News
Tuesday 26th November 2024.
November 25, 2024
The director of the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA), Nilo Murillo , reported this Monday, November 25, 2024, that they have detected products that the entity sells to consumers, including rice, in grocery stores and restaurants.
“We will not allow this and we are behind these businesses,” Murillo said in a video posted on the IMA’s social media. “ We already have five businesses , in different parts of the country, that we have been able to report to the Public Prosecutor’s Office ,” the director of the institution emphasized.
He added that the IMA security department is monitoring the way in which this activity is being carried out: “ sending people to buy rice at fairs and in permanent stores for commercial use.”
Murillo also announced that the National Assembly will be asked to legislate on the issue , with the aim of ensuring administrative and criminal responsibility.
He warned that it is not possible for people involved in business schemes to try to benefit from these prices when products are sold at an affordable price to consumers.
The National Aeronaval Service (Senan) reported that, after a search warrant in coordination with the Drug Prosecutor’s Office, 1,321 packages of drugs were seized in a port in the province of Colón.
According to a report from the entity, the packages with the illicit substance were distributed in 22 bags located in a container.
Major Israel Salcedo, from Senan, reported that the seizure of the drugs was recorded in the midst of maritime and port traffic control tasks. He also said that the container was coming from San Antonio (Chile), with transshipment in Posorja (Ecuador) and the final destination was Barcelona (Spain).
Senan reported that in 2024 they have seized 70,278 packages of drugs after 120 operations nationwide.
So far this year, authorities have seized some 97 tons of drugs in operations carried out in various parts of the country.
A Colombian woman was arrested at Tocumen International Airport after 324 bars of soap allegedly contaminated with illicit substances were found in her luggage.
The woman, who was traveling on a flight from Colombia with transit in Panama and final destination in Paris, France, was arrested after dogs from the National Police identified the suspicious contents during a search of the checked luggage.
On November 25, 2024, the National Police reported that 18 white boxes found in the luggage contained soaps contaminated with the illicit substance.
The Primary Care Section of the Drug Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the citizen was to be brought before a judge.
A total of 506 people were arrested in the last 72 hours as a result of Operation Panama 3.0, a strategy aimed at strengthening security and combating organized crime, especially gang activities.
Of the arrests, 285 were by court order, 147 for administrative offenses, 44 in flagrante delicto, 27 for micro-trafficking and 3 for drug trafficking.
During 125 search warrants, authorities seized:, 18 firearms and 68 ammunitions, A vehicle, Four packages of drugs, 284 reeds, 56 bags of cocaine, 29 packages and 12 bags of marijuana, and the sum of $14,332 in cash.
In terms of traffic, 3,686 violations were applied, including:, 616 for speeding, 221 for inadequate lighting, 69 for proven drunkenness, 42 for expired license, 36 for talking on the cell phone, and 21 for alcohol breath. In addition, 198 vehicles were towed for various reasons.
Operation Panama 3.0 includes interventions in conflict zones and has the support of 1,032 additional agents to the regular police force.
The country generated more than $4,054 million in tourism revenue between January and August of this year, according to the preliminary report of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP).
This amount represents an increase of 9.6% or an additional $354.9 million compared to the $3.7 billion reported in the same period in 2023 and does not include the cost of international transportation.
In these eight months of the year, Panama registered the arrival of more than 1.85 million international visitors, 9% more than in the same period in 2023.
Of the total number of visitors, 1.41 million were classified as tourists because they stayed more than 2 days in the country, which represents an increase of 11.8% compared to the 1.26 million registered in the eight months of last year.
The ATP report highlights that the average length of stay of a tourist in Panama increased to 8 days, and the average expenditure was $2,182, around $273 per day.
Of the total number of international travelers who entered the country, 201,371 were cruise ship passengers, 10.4% less than between January and August 2023, when 224,846 people visited the country by this means.
Tocumen International Airport was the main port of entry for travelers, with a proportion of 74%. This terminal reported an increase of 15% compared to the eight months of 2023, totaling 1.37 million people.
The Paso Canoas border registered a 4% decrease, while cruise ports decreased by 10.4%. 67,209 people entered through Paso Canoas, 201,371 visitors arrived through cruise ships, and 214,063 people arrived through other ports.
According to the ATP, hotel occupancy at the end of August was 51.2%.
The largest number of visitors comes from the United States, with 314,067 people accumulated in eight months, followed by Colombia with 202,568 visitors and Venezuela with 58,884 travelers who entered through formal channels.
51,786 travelers from Brazil entered Panama; 50,339 from Mexico; 47,928 from Spain; and 44,371 visitors from Argentina.
Visitors from South America entering through Tocumen International Airport in the period from January to August 2024 represented 37% of the total, followed by North America (28.8%), Europe (14.3%), Central America (9.9%), the Antilles (4.8%) and Asia (4.6%).
Overall, 196,740 people visited Panama from Europe, 4.4% more than in the eight months of last year. From North America, including Mexico and Canada, 396,630 visitors arrived; from Central America, 136,093 people (an increase of 37.4%); and from South America, 508,509 travelers, representing an increase of 17.7%.
Every week, hundreds of patients with kidney disease who require hemodialysis in Panama face not only the physical challenge of their treatment, but also a real odyssey to access the service, due to the crisis that the Social Security Fund (CSS) is experiencing with its equipment, many of which are damaged. Alonso Rodríguez, president of the Dialysis Patients Group (Grupadi) , summed it up with despair: “arriving and being told that the machine is damaged is frustrating and puts our lives at risk.”
And what he says is the harsh reality. Hemodialysis machines are what clean your blood and are essential for the survival of kidney patients who have reached this stage. In addition, the uncertainty of not receiving treatment in time affects not only your physical health, but also your emotional well-being.
Currently, at least 44 hemodialysis machines are out of service in different hospitals in the country. At the Dr. Arnulfo Arias Hospital Complex in Madrid , five machines are awaiting repair, while at the Dra. Susana Jones Cano Hospital, seven are inoperative. The impact of this crisis extends beyond the patients, as it also puts medical teams in a serious logistical dilemma. In many cases, patients must wait for hours, or even travel long distances, to access a functional machine, which increases stress and worry; in other cases, they have to deal with night shifts.
“It’s a constant struggle to survive,” Rodriguez said.
In addition, the lack of maintenance and spare parts aggravates an already complex situation. Despite the efforts of medical staff, with limited resources and damaged equipment, care is becoming increasingly difficult to provide. The situation is unsustainable and requires urgent attention to avoid fatal consequences.
The National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) reported that a surveillance notice is in effect until November 28 , due to strong waves and coastal flooding in the Panamanian Pacific.
In a statement, the entity reported that the areas under warning are:
Eastern Pacific (Gulf and Bay of Panama), where waves with a height of 1.0 to 2.0 meters are expected, with periods of 11 to 18 seconds.
Central Pacific (south of Veraguas and Los Santos), waves with heights of 1.5 to 2.5 meters, with periods of 11 to 18 seconds.
Western Pacific (Gulf of Chiriquí), waves with a height of 1.5 to 2.0 meters, with periods of 11 to 18 seconds.
The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (Imhpa) reported that the maritime regions of the Panamanian Pacific are under surveillance due to the arrival of a swell from the maritime sector of the South American Pacific.
It is noted that this scenario will generate strong and abundant waves on the coasts and maritime areas, along with numerous rip currents in beach areas.
It is important to reinforce precautionary measures during high tides that coincide with rain and storms, due to the greater incursion and overflow of water in coastal and beach areas, causing flooding.
Recommendations: Remove furniture and equipment from the beach area. Avoid walking on the beach. Remove and safeguard small vessels. Do not do water sports. Avoid swimming in the sea. To the population and boat captains: continue with preventive measures and abide by the rules and measures given by the security forces located in ports and beaches.