News
Wednesday 23rd July 2025.
July 22, 2025
Independent deputy Betserai Richards went to the Public Ministry (MP) on Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025, to inform the Attorney General, Luis Carlos Gómez, of the attack suffered by Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) deputy Jairo “Bolota” Salazar, which caused several injuries.
Richards said he also went to the MP to request protection for himself and his family, as Representative Salazar threatened to come and search for him at his home, putting his family at risk.
Representative Richards claimed that Salazar attacked him through treachery. “I was sitting reading some documents, talking with Representative Jhonatan Vega; he approached me and told me this was no longer political, but personal, and then he threw several punches at me,” he said.
Richards explained that Salazar had threatened him and other deputies on several occasions, and that in response to the events that occurred, he went to the Public Prosecutor’s Office so that the complaint could then be forwarded to the Supreme Court of Justice.
According to Representative Richards, the dispute arose from public questions raised by the Seguimos party regarding the handling of state funds, especially the more than $14 million linked to the so-called “parallel decentralization,” which—according to journalistic investigations—ended up in the hands of Salazar, who, in addition to being a representative, is a representative of the Barrio Norte Community Board in Colón.
“What I have asked for is for [the money] to appear,” he said.
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) deputy Jairo Salazar reacted on social media this Tuesday, July 22, following the attack he committed yesterday, Monday, against his colleague Betserai Richards , of the Seguimos party.
On his Instagram account, Salazar justified his actions: “There are some media outlets that, because they don’t sympathize with me, point fingers at me regardless of the facts and don’t seek the other side, that is, the truth. There are limits that a man cannot tolerate, especially when the aggression is directed at the most sacred thing a human being has. They are accustomed to offending and denigrating and then victimizing themselves; in other words, ‘they throw the stone and hide their hand,'” the Colon representative wrote in the “stories” section of this social network.
The altercation, which took place in the Assembly’s Thelma King Chamber , not only left Richards with visible physical injuries, but also raised serious questions about the legislative body’s internal security and institutional tolerance for political violence.
Last night, the Assembly, chaired by Panamanian Jorge Herrera, issued a statement categorically rejecting any form of violence between deputies. “We will convene the Ethics Committee to apply sanctions in accordance with the regulations,” it stated.
UNICEF and UNESCO on Tuesday suggested that the Panamanian government extend the 2025 school year in an effort to restore classroom learning following the 80-day public sector teacher strike that ended a week ago, which widened “the gap between those who were able to continue learning and those who were unable to access education.”
“The right to education is a human right and a common good of all societies. Resuming learning must be a national priority. Therefore, we suggest that education authorities consider extending the school year to resume classes in schools where necessary,” the UN bodies said in a statement.
They also proposed “focusing strategies on strengthening fundamental learning through curricular prioritization, especially in reading comprehension and mathematical logic, and the development of educational materials that can be used by teachers, students, and families.”
“Along with these strategies, we suggest working on developing socio-emotional skills within healthy, safe, and inclusive educational environments that strengthen coexistence in educational communities,” they added.
Both UN agencies called on all stakeholders in the education community—authorities, teachers, parents, students, and administrators, among others—to continue the dialogue in the best interests of children and adolescents to protect and strengthen the right to education.
Public sector teachers’ unions, which serve nearly 700,000 primary and secondary school students, began a strike on April 23rd. The strike proceeded irregularly and officially ended on July 11th with the signing of an agreement with the Ministry of Education, but failed to achieve its goal of defeating a pension reform.
The agreement between the government and teachers’ unions includes non-payment for days teachers do not work and the continuation of administrative proceedings initiated against those absent from school.
“We recognize that this crisis can be seen as a catalyst for profound reforms as well as an opportunity to implement strategies that increase access to and quality of education for all populations equally, as proposed by the Education Think Tank,” UNICEF and UNESCO stated.
Both organizations, which celebrated the end of the strike, also lamented “that the right to education of thousands of children and adolescents has been affected, widening the gap between those who were able to continue learning and those who were unable to access education in schools.”
The 80-day strike “comes on top of the loss of more than 500 school days since the COVID-19 pandemic,” the UN bodies said, referring to other union strikes that have affected public schools since 2022, even though the demands have not been related to the education system.
“The learning gap can contribute to affecting the retention and continuity of educational trajectories,” UNICEF and UNESCO stated, after reiterating their “willingness to support the Panamanian Education System to contribute to the recovery of learning.”
The Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede) issued a statement on Monday regarding the lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Mitradel) seeking the dissolution of the Single Union of Construction and Related Workers (Suntracs ), emphasizing its support for the rule of law and respect for institutions.
In a statement, Apede reiterated its commitment to freedom of association, “recognized as a fundamental right.” However, the business association emphasized that it is necessary to distinguish between the legitimate exercise of union rights and “conduct that permanently deviates from the purposes set forth in the Labor Code ,” potentially violating the law and democratic coexistence.
“The competent authorities have the obligation to file the corresponding complaints upon learning of alleged irregularities,” Apede stated, emphasizing that these actions must be carried out within the framework of “due process and transparency.”
The organization asserted that “the legal proceedings against Suntracs should not be interpreted as a disqualification of the union movement as a whole,” but rather as an institutional action aimed at ensuring that all organizations, whether unions or employers, comply with current regulations on an equal footing.
Finally, Apede emphasized the importance of the judicial process being conducted impartially and in strict compliance with the law, and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening “social dialogue” as a basis for national development.
One of the most wanted individuals for the crime of fraud was arrested by the Public Ministry , in coordination with the National Police , during a search warrant carried out in the town of Juan Díaz.
This is Óscar Quintana , wanted by the Third Section of Crimes against Economic Assets of the San Miguelito Regional Prosecutor’s Office , after investigations linked him to multiple cases of fraud.
In addition, authorities reported that Quintana has pending charges for sexual offenses and domestic violence. The detainee was transferred to complete the corresponding judicial proceedings.
The National Police, through the National Anti-Drug Directorate, arrested three people and seized 264 rectangular packages of suspected drugs during a search and seizure operation carried out in the Pueblo Nuevo district , Panama City.
The police operation took place at a residence located on East 74th Street, Via España, where officers located a compartment inside the building containing the packages, as well as other evidence related to the investigation.
During the operation, three cell phones, a Colombian passport, a JMC vehicle key, a commercial property key, B/.33.73 in cash, and a CAS HDV 180 motorcycle were also seized.
The three detainees were handed over to the competent authorities, along with the evidence collected, to continue with due process.
On the occasion of National Pollera Day , celebrated every July 22, the Manuel F. Zárate Museum in Guararé houses a relic that connects directly to the heart of Panamanian traditions: one of the oldest polleras preserved in the country, with a history dating back more than 160 years.
This handcrafted piece was handmade by Manuela Díaz, a woman from Las Tablas, around 1856.
Since then, it has been passed down from generation to generation until it reached the hands of Professor Norma Álvarez Cruz de González, who donated it to folklorist Manuel Zárate and his wife.
The skirt is made from fine cotton nansu canvas, with crocheted lace and white lace trim.
The shirt has a single vent, and the sleeves feature a handkerchief and waistband embroidered with small cross-stitch flowers. The intricate work on the skirt includes geometric flowers and leaves with upper and lower borders, all crocheted.
Each stitch in the skirt embroidery takes approximately 5 x 5 threads.
According to Raúl Castro Zachrisson, National Director of Museums at the Ministry of Culture, the piece remains on display, but its restoration is also being considered to ensure its long-term preservation. “We are in the process of taking this jewel of our nationality to be restored,” he stated.
Castro also emphasized the importance of every Panamanian knowing and appreciating their history: “It is very important that every Panamanian feels proud of our cultural expressions.”
In May 2015, this valuable pollera was put on display at the Manuel F. Zárate House Museum, and since then, it has been admired by local and foreign visitors seeking to learn more about the richness of traditional Panamanian clothing.
On the occasion of National Pollera Day, we’re sharing some images from the 2025 Mil Polleras Parade.