The search operations set up by the National Police (PN) this past weekend in San Joaquín, Panamá Viejo, and Mañanitas, yielded the re-capturing of three fugitives that recently escaped from La Joyita prison.
According to a press release from the PN, the first capture took place in the neighborhood of 8 de Septiembre in Mañanitas, when [...]

La Estrella – The construction of the third set of locks for the expansion of the Panama Canal will begin in January 2010, said yesterday executive director of the consortium that won the bidding for the project, Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), Antonio Zaffaroni. “We are at the beginning and there are many bureaucratic [...]

The National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) confirmed that they will provide assistance to the five survivors of a fire that was reported yesterday morning on 24 de Diciembre.
This was announced by the entity’s director general, Arturo Alvarado, on RPC Radio, where he confirmed that three of the fire’s victims had died.
In the afternoon hours, humanitarian [...]

Minister of the Presidency, Jimmy Papadimitriu, announced on Sunday details about the new transportation system for the city of Panama, which is called “Metro Bus”.
It will be a “comfortable” and “reliable” system, according to the official, who added that its passengers would be charged one sole fare.
Papadimitriu, who is also chairman of the Transportation Committee [...]

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com – Many people don’t understand the difference between sewers and storm drains in Panama City, and here’s why. In fact there are two drainage systems, one that’s supposed to handle all of the “black” water and human waste, and another that’s supposed to only handle rain runoff from the streets. [...]

The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) have initiated assessments on the proposed construction of a new port in the district of Aguadulce.
These assessments began with a visit last Saturday by staff from the Planning Department and Pre-Investment Fund to the area of La Caleta, along El Salado beach; a prospective site for the work.
The [...]

Five additional tanks to store crude oil will be built by Petroterminal de Panamá (PTP) as part of a pipeline expansion project, which implies an investment of $480 million.
Two tanks will be erected on the Atlantic side, with a capacity of 631,000 barrels, 80.79 meters in diameter, and 20.47 meters high; and three tanks are [...]

PANAMA – The social program Opportunities Network, designed by the last president administration, will be revived by the present Panamanian government next November, reported official sources.
Guillermo Ferrufino, Minister of Social Development, pointed out he will reintroduce the mechanism, before many no-work months which generated worries among the thousands of people benefited by the initiative.
Authorities will [...]

By SANTIAGO Fascetto for La Prensa – The former Comptroller Alvin Weeden said yesterday that the company Ports Engineering and Consultants Ltd. (ECCP) was created to “steal tax money” from the State. He accused, by first and last name, those politicians who benefited with the money generated by the company: Hugo Torrijos, Rubén Reyna and [...]

By Eric Sabo – Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) — Panama may sell as much as $500 million of bonds to finance construction of a subway and other infrastructure projects, Finance Minister Alberto Vallarino said. “We have enough money for the budget now,” Vallarino said in an interview today in Panama City. “But if the timing is [...]

TVN Noticias – Ninety-eight (98) bags with “white flour” were found inside a container that was abandoned in a warehouse on Via Tocumen, near the University of Technology.
The container from South America was supposed to contain 36 stoves, but upon inspection authorities found only six stoves and 98 sacks full of drugs. When they were [...]

Prior to being elected president, Ricardo Martinelli rated the propaganda of Martín Torrijos’ government as “expensive, personalistic” and seeking reelection. Since taking office this past July 1, Martinelli’s administration has spent $2.1 million on publicity. This figure would be enough to build 27 schools with basic infrastructure.
“The government has obtained a net or [...]

The investment portfolio of banks in the local market amounted to $2.5 billion as of the end of August this year, representing a 25 percent decline as compared with the same period in 2008.
This, according to information collected by the Superintendency of Banks.
The private equity portfolio, previously at $2.3 billion in 2008, fell by 48 [...]

By Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro Reporta – Kela Leon, the Director of the Peruvian Press Council, confirmed on this morning’s Telemetro Reporta newscast, that Panama’s Minister of Government and Justice, Jose Raul Mulino, had made strong accusations against the Panamanian press corps.
The Peruvian journalist Mulino said the Minister told him there was a payroll he [...]

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com – Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended on the “11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month” of 1918, with the German signing of the Armistice, which is why Veteran’s Day is celebrated on 11 November every year. This morning the military community in Panama celebrated [...]

Within 24 hours, Secretary General of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Mitchell Doens, must submit evidence to competent authorities with regards to his allegations of the involvement of current government officials in possible criminal acts.
The above is the Government’s request following the accusations made by Doens last Sunday, Nov. 8, on the TVN Channel 2 [...]

Health Minister Franklin Vergara, said Tuesday that each dose of the vaccine against influenza A (H1N1) will cost the State of Panama between four and seven dollars.
The request was made via the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington last September 28.
Vergara informed that the gross domestic product of Panama disqualifies the country from being able [...]

One would think that with fewer ships being used worldwide the demand for repairs of those in operation would be higher, but as this story points out, ship owners just don’t have the money to repair their vessels.
WILFREDO S. JORDAN
wjordan@prensa.com wjordan@prensa.com
Shipbuilding is an important link in the development of any economic activity linked to the [...]

La Prensa – The National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan) reported this morning that its staff yesterday cut water service to an additional 426 homes located in the neighborhoods of Condado del Rey, Altos de Panamá, Bethania, El Dorado, La Locería and Dos Mares.
“The initiative was successful because 410 people arrived at the headquarters [...]

TVN Noticias – Members of the FER 29 were dispersed by riot police while protesting on Transistmica, in front of the University of Panama. The university students closed the road on three occasions, but after the third and final time they were attacked by riot police and they retreated to the campus, from where they [...]