News

Wednesday 16th October 2024.

October 15, 2024

 

The long dry season in Panama has had an impact on the operations of the Panama Canal , according to figures released on Tuesday, October 15, by the administration of the interoceanic waterway.

Canal administrator Ricaurte Vásquez presented some figures at the Maritime Forum in New York, United States.

According to the data provided, during fiscal year 2024 the Panama Canal registered 9,944 transits, which reflects a 29.37% decrease in the number of ships that crossed the waterway, compared to what was reported in 2023, which was 14,080 transits.

Of the total transits, 7,084 were Panamax-sized vessels and 2,852 were Neopanamax vessels.

Another aspect that is detailed is that vessels in the container, chemical and bulk carrier segments led transits through the Panama Canal in 2024.

Regarding cargo movement through the Canal, 423 million CP/SUAB (Universal System for Measuring Ships of the Canal) tons were transported at the end of fiscal year 2024 (from October 2023 to September 2024).

This is 17.23% less than in the 2023 fiscal year, when the figure of 511.1 million CP/SUAB tons was reached.

On the other hand, Vásquez referred to the achievements that were reached in fiscal year 2024, including that there was a 49.1% reduction in waiting times to transit the road, which is equivalent, on average, to about 15 hours less compared to fiscal year 2023.

In addition, they recorded 8% less transit time (-0.89 hours), from the time the vessel arrives at the first lock until it leaves the last; 36.4% less time in Canal waters (-15.98 hours); and 10.5% less water use per transit for Neopanamax vessels (-0.0394 hm³).

It should be noted that the Panama Canal administration was forced to design a plan to reduce vessel traffic, due to the drought, between July 2023 and May 2024.

The forum, in which the Canal administrator provided some details of the operations, was attended by industry leaders and experts in international maritime trade.


The Minister of Security, Frank Abrego , ordered the granting of power to lawyers Alexis Rivera Taylor and Carlos Antúnez Morales as legal representatives of the State in the criminal complaint filed for the alleged commission of the crime of money laundering, related to the payment of bribes by the company Odebrecht .

In a document sent to the First Liquidation Court of Criminal Cases, headed by Águeda Rentería , Minister Abrego reports that in this case Rivera Taylor will act as lead attorney, while Antúnez Morales will participate as a substitute.

The document establishes that both lawyers are authorized to accept, withdraw, compromise, counterclaim, submit, compromise, enter into agreements that imply the disposition of actions and file all legal remedies they consider convenient and necessary to ensure the best representation of their interests.

In September 2023, the then Minister of Security, Juan Pino , granted power to attorney Carlos Muñoz Pope to represent the Panamanian State in this process. On that occasion, it was argued that the objective was to become a plaintiff, taking into account the magnitude of the damage caused to the public treasury as a result of the illegal acts identified in this process, and to establish a historical precedent to compensate the moral, material and reputational damage of the Panamanian State as the main affected party.

The complaint filed against the State includes, among others, Dana Harrick, Juan Antonio Niño Pulgar, Demetrio Papadimitriu Bagatelas, José Domingo Arias, Federico José Suárez, Frank George De Lima, Jaime Leonel Lasso del Castillo, Michelle Lasso Barraza, Navin Mohan Bhakta, Riccardo Francolini Arosemena, Rodrigo Alonso Díaz, Aaron Mizrachi Malca, Francisco Pérez, Carlos Duboy, Roberto Brin, Aurora Muradas and whoever is found guilty.

On September 8, 2023, Minister Pino filed three civil lawsuits totaling $789 million before the liquidated Second Liquidation Court of Criminal Cases, then headed by Judge Baloisa Marquínez . The lawsuits were filed against former presidents Ricardo Martinelli , for $159 million, and Juan Carlos Varela , for $30 million. In addition, Credicorp Bank was sued for $600 million; the latter lawsuit was withdrawn three days later.

The Odebrecht case trial is scheduled for November 12 to December 19, 2024.


The bill that organizes the communal councils and reforms Law 106 of 1973, on the Municipal Regime, was approved in second debate this Tuesday, October 15, by the plenary session of the National Assembly .

The bill, presented by the deputy of the Vamos party, Neftalí Zamora , seeks to provide legal security to the transition process of the communal councils and the municipal regime.

The discussion of this project was suspended last week amid the presentation of several amendments. This Tuesday the suspension was lifted and it was approved.

The document, which will go to a third debate, establishes for the first time a transition process between outgoing and incoming authorities of local governments. This, after many outgoing authorities this year did not carry out the respective handover of positions, as well as the reports of their administration. Many communal councils were handed over with deteriorated facilities and with half-finished financial reports.


The National Decentralization Authority reported on Tuesday, October 15, that it has received 385 reports from the communal councils and municipalities related to the use of funds from the controversial parallel decentralization. This represents 51% of the local administrations that received transfers from the Social Interest Subprogram (PDIS).

During the 2021-2024 period, the Social Interest Subprogram or parallel decentralization transferred a total of $320 million to local governments, with the aim of promoting projects that benefit communities in areas such as infrastructure, health and education. However, its management was opaque and lacked the required controls.

According to the director of the AND, Roxana Méndez , starting next Friday, October 18, complaints of mismanagement or lack of justification in the use of funds will begin to be forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in a staggered manner. This process will allow investigations to be carried out in an orderly and effective manner, ensuring that each case receives the appropriate attention.

To date, 38 municipal councils and municipalities have informed the AND that they do not have documentation to support the use of the funds received from this program.

The lack of adequate documentation could lead to legal and administrative sanctions, as the AND has made it clear that unjustified cases will be referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for proper investigation.

The notification process for local governments began following the statement issued by the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, on August 15, in which the 754 communal councils and municipalities that received decentralization funds were urged to submit detailed reports within 60 days.

The aim of this measure is to ensure that public funds are used in a transparent and efficient manner, as required by law.

As reports continue to arrive, the AND is advancing the legal and accounting review of the documentation received. In cases where the reports are not submitted or do not adequately justify the use of the funds, the AND will proceed with the complaint to the competent authorities.


More voices are calling on the Government to apply exemplary measures to those who ignored the ultimatum sent by the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino , on the use of the parallel decentralization funds delivered during the previous administration.

“Anyone who irresponsibly touched a cent of Panamanian money with the Panamanian decentralization has to go to jail. The 60-day deadline given by the President for the re-elected and non-re-elected representatives and mayors to present the report on what they did with the 320 million dollars has expired,” said independent deputy Luis Duke .

He said that although it was reported that so far 51% of the community councils have submitted the report, what “we want now is for something to be done with the 49%” that have not submitted it.

“Because we Panamanians are sick and tired of our money being played with,” added Duke, while asking the authorities for a “forceful response.”

During the 2021-2024 period, the Social Interest Subprogram or parallel decentralization transferred a total of $320 million to local governments, with the aim of promoting projects that benefit communities in areas such as infrastructure, health and education. However, its management was opaque and lacked the required controls.


Ticket sellers could receive an increase in incentives for the sale of lottery tickets and chances of the National Lottery of Charity , of between 15% and 20%, according to what was agreed upon in the legislative subcommittee that was formed to analyze an initiative in that regard.

The bill was analyzed on Monday by a subcommittee of the Assembly’s Economic and Finance Committee, with the participation of the various interested sectors.

At the meeting, it was agreed to continue coordination with the Government Commission so that the sale of illegal lottery tickets is penalized.

In this regard, the sellers of lottery tickets and tickets raised the need to fight against this illegal activity.

The subcommittee will now proceed to prepare a report on the agreement, in order to begin the discussion of the first debate on this project.


The Institute for the Training and Utilization of Human Resources (Ifarhu) reported that scholarship recipients who were unable to process the payment in September have until Friday, October 25 to receive the payment.

The entity reminded that this rescheduling to withdraw the checks is for the beneficiaries of current scholarships for primary, pre-middle, high school, postgraduate and master’s degrees.

It is also aimed at students with outstanding amounts from 2023 and the first payment in 2024, at all Ifarhu locations.


The National Civil Protection Service (Sinaproc) issued a warning this Sunday regarding maximum tides in the Panamanian Pacific, which will be in effect between October 16 and 21, 2024.

The possibility of tides of up to 18 feet (5.6 meters) is expected, and the advisory will be in effect from 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16 to 6:41 a.m. on Monday, October 21.

The precautionary measure applies to the entire Pacific coast, and tides are forecast to be between 16.1 and 18.2 feet high.

In addition, it is warned that if rain falls, the levels of rivers and streams could rise, causing flooding in vulnerable areas.


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