News
Tuesday 22nd July 2025.
July 21, 2025
The political asylum granted by Bolivia to the leader of the National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs), Saúl Méndez, who has been in the Andean country since Saturday, July 19, does not hinder relations with Panama, Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa assured EFE on Monday .
The Foreign Minister stated that Méndez’s situation was analyzed by the National Refugee Council (Conare) and that it was something that “has been discussed in coordination with the Government of Panama” in a meeting with Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha.
Sosa argued that Méndez’s asylum was granted within the framework of the powers granted by the Bolivian Constitution regarding the protection of human rights and the United Nations Charter, so the procedure “has a certain level of confidentiality.”
The chancellor explained that this does not affect the relationship between the two countries, which is good, and that her Panamanian counterpart is even scheduled to arrive on August 6, the day that marks the 200th anniversary of Bolivia’s independence.
The signing of “some memoranda” between Bolivia and Panama is planned for that meeting, Sosa explained.
Méndez, who has been a refugee in the Bolivian embassy in Panama since May 21 after an arrest warrant was issued for him in an alleged fraud case, left the embassy on Saturday and traveled to the South American country as an asylum seeker, after receiving safe passage from the Panamanian government.
The leader, who has been the general secretary of the National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) since 2010, departed Saturday afternoon on a commercial flight from Panama to the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz.
The Panamanian union leader is wanted by his country’s justice system, which issued an arrest warrant for a fraud and money laundering case filed in 2022 by members of Suntracs, which involves a dozen union officials.
For his part, Méndez has expressed his support for “leftist” governments, such as that of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, and accuses Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino of being a “petty dictator.”
Another Suntracs executive, Eramos Cerrud, who faced an arrest warrant for the same fraud and money laundering charges filed by union members, sought refuge in the Nicaraguan Embassy, whose government announced on June 19 that it had also granted him asylum.
The former general secretary of Suntracs, Genaro López, 70, is also under indictment and is under house arrest for the same case filed in 2022 involving the union’s executives.
Last week, the Panamanian government requested a court to dissolve the largest construction union, citing allegations of extortion, abuse of power, and misuse of its resources.
Union organizations, grouped under the National Council of Organized Workers (Conato), reacted this Monday, July 21, to the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development’s (Mitradel) decision to request the dissolution of the
According to Conato, this request marks a turning point in the Executive’s strategy to reduce the belligerence of social organizations in key national debates. “Just because Suntracs is the victim today doesn’t mean it will be the only union in the spotlight,” warned the group led by Nelva Reyes.
For the organization, the offensive against Suntracs comes at a key moment: on the eve of the renewal of its board of directors and the start of negotiations with the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) for a new collective bargaining agreement. “This is a clear attack on freedom of association and the fundamental rights of workers,” Conato said.
“We are facing a historic moment that demands the firmness of the justice system to put a stop to arbitrariness,” Reyes said.
In its statement, Conato also condemned the arrests of union leaders, the political asylum cases, and the events that occurred in communities such as Arimae, Bocas del Toro, and Emberá territories.
He also rejected the disciplinary proceedings opened against 700 teachers nationwide, who—according to their complaints—were removed from their positions amid repression for mobilizing in defense of public education.
As you may recall, on July 17, the Minister of Labor and Workforce Development, Jackeline Muñoz, announced the filing of a lawsuit before the labor courts seeking the dissolution of the National Union of Construction and Related Workers (Suntracs).
According to Muñoz, the decision is based on a legal and technical analysis based on current labor legislation.
“This decision is the result of a rigorous legal and technical analysis, based on current labor legislation and in defense of the general interest of the country’s workers,” the minister stated, justifying the legal action against the most representative union in the construction sector.
Muñoz indicated that the lawsuit is based on Article 392 of the Labor Code and responds to multiple complaints and facts that demonstrate how, under the guise of a union organization, repeated acts of extortion, violence, fraud, abuse of power, and misuse of resources have been committed.
The fleet of the new Line 3 of the Panama Metro —still under construction—is now complete.
Train number 26 has arrived in the country and is at the port of Manzanillo , in Colón. It will begin its journey to Panama West starting on the evening of Monday, July 21, Metro reported.
According to the schedule, the transfer will begin from Manzanillo to the yards and workshops in Ciudad del Futuro, from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am on Tuesday, July 22nd. The second stage will run from 9:00 pm that day to 4:00 am on July 23rd.
The train will be assembled and dynamic and static tests will be conducted at the City of the Future. It is a monorail-type train, composed of six cars, with capacity for approximately 1,000 passengers. Of that total, approximately 250 will be able to travel seated. The monorail measures 94 meters long, three meters wide, and can reach up to five meters high.
“Line 3 is moving forward strongly: a modern, safe, and efficient system,” the Metro said.
The meeting of the expanded board of directors of the National Assembly , scheduled for this Monday, July 21, 2025, was suspended .
The formation of legislative committees was scheduled to be discussed, but this did not happen.
Sources from the Legislative Branch reported that there is already a significant number of representatives who need to reach a consensus on the committee membership . However, this has not yet been formalized.
The direction of the committee formation was expected to be determined today, but no reason was given for the cancellation of the meeting.
“The Secretariat has not received a payroll proposal,” said Carlos Alvarado, secretary general of the Legislature, when the fifth item on the agenda was read.
Two women were arrested this Monday by National Police officers after a raid in the Pedregal district.
The two women had $13,000 in cash, a firearm, and two ammunition magazines. According to police, the arrest was made as part of Operation Firmeza .
The raid took place specifically in the Villa Lobo sector of Pedregal.
Earlier, the police reported that they had arrested a total of 510 people across the country in the last 72 hours. Of these, 347 are pending cases: 88 for administrative offenses, 51 in flagrante delicto, 20 for micro-trafficking, and two for drug trafficking.
In addition, they carried out 140 search warrants and seized 15 firearms with 608 rounds of ammunition.
This past Thursday, the inauguration of the Panamanian Sports Hall of Fame and Museum took place , with the presence of President José Raúl Mulino and Pandeportes Director Miguel Ordóñez . Also in attendance were Panamanian sports legends such as Irving Saladino , Laffit Pincay Jr. , Rolando Frazer , Julio César Dely Valdés , and others.
“Justice has been done with the Hall of Fame,” Panamanian Olympic gold medalist Irving Saladino stated in an interview with La Prensa . “I think people will learn about the history, not only the written version but also the recorded version, and it can help a lot. I think it’s very important for Panamanian sport, very important for our country, because not only will our Panamanian people learn about it, but internationally, people can now come and learn what Panamanian sport means to us,” he concluded.
This new Panama Sports Hall of Fame and Museum , located on the Amador Causeway in the capital city , was built to honor all those athletes , recognized or not, who have in some way contributed to the national sporting legacy throughout our nation’s 121-year history . The museum has a large exhibition hall .
This hall features various exhibits dedicated to telling the illustrious history of Isthmus sports , in disciplines such as athletics, horse riding, boxing, basketball, baseball, and soccer . It also has interactive and educational sections .