Monday
Monday 2nd June 2025.
June 1, 2025
Bocas del Toro residents began the month of June with the news that the Banana, Agricultural, and Related Business Workers’ Union (Sitraibana) , led by Francisco Smith , will maintain a complete road closure in the province this Monday, June 2.
In a statement released recently, the union reported that the decision was made at a meeting of its representatives at the Changuinola banana plantations. The measure, they warned, responds to recent statements by President José Raúl Mulino , which they described as “intransigent” and “disrespectful” toward the workers.
“The public is informed that next Monday, June 2, 2025, the Union (…) will maintain a complete closure of roads in the province of Bocas del Toro,” the statement reads. “This measure is in response to the intransigent and disrespectful statement made by President José Raúl Mulino. Therefore, the banana sector will keep the road completely closed without opening roads,” they added.
During his last press conference, Mulino reported that the modification of Law 45 , which regulates social security for banana workers, will be presented to the National Assembly once the strikes that have closed roads in the province of Bocas del Toro are permanently lifted .
The banana industry workers’ strike has lasted more than 30 days and has paralyzed much of Bocas del Toro’s economic activity. Tensions between the union and the government have intensified following the enactment of Law 462, which reformed the pension system.
Smith, who heads the union movement, said in an interview last Thursday that the country needs a national dialogue with all affected sectors.
“I’m just a banana union leader. He [Mulino] is the president of the country. He’s the one who has to bring peace,” he said in an interview with Radio Panama .
The strike, declared illegal by a labor court on May 16, remains under appeal, while Chiquita Panama announced the dismissal of approximately 5,000 workers and the temporary suspension of its operations in the country.
The situation has plunged the province into a climate of uncertainty and social unrest. The road closures affect thousands of residents, who report feeling like they’re being held hostage in their own land. However, Smith himself downplayed the closures. “There’s food here, there’s everything here,” Smith said of the barricades impeding free movement.
The union asserts that not all articles of Law 462 are negative, but it demands sweeping reforms to the aspects that—they claim—violate labor rights.
Meanwhile, at the time of writing this news, hundreds of drivers, including numerous truckers, remain stranded in the community of Pueblo Nuevo, waiting for the roads blocked by protesters to open.
The lines of vehicles stretch for miles. The traffic gridlock has become the most visible sign of the crisis in the province of Bocas del Toro, affecting not only the economy but also the daily lives of its residents.
The total road closure scheduled for this Monday coincides with the arrival in the province of Bocas del Toro of all the members of the high-level commission appointed by President Mulino, whose objective is to find a solution to the prolonged conflict that has kept the region in suspense.
This team is made up of the following ministers:
- Juan Carlos Orillac U. , Minister of the Presidency (coordinator).
- Jackeline Muñóz , Minister of Labor and Workforce Development.
- Julio Moltó , Minister of Commerce and Industry.
- Roberto Linares , Minister of Agricultural Development.
- Fernando Boyd , Minister of Health.
- Frank Alexis Ábrego , Minister of Public Security.
- Gloria de León Zubieta , Administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP).
John Bolton , Donald Trump ‘s former national security adviser , has once again put Panama at the center of controversy. In an interview with El País , the veteran diplomat claimed that Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino requested US troops to stem the migration crisis in the Darien Gap, on the border with Colombia.
“It was the first time a Panamanian government had invited our forces since 1999,” Bolton said, referring to the date the United States returned the Panama Canal and withdrew its military force from the country.
The statement quickly sparked controversy. On his X account, Mulino flatly rejected the accusation and called Bolton’s statements “false and reckless.” “The border was closed thanks to the efforts and determination of Panama, without ever requiring such a thing,” the president wrote.
Bolton’s name is no stranger to controversy in US foreign policy. A lawyer and career diplomat, he served as ambassador to the UN during the George W. Bush presidency and then as Trump’s national security advisor during his first term, from April 2018 to September 2019.
His time in the White House ended abruptly after strong disagreements with Trump, especially over his interventionist stances, which clashed with the president’s rhetoric.
Bolton has been one of the leading advocates of military intervention as a foreign policy tool, from the invasion of Iraq to the idea of overthrowing regimes like Iran and North Korea.
Several locations in Darién province have been the scene of roadblocks by indigenous groups. Trees cut down to block roads, residents without power, homemade explosives confiscated, and people walking in search of food are the situations that have occurred in recent hours in this region.
In Agua Fría, the electricity distribution company Ensa reported this afternoon that, since 11:00 a.m. yesterday, more than 1,400 customers have been without electricity .
On social media, the company announced that while the roads remain closed amid the protests, personnel will not be allowed to enter the area to restore power.
“In videos received, trees can be seen falling on the lines, some used to block the passage,” the company reported on X.
For its part, the National Border Service (Senafront) reported that agents located a chainsaw and improvised explosives near the bridge over the El Tira’o River, heading toward Darién. Senafront reports that some protesters, upon noticing the police presence, left these items behind.
“We have seized materials used to make Molotov cocktails and several chainsaws used to cut down trees during riots on the Pan-American Highway in the community of Arimae, Darién province,” SENAFRONT reported.
Similarly, SENAFRONT reported that in Arimae, residents have had to travel on foot to bring food supplies home.
Tensions have been high in this part of the country in recent days, following the assault of a SENAFRONT corporal by protesters in Arimae, prompting an investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The Panama Maritime Chamber (CMP), an association representing 227 companies in the country’s maritime, logistics, and port sectors, has concluded its electoral process to select the new board of directors that will lead the organization for the 2025-2026 term.
René Gómez, representative of Commercial Diving and Ship Repair Panama, SA, was elected president of this business association and will lead this new phase alongside the eight selected directors. The specific positions within the Board of Directors will be determined shortly.
The new directors are Pilar Castillo, Franchesca Carrington, Electra Karnakis, Wendy Sagel, Francis Zeimetz, Pablo Torres, Gerardo Bósquez and Jose Digerónimo.
The inauguration will take place next month, marking the beginning of a new cycle following the administration of José Digerónimo, the outgoing president for the 2024-2025 term.
In a statement, the maritime sector union recognized Digerónimo’s work.
“His leadership was distinguished by a firm commitment to transparency, active member participation, and the implementation of concrete actions to strengthen the union’s representativeness,” the CMP stated.
They detail that relations with various government authorities were consolidated and spaces for dialogue were created, such as working groups with the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).
They also highlighted the strategic alliances with national and international associations and organizations that promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences for the benefit of the sector.
“The CMP reaffirms its commitment to efficiency, legal and operational security, environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and support for communities linked to the country’s maritime sector,” states the Panamanian maritime sector association.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) reiterated its commitment to strengthening the rule of law as an essential condition for the country’s development. In its weekly message, the business association emphasized that there are no shortcuts to achieving a truly developed Panama.
“If we aspire to be a serious country, with solid and trustworthy institutions, we need equal justice for all. Without privileges. Without delays. Without excuses,” the organization stated.
According to data provided by the CCIAP (National Commission for the Protection of Public Prosecutors), between 2018 and 2024, the Public Prosecutor’s Office received a total of 8,197 complaints for serious crimes such as money laundering and corruption against public administration. Of these, 627 were for money laundering and 7,570 for corruption. However, only 452 cases resulted in a final judgment. Of these, 143 were brought to trial and 309 were resolved through plea agreements. “And the other 7,745 complaints? Where did they go?” the Chamber of Commerce asked.
While they acknowledge that justice takes time, they also emphasize that where there is will, there are results. For the CCIAP, what is unacceptable is that “the timing and outcomes depend on who is sitting in the dock. It is unacceptable that some pay quickly while others simply take refuge and escape through the back door .”
“The message is clear: justice cannot operate with double standards.” The business association issued a clear and firm call to the institutions that comprise the Justice Administration System—the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Judiciary—to act with determination and fairness. They assert that Panama needs institutions that respect due process, but also work expeditiously, investigate seriously, prosecute without selective delays, and apply the law without regard for names or surnames.
Furthermore, the Chamber noted that this responsibility does not fall solely on these institutions. “Public officials must act with integrity. And citizens, with courage. Denouncing what is wrong is not an option: it’s a duty. Remaining silent in the face of corruption makes us part of the problem ,” the statement emphasized.
As part of its commitment to transparency, the Chamber recalled that it was this organization that filed the complaint about the so-called “financial aid” from Ifarhu . They assert that this case, currently underway, seeks to recover embezzled funds. “Because justice cannot be applied at will. It’s either for everyone, or it’s not justice at all,” they stated.
Finally, the Chamber concluded that if we truly desire a better country, everyone—authorities, officials, and citizens—must act firmly and responsibly, demanding that the law be upheld “no matter who may fall.” Only in this way, they emphasize, can we build a Panama where the rules are respected and applied without exception.