Friday
Friday 13th June 2025.
June 12, 2025
Despite the agreement signed by the National Assembly to lift the closures in Bocas del Toro, more than 20 locations in the province remained blocked on the morning of Thursday, June 12, according to President José Raúl Mulino.
“That’s the reality today,” the president said, noting at a press conference that in areas like Almirante and Chiriquí Grande, the closures are being sustained by educators, not banana workers, and that they have ignored the commitment signed by leader Francisco Smith.
Mulino announced that the government will proceed to reopen all checkpoints, with the support of the National Police and the National Border Service (Senafront). “The chaos here is over.”
“Bocas del Toro will no longer be held hostage by Smith or the educators,” he warned. He assured that the operation will be carried out with “the greatest caution in the world” to avoid confrontations, but he was clear that the blockades will not be allowed to continue despite the agreements reached.
The president also announced the decision to guard the Chiquita facilities after receiving information about possible attempts to occupy them by protesters. “We cannot allow this,” he stated emphatically. He emphasized that the packing plants and production lands still legally belong to the company, under a concession granted by the state, and that any attempt to take over these facilities constitutes a crime that will not be tolerated.
With a more forceful tone than in previous appearances, Mulino emphasized that the country has witnessed the government’s patience in the face of the prolonged conflict. “Enough is enough. We have demonstrated patience, restraint, and consideration,” he emphasized, while insisting that Bocas del Toro cannot be left out of the reopening process that has begun in other regions of the country, including Darién.
“They’ve already taken over the province in a month. They’ve finished off the province, and they still want to finish off what’s left. No, sir, that’s enough.”
The president also responded to those who might accuse him of acting harshly. “Maybe now I’m the repressor,” he quipped. “But no one can take away the National Government’s ability to wait and contemplate with this Mr. Smith, who has committed crimes and offenses classified in the Penal Code, and yet he has been tolerated as an important spokesperson,” he said.
He recalled that Smith signed the agreements, and that Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz has already submitted a bill to address the banana sector’s demands, which is being considered by the Assembly.
He recalled that Smith signed the agreements, and that Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz has already submitted a bill to address the banana sector’s demands, which is being considered by the Assembly.
Furthermore, Mulino ruled out any type of negotiation between his government and Chiquita Brands to reinstate the laid-off workers in Bocas del Toro, amid the crisis generated by blockades and protests in that province.
“We have no intention, nor are we making any arrangements with Chiquita to rehire the laid-off workers,” the president said in a public statement. He also denied that the state will assume the millions in losses the company has faced due to the shutdown.
Mulino harshly criticized those who, he said, caused the chaos in the hope that the government would intervene economically on behalf of those affected. “This is not the time for such reflections, and if they were determined to destroy Bocas del Toro, as has indeed happened, they chose the wrong government,” he warned.
President José Raúl Mulino asked the U.S. Embassy in Panama to refrain from making public statements about decisions that fall under the jurisdiction of the Panamanian government, this Thursday, June 12, at a press conference.
The reaction comes after the Embassy issued a statement announcing the removal of Huawei communications towers in 13 locations across the country on Wednesday , June 11, an action Mulino described as “unilateral.”
The Panamanian government did not comment on the matter until 24 hours after the Embassy’s announcement, through a statement from the Ministry of Public Security.
Seven new towers will be installed in four provinces, with an investment of $8 million from the United States. Mulino stated that he would personally oversee the installation.
The president also addressed the tension between the United States and China , which has escalated both commercially and geopolitically. “Fix your problems in Washington or Beijing, but not in Panama’s backyard,” he said.
Panama has found itself in the middle of a power struggle after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed there was alleged “Chinese influence” on the isthmus, including in the operations of the Panama Canal. The U.S. ambassador to Panama, Kevin Marino Cabrera , has echoed this argument since presenting his credentials on May 5.
Specifically, the Embassy labeled Huawei towers as China’s “malign influence” on the country, something President Mulino has called a “falsehood.”
However, following the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio , Panama remained cautious about its relationship with China , taking a step back from the Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road (known as the Silk Road), as well as avoiding high-level meetings with Beijing.
Panama’s ambassador to Jamaica, Pedro Sittón , has been dismissed from his post by President José Raúl Mulino amid allegations of irregularities in the issuance of transit visas .
According to the information obtained, the embassy in Jamaica has been demanding payments of $1,000 for each transit visa application, despite the official fee being $60. Furthermore, practices have been developed that affect the work environment and the provision of consular services.
The dismissal resolution was signed by Mulino and by the Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, Carlos Guevara Mann , acting as acting Foreign Minister, since the current Minister, Javier Martínez Acha, is on an official mission.
Embassy staff informed the Foreign Ministry about these anomalies, stating that all instructions came from Sittón, who assumed control of the diplomatic mission last December after receiving the approval of the Jamaican government.
Staff reported that Sittón, who also served as the consular officer, established a new “system” for processing transit visas, allowing him to maintain tight control over the entire process.
La Prensa obtained access to a note sent to Foreign Minister Martínez Acha on June 10, signed by the administrative assistant, the consular assistant, and the embassy driver. The latter was prevented from entering the diplomatic mission; he believes the measure was due to his failure to comply with instructions to hand over the official vehicle to the ambassador.
The note mentions several “practices that could be considered irregular or even illegal,” such as charging $1,000 for processing a transit visa.
“These requests are only processed through close contacts with the ambassador, primarily lawyers who deliver the documents directly to the ambassador or send them to the new consular email address: conpanamajamaica@mire.gob.pa,” the statement states.
In addition to maintaining strict control over that email, Sittón—always according to the staff—schedules the appointments, deletes the applications that don’t interest him, personally prints the documents, prepares the official receipts for payment, and then delivers them to the consular assistant, who simply scans them and sends them to the National Immigration Service (SNM) .
“This excessive control has eliminated the transparency of the process,” the note to the chancellor emphasizes.
Regarding the SNM, the stamps on visas were also reportedly changed without notifying immigration authorities.
The staff also informed the Foreign Minister about several trips and other personal expenses allegedly incurred by Sittón, which were allegedly paid for with funds allocated for the operation of the embassy in Kingston .
For example, two personal trips to Miami and two more to Montego Bay are detailed, between April 17 and June 2. Employees maintain that, in some cases, Sittón left without even notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of his absence.
On another note, they add that a woman is hired to do the cleaning three times a week: two days she goes to the embassy offices and the other day she goes to the ambassador’s home.
New airlines and more frequent flights will operate at Tocumen International Airport starting this June.
This Thursday, June 12, air connections with Germany resumed with Condor Airlines, which will offer two weekly flights between Panama City and Frankfurt.
The air connection with Germany was lost in May 2023 when Eurowing ceased operations , and previously Lufthansa ceased flights to Panama due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not resume the route.
German airline Condor will operate the flights with Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, with capacity for 310 passengers.
In addition to Germany’s Condor, Aeroméxico also returned, operating a daily flight between Mexico City and the Panamanian capital starting this Thursday, June 12.
Aeroméxico had suspended this route since the pandemic, but has resumed operations.
Copa Airlines will begin flying a new route to San Diego, California, on June 25, adding its 17th destination in the United States. This route will have four weekly flights, strengthening Panama’s presence on the U.S. West Coast.
Meanwhile, starting June 26, Air Europa will increase its flights between Madrid and Panama City, increasing from six to seven weekly frequencies, thus offering one daily flight. “This decision is part of the airline’s strategy to consolidate its position in the Latin American market, responding to the sustained increase in demand along this air corridor.”
The motorsports scene in Panama looks promising thanks to the signing of an agreement between the Autódromo Panamá and the promoter SKAPA (SuperKart Panamá), which will assume management of the kart track.
During a press conference, it was confirmed that SKAPA will be responsible for the management, marketing, organization, and maintenance of the facilities, marking a key step in the development of karting in the country.
“This is a significant step forward for Panama. We should be proud of what we’ve built,” said Norberto Navarro, owner of the Autódromo Panamá, who highlighted SKAPA’s track record in developing national talent.
“This group has trained numerous pilots from a young age, and many have competed in Europe,” he added.
The agreement seeks to promote the creation of an academy that combines sports training with comprehensive education, thus strengthening the foundation of Panamanian motorsports.
“I’m very excited about the Kartódromo project. It’s a great initiative,” Navarro said. “Today is an important day for the Autódromo Panamá. This is a national project,” he concluded.