to public office…. …yep, aaaaaall the way to the top… I responded to random newbie expat, rebutting his “Panamanians are stupid!” comment simply pointing out how those types of comments, whilst he probably felt them to be good-natured humor, still insults the locals. We really need to shy away from insulting the locals – as good-natured as you can be, calling anyone stupid will never come off as humorous by the intended party. That being said, local politicians are still fair game especially during hunting season (oops, I meant “election season”) and the season is open folks!! You’ll be getting a few doses of intended insults out of me in the months to come. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom WOMAN WHO STOLE A BABY FROM A SUPERMARKET IS BROUGHT BEFORE A MAGISTRATE JUDGE Woman Who Stole a Baby from a Supermarket is Brought Before a Magistrate The Public Ministry (MP) reported that in the next few hours, they will bring a woman apprehended for her alleged involvement in the deprivation of liberty of a baby before a magistrate judge. The incident occurred yesterday at a commercial establishment located in Penonomé. Apparently, the 24-year-old woman who abducted a minor in a supermarket in Penonomé, Coclé, had deceived her relatives by claiming that the baby was hers after losing her own child. Thanks to the quick action of the National Police and the help of the citizens, the capture was made, and the baby was returned to its parents. The baby\’s aunt received him at the police substation in the province of Panama Oeste, in the city of San Carlos. Upon receiving him, Irasema Gallardo expresses her gratitude to the citizens for recovering the child, who will travel to the province of Coclé, his place of origin. READ HERE: MUJER QUE ROBÓ A BEBÉ DE UN SUPERMERCADO ES LLEVADA ANTE UN JUEZ DE GARANTÍA THEY ANNOUNCE MORATORIUM FOR THE PAYMENT OF FINES, WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW TO APPLY? Municipal Treasury of Panama. The Municipal Treasury of Panama, under the Panama City Municipality, announced that as of June 12th, the moratorium period for the payment of fines related to \”non-submission of the Income Statement\” and \”omission in the Declaration Audit\” has begun. According to the entity, taxpayers who have paid 50% of the overdue taxes will be eligible for a 50% waiver of the remaining amount. To benefit from this moratorium, interested individuals must have submitted the most recent Income Statement (for 2022) and have the documentation related to the inconsistencies in the requested declarations. If unable to pay the full debt, you will have the option to negotiate a payment plan with the Enforcement Department and authorized Execution Courts. Additionally, you may benefit from a 25% discount on the fine, calculated as follows: This benefit is established in Agreement 150, issued on June 6 of the current year, and is based on Article 14 of Law 106 of 1973. The moratorium period will be in effect until July 15. For more information, you can contact the following numbers: 202-9464 and 506-9600, or send an email to contribuyentes@municipio-pma.gob.pa. READ HERE: ANUNCIAN MORATORIA PARA EL PAGO DE MULTAS, ¿CUÁLES SON Y CÓMO APLICAR? THEY WILL HIRE THREE COMPANIES FOR GARBAGE COLLECTION Cabinet Council. The Cabinet Council approved on Tuesday the temporary contracting between the Urban and Domiciliary Cleaning Authority (AAUD) and three companies that will provide the service of collection, transportation, and final disposal of urban, commercial, and residential waste at the Cerro Patacón landfill in three areas of Panama City. The Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, pointed out that the measure seeks to establish the concept of a Clean City developed through Conaseo, which aims to provide a responsible, optimal, and uninterrupted garbage collection service in the 26 districts of the capital. He emphasized that the contracting responds to the high growth in demand from urban, residential, and commercial clients of AAUD, totaling over 1.2 million inhabitants who produce 1,689 tons of waste daily, as a response to the environmental crisis at the Cerro Patacón landfill. According to the contracts authorized by the Cabinet, the Covella Panama Consortium will provide services in Zone 1, which includes the districts of San Felipe, El Chorrillo, Santa Ana, Calidonia, Curundú, Ancón (excluding the Panama Canal Authority), Bella Vista, Betania, and Pueblo Nuevo. It was also reported that the company Metropolitana de Aseo, S.A. E.S.P. EMA will handle the collection, transportation, and final disposal of waste in Zone 2, which includes the districts of Río Abajo, San Francisco, Parque Lefevre, Juan Díaz, and Don Bosco. Meanwhile, the company Pronto Aseo, S.A. will provide the same services in Zone 3, covering the districts of Chilibre, Las Cumbres, Alcalde Díaz, Ernesto Córdoba, and Caimitillo. The AAUD will be responsible for Zone 4, which includes the districts of Pacora, San Martín, Las Mañanitas, 24 de Diciembre, Las Garzas, and Pedregal. A temporary online contract was made for one year for the three collection zones with an investment of $24 million. The start of operations of the companies in their respective zones will be announced. On the other hand, with prior authorization from the Agri-food Chain, composed of producers, input distributors, and importers, the Cabinet approved
The Therapeutic Bird; Photo Traffic Tickets by Email Begins in July; UTP Ranks as One of the Best in the World; Koreans Exchange Experiences on Waste Management; Bird Species of Panama
Friday, June 30, 2023 First of all, I didn’t get last week’s newsletter out to the Whatsapp group as I was in the process of changing phones from one carrier to another and upgrading phones as well. What a f$%&ing nightmare that’s been. Long story short… …sorry, eh! I hope you caught it on one of the other outlets. Secondly, wow, what a week for us. On Sunday, I was working on my Honey-Do list. One of the tasks was to install a protective strip to the doors of our cars to avoid dings and damage to others from abruptly opening our doors. Anyways, I’m sitting on the ground with a rubber mallet in one hand and pliers in the other when suddenly this “Plop TWEET!” sound startled me. I swiveled to the right and saw this parakeet laying there on its back just 3 feet away. It had just fallen from the sky where this flock of several hundred parakeets were swarming around looking for their nests as they normally do in Panama around that time (530pm-ish). Knowing exactly what to do, I gently scooped him/her up and walked briskly to the house, into the kitchen area where Queen Sayira was blowdrying our spoiled maltipoo, Zeus. “Titi”, as I affectionately call her “Look!” She turned around and gasped, immediately forgetting about the dripping mop of a dog and scurrying to take things into her hands. She had that same, “Oh no, my child needs me” look on her face that I usually only see her have with animals, or at least not nearly as much as with our own kids. I think the bird was a female, as it immediately Munched on her finger when it didn’t do anything to me at all. You know, prolly cause I got that special touch wit da ladies. Anywho…. Apparently, rescuing this bird was the best thing that could have happened to us in a while. I had no idea, but that beautiful soul of a wife I’m fortunate enough to share a home with, has been keeping in some repressed emotions of pain and sorrow. Nearly 25 years ago, prior to us being a couple, she lost some parakeets that she had as pets. More than pets, they were a part of her home. No cages, no restrictions, they just stayed with her for company and a steady supply of food. Add a crafty neighborhood cat into the mix and disaster struck. She was forced to pick up the pieces and watch as the only survivor flew away from her in terror, never to be seen by her again. Receiving this poor, chompy bird into her life was exactly what she needed. She sat there with this injured bird, crying for quite some time, while our oldest boy Brett Jr helped out by blowdrying Zeus (AKA Mr Drippy). The bird slowly regained its strength, spent the night with us and after eating some banana and getting a bath that it may or may not have wanted, a bloody-fingered Sayira decided it was time to see if it could take flight. And flight it took!! No sooner did she release it did it take off like a shot and then curved back spanning it wings fully chirping and squawking like crazy, probably calling out to its crew, and they immediately answered. And she was gone. (Yes, “she”.) Later that Monday evening, Sayira told me how much it meant to her to have had the opportunity to save that one mini being. It was for her, in a sense, a way of vindicating herself from what happened so long ago. She had always unjustly blamed herself for that massacre so many years ago. There’s nothing better than to watch as a loved one is able to win over their own demons. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom ATTT’S PHOTO TRAFFIC TICKETS BY EMAIL BEGIN IN JULY ATTT\’s photo traffic tickets by email begin in July. Starting from July 1, 2023, the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) will begin the notification process via email for infractions captured through the \”Foto Multa\” system. The project was announced by the Authority through a press release. According to the press release, the ATTT clarified that this measure will be implemented as a trial and will not result in financial penalties. Additionally, the statement adds that this initiative is part of a plan to raise awareness among drivers. The objective of the Transit Authority is to prevent actions such as: The institution responsible for traffic in the country reiterates in the press release that this measure will be carried out as a trial and will not result in any fines, penalties, or monetary charges. In addition, it outlines the steps to follow in the notification and verification process of the infringement, such as sending the notification via email. It explains that the email will contain the control number and a web link that will allow the offender to access the site and verify the committed infringement. According to the ATTT, the email will provide the driver with the opportunity to review the validated infringement in digital format, including photos and vehicle details, so that they can understand the nature of the violation virtually. READ HERE: FOTO MULTAS DE LA ATTT POR CORREO ELECTRÓNICO INICIA EN JULIO UTP IS POSITIONED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD UTP is positioned as one of the best in the world. The Technological University of Panama (UTP) has moved up in the global rankings, reaching the range of 951-1000 compared to last year, maintaining its position among the best universities worldwide. This achievement was highlighted in the latest ranking presented by the British consulting firm QS Quacquarelli Symonds (QS World University Rankings), 2024 edition. The evaluated aspect that contributes the most to this positioning is the recognition it enjoys from employers. Through a statement from the higher education institution, it explains that in this global QS ranking, which covered
Cheat. Why not?; Astronomical Events Calendar of July 2023; Attention! Road Closures for 10 Days: Here, the Affected Streets; Most Committed Crimes in Panama; Panamanian Recipes for breakfast
Friday, July 07, 2023 This morning I woke to this insatiable craving for blueberry pancakes. As usual, my queen was already stirring around the kitchen… …quite literally… …stirring her coffee, stirring pancake batter, and probably stirring a protein shake for later. The smells were amazing and I couldn’t wait to have some of her mystical creations with a few perfectly ripened blueberries we had left in the fridge. As she pulled away from the house with our loveable lads, in route to eagerly absorb the teachings of their socratic pedagogues, I happily snuck my way to the kitchen, giggling all the way. I know I shouldn’t have pancakes. I have a goal to lose weight and I’ve been keeping at it quite nicely these last 3 weeks since my birthday, but today I’m having my damn blueberry pancakes and I’m going to love it. Hoping there was left over batter, I checked the counters, fridge and even the freezer. Nope, no batter. “Darn it, now I’m actually going to have to make them myself from scratch!”, I whined to myself. But that’s ok because I was on a mission… So I grabbed the flour, baking powder, eggs, milk, coconut oil, salt and a little bit of sugar, at which point I started feeling nervous. I hadn’t had a gram of granulated sugar in a while. Nonetheless, I pushed ahead once again. I made the batter as I heated the pan and folded in these amazing blueberries. In a short time, I had more than enough to placate my urges; 6 to be exact. I mean, I wasn’t actually going to eat SIX pancakes, was I? No sir, I still need to stay true to myself and eat just ONE pancake. I’ve been doing great on my weight loss and there’s no need to fall apart now just because my brain was screaming at me to gobble them all down. So, I ate 3 of them. (Ugh.). In Spanish there’s a saying, “Primero el gusto y despues el disgusto.”, which loosely translates to “First the like and then the dislike.”. I was full-on disgusto after that. Ooohhhhh but they were sooooo good! “Oh hell.”, I thought, “let’s just call it a cheat meal and move on like it never happened.”, I tried to convince myself. I mean, if I say, “I had my cheat meal this morning.”, it’s sure as hell better sounding than “I cheated on my diet today!” or “I caved to my ancestral yearnings!”. This way, it’s sounds like it’s just a part of the diet plan. “I had my cheat meal this morning”, is perfectly ok. And that’s when it hit me…. We don’t use “cheat” as often as we should to cover for our daily pitfalls. Heck yeah, we need to use that more often. For example, if you fool around on your spouse or somehow significant other, don’t say “I cheated on my wife.”, just say “I had a cheat meet.” and it’s ok! Did you spend more than your scheduled family budget?, or, did you embezzle money from your boss’ company?, don’t confess to any failures silly man, just say, “I took a cheat bonus!”. I wonder how far we could go with this??? Hhhmmmm…. Murder? That’s probably taking it too far, but what if they “had it coming to them”? Nope, too dark even for me…. Although, in panama, this type of cheating is already pretty common. Here we just call it “jugando vivo” and the person that does it, is a “juegavivo”. If you’re new to Panama, learn it quick. If you’ve been on the ass-end of being played by a juegavivo, you’ve already been taught the intricacies of the term. Just my golden thoughts provoked by a delusional hunger. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom CSS HAS 605 DRUGS; THERE ARE STILL COMPLAINTS ABOUT SHORTAGES Discussion on expediting purchases of medicines and supplies. The Social Security Fund (CSS, for its initials in Spanish) has a total of 605 medicines listed in its official inventory, as reported on Thursday during the \”Conversation on streamlining the procurement of medicines and supplies.\” Out of this total, approximately 50 medicines are difficult to acquire. Eliécer Cortés, the national deputy director of Health Technology, explained that in 2022, the CSS dispensed 16,944,606 medicines, while in the first four months of 2023, there have been 5,712,938 dispensations. However, the reality for many Panamanians is that they are unable to obtain the medicines and find themselves in need of purchasing them with their own money. According to Cortés, it was decided to make the dispensation of medicines a state issue so that CSS pharmacies, as well as other healthcare entities, can be adequately supplied, and patients can have all the necessary medicines. For this purpose, the Technical Committee for Medicine Supply was created, with the participation of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), the CSS, the regulatory entity for Pharmacies and Drugs, and the Association of Patients with Chronic Diseases. During the conversation, Medicsol was also discussed. It was created to provide an immediate response to patients in case of medicine shortages. Cortés specified that Medicsol is installed in the polyclinics and in some units in the city, with 12 lines of products, as well as in implementing units in Chiriquí. Negotiations are currently underway with suppliers to extend the plan to the central region of the country. Additionally, there are plans to expand the list so that patients can have an immediate response. Enrique Lau Cortés, the director of the CSS, stated that their objective is to pay suppliers within a maximum of 30 days. He added that with the endorsement of the Comptroller\’s Office and the budget allocation, the supplier can deliver the medicines, and they must pay as quickly as possible. Regarding the loss of fentanyl at the CSS, Lau Cortés mentioned that the institution detected this situation and that it is a matter in the hands of the Public Prosecutor\’s Office. He noted that he cannot provide any insights into this investigative process since it is up to the Public Prosecutor\’s Office to disclose what is happening. READ HERE: CSS TIENE 605 MEDICAMENTOS; AÚN HAY QUEJAS POR ESCASEZ
Critical Thinking and Fishing; The population of Panama is 4.2 million people, according to the Population and Housing Census conducted in 2023. The government has announced a new extension date for the fuel subsidy. Maintenance work on the Centennial Bridge is set to begin in August; Conspiracy Theory.
Friday, July 14, 2023 During the last two weeks, we were entertaining a couple of good friends who came down to visit from Texas. Scott, who\’s former Air Force Intel and his lovely wife Julie who is quite the giggly sort, both gave us a run for our money in diversion and entertainment. Scott and I became close friends when he came down to work on a contract in Panama a few years ago. Since then, I’ve been up to visit them as did my beautifully giggly better half as well! What fascinates me most about this friendship we have isn’t what we have in common, as much as it is that which we don\’t have in common. Although neither of us are extremist in our thoughts and opinions, we do have widely distinct ideas of how the world goes ´round. But it’s refreshing to be mentally stimulated and that’s one hell of a great appeal to our debates and reviews. I mean, what fun is there in just everyone agreeing about everything, right? One of our back n forths still has me thinking about the evolution of thought, and how during the course of tens of thousands of years, we’ve not only gotten smarter through more technology, but we’ve also lost quite a bit of those discoveries that got us to where we are today. Scott is highly skilled in Critical Thinking. Critical Thinking is essentially an organized method which guides you to reach deeper into analytic thought than you’d normally be able to reach. It’s not about “what” you think, it’s about “how” you think and the hypothesis you’re able to develop through organized thought. So we dabbled in these thought methods and exercises over the last weekend which eventually took us to a series of conclusions about lost intellect. First of all, we laughed about how so many people tend to lean towards “the aliens” when it comes to things we don’t understand. \”The pyramids were impossible to build by mankind with the great intellect we have today, so our stupid ancestors probably had help by aliens to accomplish these amazing feats.”, is a thought process that is seemingly more common nowadays than it should be. Why can’t we just accept that previous civilizations had discovered better methods in construction than we have today? And why can’t we just accept that this “technology” has simply been lost due to natural disasters, extinctions, disease, invasions (not by aliens) or other massive disruptions? There are millions of people who couldn\’t produce fire unless they had matches and fuel. If we had another mass extinction, and you were left to your own wits, would you be able to recreate methods to harness solar energy? How about nuclear fission, or something much more simple like hydroelectric power? Probably not. I could start a fire without a match, but I’m screwed when it comes to generating massive amounts of controlled energy. Oh, and we went fishing. That was pretty great too. Pedasi never fails to produce at least a couple dorado or tuna. This time, after 2 hours of nothing, we started to pay more attention to the whales – one of them even seemed to wave at us, so we turned our boat towards him/her hoping to get a better look. Not even 2 minutes after turning in the whale’s direction, it dove out of sight and at that very moment we got our first fish on! That made us think too. Was the whale intentionally signaling for us to head towards fish to help us out? Was it aliens? We may never know, but that day did get much better immediately after and we collectively brought in 8 fish into the boat, with both of my sons getting their first tunas EVER. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom THE POPULATION OF PANAMA IS 4.2 MILLION PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO THE POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS CONDUCTED IN 2023. Comptroller Gerardo Solis. The population of Panama is 4,202,572, as revealed by the population and housing census conducted in 2023. \”I am pleased with the arduous work of the Institute of Statistics and Census and each of the departments of the Comptroller\’s Office that made these censuses possible, in addition to the 8,848 enumerators and supervisors who carried out this census activity with positive results,\” said Gerardo Solís, the Comptroller General of the Republic, during a press conference. It was indicated that during the census exercise, the number of estimated households exceeded the figure provided by the cartography department by 1,492,690 private households. Meanwhile, the enumerators reached a total of 1,589,018 residences, which means an additional 96,328 households. In terms of education, it was determined that the school-age population from 6 to 11 years old is 423,036 students. The Comptroller\’s Office highlighted that this represents an additional 32,051 students compared to the 2010 census, which recorded a student population of 390,985. Furthermore, the estimated number of children and adolescents enrolled in the education system between 5 and 19 years old reached 918,336, compared to 836,109 in 2010, indicating an increase of 82,227 students since the previous census. The institution emphasized that the illiteracy rate \”decreased systematically.\” In 2023, it decreased from 5.5% to 3.7%. In concrete terms, the Comptroller\’s Office stated that in 2010, there were 148,747 individuals who could not read or write, while in 2023, the number decreased to 123,674. The census revealed that the insured population amounts to 1,911,824 individuals, representing an increase of 135,904 insured individuals compared to the 2010 census. Regarding self-identification, significant increases were observed compared to 2010. The indigenous groups showed a growth of 280,553 individuals who self-identified as indigenous, totaling 698,114 individuals. In 2010, the figure reached 417,559 individuals. In the case of Afro-descendants, there was an increase of 973,568 individuals compared to 2010, when the census recorded 313,289 individuals who self-identified as Afro-descendants. In 2023, the total reached 1,286,857 individuals. READ HERE: POBLACIÓN DE PANAMÁ ES DE 4.2 MILLONES DE PERSONAS, SEGÚN CENSO DE
“Interesting Results or Big Surprises”; IMHPA High Thermal Sensation Alert in Panama; Martinelli Sentenced to 128 Months in Prison for the New Business Case; Unusual Noises During Earthquake Alarmed in Arraijan; International Dog Day.
Friday, July 21, 2023 This last week has been full of “interesting results”. I almost wrote “Big Surprises”, but I dont think anyone should be surprised by these decisions; they were certainly inevitable. First, on July 13, US Secretary Antony Blinken announced the designation of former Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela. Until recent years, I hadn’t noticed the use of this term and would have thought it could have meant any number of things. For example, if you volunteer to be the “Designated Driver”, it means that you’re the only one planning to be sober (which is kinda sad). Also, if you’re designated to be anything, it’s usually a good thing. The opposite of “designated” could be “discharge”, “dismiss” or “expel” which sounds much more negative. However, “Designation” in this context refers to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023. Officials designated under Section 7031(c) and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry into the United States. Holy heck, so that means that not only Varela, but his wife, kids, and several others will also not be going to Disney in Florida any time soon. And then, in another “not surprised one damn bit” moment, Ricardo Martinelli was finally given his sentencing and the Panamanian attorney general happily handed him a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of more than $19 million dollars. Four other schmucks were also sentenced for the denominated “New Business” crime, which alleges public funds were used to buy a media conglomerate and give the former president a majority stake. Martinelli immediately stated his innocence and his lawyer told news sources that they would be appealing this decision and exhausting all recourses possible in his client’s defense. The USA doesn’t always do everything right, but they got this one spot on. It sure as hell took them long enough, but they’re never about speed, instead they work towards a definitive result. This should be a wakeup call to everyone else in every government everywhere (except the USA) that if you decide to take the path towards corruption, you will eventually pay the price and no longer have access to US soil. I think the next step is utilizing the Clinton list to seize all of Martinelli’s business interests, as well as Varela’s. This will really really suck for Panama. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom PROTECT YOURSELF! IMHPA WARNS OF HIGH THERMAL SENSATION IN PANAMA Protect yourself! IMHPA warns of high thermal sensation in Panama. The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) reports that it maintains a high thermal sensation surveillance warning in the country, which could lead to people experiencing body temperatures between 36 and 42 degrees Celsius. The warning is valid for a period of 10 hours (from 09:50 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.) on this Thursday, July 20, 2023. According to forecaster Emmanuel Velásquez, the areas under the warning are: The forecaster explains that due to the moderately low cloud cover prevailing over the country and the high incidence of solar radiation, high temperatures are generated during the day, exceeding 32°C in various regions, along with moist air masses at low levels of the troposphere in the sector. Velásquez highlights that this atmospheric condition will cause heat strokes for the population exposed to outdoor activities or in poorly ventilated environments. The high thermal sensation could lead to body temperatures being perceived between 36 to 42 degrees Celsius. READ HERE: ¡PROTÉJASE! IMHPA ALERTA ELEVADA SENSACIÓN TÉRMICA EN PANAMÁ THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE (CSJ) ADMITS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE APPOINTMENT OF THE RECTOR OF UNACHI. The Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) accepts the lawsuit against the appointment of the rector of UNACHI. The Sustaining Magistrate, on behalf of the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), requested the authenticated copy of the Proclamation Act of the Rector, 2023-2028 term, issued by the Superior Electoral Tribunal of the University of Chiriquí (UNACHI). The request arises following the contentious administrative lawsuit for nullity filed by Mr. Osman Odir Ledezma Moreno, acting on behalf of Edwin Abdiel Samudio Arcia, who is in competition with Etelvina de Bonagas, the current rector of this institution for the next five years. The reasons, according to the document, are to declare the Proclamation Act null and void, on grounds of illegality. The Act was published in late April 2023, after the elections were held at UNACHI to choose its new rector, with 60% of the votes from the teaching staff, 30% from students, and 10% from administrative personnel. READ HERE: CSJ ADMITE DEMANDA CONTRA PROCLAMACIÓN DE RECTORA DE LA UNACHI MARTINELLI HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS IN PRISON FOR THE NEW BUSINESS CASE. What does the ruling say about the New Business case? Former President of the Republic, Ricardo Martinelli, and four other individuals were convicted in the New Business case, according to a ruling by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, which was released on Tuesday by the Judicial Branch. According to the verdict, the former president was sentenced to 128 months, which is equal to 10 years and eight months in prison. In addition, he was fined B/.19,221,600.48 as an ancillary penalty, to be paid to the National Treasury within 12 months after serving the main sentence. This fine corresponds to twice the amount of the economic benefit received and properly quantified. Both Martinelli and Daniel Ochy were declared criminally responsible as authors for the offense of Money Laundering, related to the purchase of Editora Panamá América (Epasa) in 2010. Ochy was sentenced to 96 months in prison and an additional penalty of disqualification from engaging in commercial activities for the same term, once the prison sentence is completed. Four other individuals were also convicted, including Janeth Ibeth Vásquez Sanjur, who received a 60-month prison sentence, and an ancillary penalty of disqualification from holding public office for the same term after serving the main sentence. Mixed Verdict in the New Business Case. CONSÚLTALO Iván
The Queen has her Military; Panama City Hall Begins Vehicle Sticker Distribution for April; Requirements for Traveling to European Countries from Panama; ENA, Partial Closures on the North Corridor Eastbound this Weekend; Lakes
Friday, July 28, 2023 When it comes to my never-ending practical jokes, profound embarrassment and finely directed personalized sarcasm, my boys are fair game for me. Delving into what some may call borderline child torture, I try to put them both into scenarios that force them to lash back at me with fervor. Not with disrespect, just fervor. Last weekend, I took them fishing. Yes, “again”. And we’re probably going this weekend as well, if it isn’t pouring rain out. Once we got the boat into the water and the poles were ready to attack the local species around the Fort Espinar public boat landing on the Colon side, I got to the front of the boat to manipulate the trolling motor. After nearly an hour at the helm, I was gliding our vessel through the tree trunks which protruded more than 5 feet out of the water due to our local drought. Quite confident in my graceful abilities, I wasn’t paying attention as I was simultaneously casting my lure in one direction and moving our boat in another. The boys had been arguing about who the better fisherperson was between them (which is ridiculous because they hadn’t caught anything yet), when I bumped into one of the vertical logs. The boys stumbled but didn’t go into the brink… …”Darn, no splash!”, I said out loud. Brandon, picking up on the joke, spoke up first, “Oh no, we’re going down!”, he said with a grin. “If you survive, tell you mother that I love her!!”, I yelled out jokingly. “A crew always goes down with their ship.”, Brett Jr stated. “Oh no sir, just the captain goes down with the ship. And you’re the captain.”, I clarified. “I’m not the captain, YOU’RE the captain.”, he said kinda upset that I had given him such a prestigious title. “I clearly heard someone say earlier, `Hey, that’s Brett Mikkelson, the captain… …he’s a cool guy´, and I knew they must’ve been talkin’ about my son!”, I continued to prod. “I’ll accept the title of captain when I start making the big bucks.”, he finalized. Yep, it can truly be a blast when you share your name with your son. So yesterday, when I got home from work, I was looking for him and yelled out, “Hey Brett, where are you?”. He popped his head from around a corner and clarified, “That’s CAPTAIN Brett, if you don’t mind. Do you have our allowance?” Immediately behind him Brandon spoke up, “And you can call me Sergeant Brandon! Cha-ching!!!” I forgot it was payday. And that’s how the Queen gained her own military force financed by yours truly. I’ll find out what my rank is this weekend when all 4 of us are in the boat. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom REQUIREMENTS TO TRAVEL TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FROM PANAMA Requirements to travel to European countries from Panama. Starting from the year 2024, Panamanian citizens will be required to complete an ETIAS permit application before boarding a flight to 23 European countries. For this reason, we are explaining the requirements that you must not forget before purchasing your airplane ticket to Europe. Firstly, it is important to explain the meaning of ETIAS, which stands for the European Travel Information and Authorization System. Panamanian citizens will be required to apply for this permit to enter the participating European countries for short stays of less than 90 days, for purposes such as tourism, business, transit, or medical reasons. The ETIAS program is intended to control travelers arriving from abroad in response to the global increase in terrorist activities. Other requirements necessary to enter Europe from Panama It is important to take into account that when applying for the ETIAS permit or visa, Panamanian citizens can request it online, and the following points should be considered: An important piece of information is that ETIAS permit applications submitted by Panamanian citizens will typically be processed and approved within minutes, and the authorizations will be sent via email in the form of a PDF document. It is not necessary to print or present any documents since the ETIAS permit will be electronically linked to the corresponding passport details stored in the European immigration system. Countries that are part of the ETIAS permit The 23 countries that are part of the Schengen group and can only be entered with the ETIAS permit are: It is important to mention that these countries are known as nations that signed the Schengen agreement and, in addition, they do not have internal border controls, allowing for the free movement of people as if it were a single country. However, this is not the case for all members of the European Union (EU), as the primary focus of this organization lies on economic and political matters. READ HERE: REQUISITOS PARA VIAJAR A PAÍSES EUROPEOS DESDE PANAMÁ MINSA WARNS ABOUT FRAUDULENT CHARGES TO MERCHANTS MINSA warns about fraudulent charges to merchants. The National Directorate of Food Control and Veterinary Surveillance (DNCAVV) of the Ministry of Health (MINSA) issues a warning to sanitary-interest commercial establishments, system users, and the general population regarding scams involving fraudulent charges by individuals who do not belong to the institution. These scammers make threats of imposing sanctions such as fines, closure of the premises, and fees for processing paperwork. MINSA informs the public that all officials are always in uniform and carry identification from the competent authority. During inspections, a record of the inspection is left in the form of an inspection report. Requests for food health registrations for human consumption are made through the Integrated System of Procedures (SIT) of the Panamanian Food Agency (APA). Payments related to this process are made in cash or certified checks payable to the National Treasury at the central treasury cashier of MINSA. A receipt is provided for the payment. Online payments, yappy, credit or debit card payments are not accepted. MINSA urges affected individuals to file complaints with the competent authorities for appropriate investigations.
Brett’s Writing Process; Minera Panama Contract Arrives at the National Assembly to Begin Discussion; Electricity Rate in Panama: Will There Be an Increase in Electricity?; MOP Reports on Partial Closure in West Panama; Books you Need to Read
Friday, August 04, 2023 During the last 5-6 years, I’ve been trying to write a book. Every time I start on the next segment, I get this little voice in my head telling me that what I’m writing is garbage and I should just give up. Luckily for me, I don’t NEED to write a book because of some deadline I promised to a publisher or anything like that. Just the same, I’ve had this task in my head for quite some time and needed the motivation to move forward. Recently, I spoke with a few people who are in the business of writing, and they’ve all told me the same thing. “Ignore that voice in your head and finish your book.” To that, I added, “Yeah, the book may ultimately suck, but at least I got that off my chest!”. So, a quick thank you to those who support my craziness and to those who have specifically told me to keep writing, Keith Long, James Pyle, Shirene Dovey, Hunter Schultz, Max Harari and my very special and ultra supportive Queen, Sayira Mikkelson. I’m only about 7,000 pages in to the first book and have a goal to write another 15,000-20,000 words per month until finished. At that rate, I should finish by the end of the year. In other news, I also started two other books. There’s a need to get the concept of Loss Prevention out to those who have the word “Security” stuck in their heads. And the other is about Bullying and how to deal with it. That subject came up during a call I had with James Pyle and my position where Bullying is Essential to growth. Being a bully is a cry for help whether consciously or not, and the importance for kids to know how to mitigate bullies they have to deal with in life. Anyways, I dont want to ruin the rest of it. If you’re going to hate on me for my thoughts on Bullying, I’d rather you buy the book first and then you can hate me for my comments as well as the fact that it cost you $12.99. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this week’s compilation of news out of Panama. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom MINERA PANAMA CONTRACT ARRIVES AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO INITIATE ITS DISCUSSION Contract with Minera Panama arrives at the National Assembly to begin its discussion. For the start of the first debate on the Concession Agreement with Minera Panama, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) officially presented the document to the plenary of the National Assembly (AN) on Thursday, August 3, 2023. The event was attended by Minister Federico Alfaro and the President of the AN, Jaime Vargas. On July 1st, the Assembly installed the new board of directors for this term, responsible for approving or rejecting various bills. The National Assembly cannot modify the articles of the contract with Minera Panama. After the announcement that Minera Panama would continue its operations in the country, the official document was presented to the public for consultation, approved by the Cabinet Council of the National Government, and sent to the General Comptroller’s Office for its review. During this period of discussion in the plenary, the results of the three respective debates are awaited, followed by its transformation into law and the sanction by the President of the Republic. READ HERE: CONTRATO MINERA PANAMÁ LLEGA A LA ASAMBLEA NACIONAL PARA INICIAR SU DISCUSIÓN ELECTRICITY RATES IN PANAMA: WILL THERE BE AN INCREASE OR NOT? Electricity tariff in Panama. The Secretary of Energy, Jorge Rivera Staff, stated that there will be no increase in the electricity tariff for at least 1.2 million regulated customers. However, a total of at least 300 large customers could receive an increase from 14 to 16 dollars per kilowatt per month. The Secretary explained that the tariff schedule for large customers receiving electricity is currently under review. This review is carried out every four years by the National Authority for Public Services (ASEP), and a possible increase has been proposed. “These more than 300 customers nationwide are currently undergoing another process, which is the review of the tariff schedule by ASEP, which is done every 4 years. These are not the adjustments made every 6 months but rather a review of all cost elements and income for the distribution companies. ASEP announces, for the next 4 years, the authorized income with a cap and the efficient costs,” indicated Staff. The Secretary of Energy also mentioned the suspension of the extraordinary COVID-19 subsidy in January, where the government covered up to 50% of the bills, and addressed the variation in fuel prices. “There will be no increase in the electricity tariff in the next six months. The variation in fuel prices is seasonal, and the projection that is made establishes possible increases in that component; however, it depends on the development of contracts,” said Jorge Rivera. READ HERE: TARIFA DE LA LUZ EN PANAMÁ: ¿HABRÁ O NO AUMENTO EN LA ELECTRICIDAD? PANAMANIAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS MAKE SURPRISING DISCOVERY IN CHAGRES The recent discoveries in Chagres are a testimony to Panama’s rich cultural history. A pre-Columbian site in the Chagres area, adjacent to the San Lorenzo Castle on the Caribbean coast of Panama, has been discovered by a group of Panamanian archaeologists. The findings include ceramics and stone tools, providing the first evidence of human culture in the region before the arrival of Europeans. Archaeologists Tomás Mendizábal from the Center for Historical, Anthropological, and Cultural Research (CIHAC AIP) and Jean-Sébastien Pourcelot from the Interoceanic Canal Museum led the excavations carried out at the Castle and the Chagres settlement site (both from the Colonial period). The analysis of the excavated materials was performed in the laboratories of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Naos. As the recovered remains were analyzed and categorized, evidence of the Pre-Columbian settlement emerged, which was later established as Chagres. “This was a surprise to us, as