News
Tuesday 5th October 2021.
October 5, 2021
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported this Monday, that in the last 24 hours 6 people died due to Covid-19 . According to the epidemiological report, with these new cases the total number of deaths in the country amounts to 7,244. In the last hours 121 new infections are reported, after the application of 7,648 tests (positivity of 3.4%). Active cases total 3,032. In home isolation, 2,792 are reported, of which 2,689 are at home and 103 in hotels. There are 240 hospitalized and 194 of them are in the ward and 46 are in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Distribution of seats, way of voting and nominations are some of the issues that the Government Commission of the National Assembly will focus on this week, when it plans to debate the third block of bill 544, on electoral reforms. This week the commission would also pass the bill to the plenary session for its second and third debate, as both the Assembly and the Electoral Court magistrates consider that the document must be endorsed before the end of this legislative period, on October 29, after which there is time to prepare for the election in 2024.
While the Government Commission of the National Assembly is getting ready to approve Bill 544, on electoral reforms, in the first debate, citizen complaints on the subject do not stop. Precisely, citizens have convened for this Wednesday at 4:00 pm a human chain on Calle 50, at the corner of Novey, old Danté, in civic protest as to how the deputies carry out the debate on electoral reforms. Aurelio Barría, ex-civilista, tweeted that he will participate in the protest “against the corrupt and deceptive parliamentary dictatorship that squanders public funds for its own benefit, intends to continue without approving electoral reforms / Penal Jurisdiction, Parity and Electoral Subsidy.”
The Office of the Attorney General of the Nation reported this Monday, October 4, that it is analyzing the content of the “incipient information” revealed so far regarding the Pandora Papers . This is the title of the recent journalistic investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ( ICIJ ) on accounts and companies in some 30 jurisdictions, including Panama, allegedly used to hide money and evade the payment of taxes. In a statement, the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation indicated that it is waiting for more elements in order to verify if there is a basis for the initiation of a criminal investigation.
The National Bar Association (CNA) rejected the reproaches to legal services provided from the Republic of Panama and the role of Panamanian lawyers, to “simulate” illegal activities or be in some way a participant or an accomplice in situations that “each country will have to clarify ”. This was stated by Juan Carlos Araúz , president of the ANC, in a press conference held this Monday. His statements come after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) published on Sunday, the investigation Pandora Papers , on accounts and companies in some 30 jurisdictions, including Panama, allegedly used to hide money and evade the payment of taxes. .
Following the publication by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) Pandora Papers , the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) appealed this Monday, October 4, to keep the focus on a “ national strategy ”, which allows Panama to be presented as a country that meets international standards and works continuously to make its legal framework
The State extended for three more months (October, November and December) the extraordinary subsidy in the electricity tariff to customers who consume up to 750 kW hour per month, announced the administrator of the National Public Services Authority (ASEP), Armando Fuentes. With this subsidy, which amounts to $ 28.8 million, approximately 33% of the cost of the customers’ electricity bill is covered. It will benefit 92% of all those who bill with the electricity distribution companies in the country.