Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Panama says it cut Iran oil tanker from boat registry after terrorism alert.
Panama’s Maritime Authority said on Thursday that Grace 1, a giant Iranian oil tanker seized by British Royal Marines in Gibraltar, was no longer listed in Panama’s international boat registry as of May 29.
The Panamanian authority added that Grace 1 had been de-listed after receiving an alert indicating that the ship had participated in or was linked to terrorism financing. Although the tanker flies a Panama flag, Iran claimed ownership and objected to the seizure of its ship.
Source: Reuters
Panama’s new president takes office, pledges end to corruption.
Panama’s new President Laurentino “Nito” Cortizo vowed to curb corruption and close the wealth gap in the isthmus nation at his swearing-in ceremony on Monday.
U.S.-educated political veteran Cortizo, 66, of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), won the May election by just over two percentage points, the closest presidential race in decades. During his five-year term he will have to balance relations with China and the United States, on top of domestic issues.
Upon taking office at a convention center in the capital, Cortizo repeated campaign vows to clean up politics after Panama’s image was tarnished by a corruption scandal involving Brazilian engineering firm Odebrecht, and the Panama Papers leak of millions of documents detailing tax evasion by the rich and powerful.
Source: Reuters
How a Journalist Helped Spark an Anti-Corruption Wave in Panama.
Running for office was never in Gabriel Silva’s plans. The 30-year-old lawyer, who on July 1 will begin his first term as a member of Panama’s Congress, was moved to enter politics out of desperation.
“Seeing the same corrupt politicians who have been there since I was born seeking re-election made me feel like I had to do something, and I had to do it now,” Silva told AQ.
Silva, who previously specialized in anti-corruption efforts, promised voters in May’s national elections that he would use that experience to try to clean up politics. The pitch worked: He was elected to Congress and joined the first independent caucus in the body’s history.
Source: Americas Quarterly
The Future Looks Bright: Panama’s long-term plan for improvement
No one can predict everything about the future with absolute certainty. But you can see a lot more than you think if you measure progress and gauge the probability of future plans. This is the case, at least, in Panama, where the country’s future growth is dependent on measurable improvements set to propel the country further into the spotlight. Panama is a country on the move, but it’s no accident.
In anticipation of growing even bigger, both economically and by population, Panama is busy making tangible changes to prepare for the future. They are betting big on growth, and improvement, and they have the data to back them up with their lofty goals. Here are four of the big positive changes Panama has slated for the next few years:
