AGP Executive Report

Marine Conservation Win: Panama says it now protects over 54% of its marine territory, ranking among the top globally and pushing past the UN’s 30% goal, with new protections and stronger management of sea turtles, mangroves, reefs and seagrasses. Tourism & Travel Boost: Copa Airlines expands its Panama Stopover program to let travelers spend up to 15 days in Panama with no extra airfare, aiming to draw more visitors and support local tourism. Consumer Protection: Acodeco seized 1,517 pounds of contaminated rice in Bocas del Toro after inspections tied to consumer complaints. Gender in Business: A new look at Panamanian companies finds women hold about 55% of executive roles, but still face barriers reaching board-level decision power. Regional Connectivity: Cayman Airways adds Friday flights to Panama this summer, increasing weekly capacity. Governance & Public Works: Construction of a new $177.2 million prison complex in Herrera’s Santa María faces local protests over priorities like water, roads and education. Security & Diplomacy: The U.S. says a strike killed “Niño Guerrero,” leader of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, while separate coverage highlights how diplomacy is being urged to resolve a visa issue affecting Ghana’s Thomas Partey ahead of a match vs Panama.

U.S.-Venezuela Security: President Donald Trump says a U.S. Southern Command strike killed “Niño Guerrero,” leader of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth saying the death was confirmed; Venezuela’s information ministry says clashes occurred and the leader was “neutralized,” while the U.S. links the group to crimes including trafficking and money laundering. Panama Justice & Community Pushback: In Herrera’s Santa María (Divisa), residents and local leaders are protesting the start of a $177.2 million prison complex, arguing the area needs water, education, roads, and jobs first and asking to meet the Government minister to clarify the plan. Water Infrastructure in Los Santos: IDAAN awarded a $4.9 million project to improve the Las Tablas water supply, including upgrades to the pipeline from the Rufina Alfaro treatment plant to storage tanks, aiming to reduce chronic service disruptions and pressure issues. Tourism Media Recognition: Dominican tourism journalist Cristina Rosario was inducted into OMPT’s Hall of Honor in Colombia, praised for decades of work promoting responsible, sustainable, inclusive tourism. Wildlife & Nature: A feature highlights how beaked whales are rare deep-diving visitors in Panama’s Pacific waters, including around Coiba and the Gulf of Chiriquí.

Cattle Health Alert: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Texas after the New World screwworm was confirmed in a calf, warning the flesh-eating parasite could become a “billion-dollar” problem for ranchers unless infestations are caught and treated fast. Florida Biosecurity: Florida moved to block rescue dogs and cats from Texas and New Mexico to protect livestock and pets as screwworm detections spread. Regional Impact on Trade: A major U.S.-Mexico cattle crossing in Santa Teresa sits largely empty after border closures tied to the screwworm threat, disrupting shipments that feed into the wider cattle economy. Local Infrastructure: IDAAN awarded a $4.9 million project to improve water supply in Las Tablas, targeting pipeline upgrades to reduce chronic service issues tied to drought and river contamination. Panama Business: BAC Panama completed its operational merger with Multibank, creating a larger banking group with combined assets over $45 billion. Culture & Community: Panama’s Hewes Educational Center held its Senior Awards Night, celebrating scholarships and student honors. Science & Learning: A Martz-Kohl Observatory presentation June 17 will explain how galaxy light spectra help decode the cosmos. Travel: Cayman Airways added extra Friday flights to Panama for summer connections.

Banking Deal: BAC Panama has completed its operational merger with Multibank, creating a single bank with assets over US$45B and positioning it as the second-largest in Panama by assets and loan portfolio. Public Finance Oversight: Panama’s CSS is moving to buy an errors-and-omissions insurance policy for senior officials, with coverage up to $15M annually over three years, aimed at claims tied to management decisions. Politics: The Vamos coalition has suspended deputies Neftalí Zamora and Manuel Samaniego after questions over budget transfers tied to payroll increases in the National Assembly. Agriculture & Biosecurity: Panama is being mentioned in the wider New World screwworm scare spreading from Texas and beyond, with officials and experts warning the parasite could become a regional problem if surveillance and rapid treatment aren’t tight. Travel & Tourism: Cayman Airways adds extra Friday flights to Panama for the summer, boosting weekend and business travel options via Tocumen. Culture & Media: Netflix’s Outlast: The Jungle is set in Panama’s jungle and has already sparked major buzz after a contestant’s serious accident.

Cattle Health Alert: The New World screwworm is now confirmed in the U.S., with cases reported in Texas and New Mexico (including a dog), raising fears for livestock, pets, and even rare human infections as officials ramp up sterile-fly releases and treatment supplies. Border & Biosecurity: Florida has blocked shelter and rescue cats and dogs from Texas and New Mexico to slow spread, while the USDA and states push faster response plans amid staffing and prevention-tool shortages. Regional Integration: Costa Rica’s Lina Eugenia Ajoy Rojas was elected the first Costa Rican—and second woman—to lead SICA as General Secretariat, starting Aug. 9, 2026, with a mandate covering security, trade, environment, and human rights. Politics in Panama: Panama’s Vamos coalition suspended deputies Neftalí Zamora and Manuel Samaniego over questions tied to National Assembly budget transfers. Maritime Security: The U.S. Coast Guard will tighten entry rules for ships arriving from Haiti starting June 22, with noncompliance risking denial of entry.

Biosecurity & Agriculture: The USDA confirmed a 6th New World screwworm case in the U.S., a calf in La Salle County, Texas, bringing active detections to six across Texas (5) and New Mexico (1). USDA says it has ramped up sterile-fly releases—millions weekly by air and ground—while Texas and federal officials expand containment. Local Governance & Public Safety: Louisiana is tightening livestock movement rules and increasing surveillance after Texas and New Mexico detections, as officials warn the pest is moving north. Panama-Linked Trade & Logistics: A U.S. Coast Guard notice says ships departing Haiti will face tightened entry rules starting June 22, with enhanced security requirements for vessels calling at Haitian ports—an issue for regional shipping routes that can affect Panama-linked logistics. Panama in the Spotlight: Little League International set 2026 Little League World Series first-round matchups, with Panama scheduled to play the Latin America/Caribbean winner on Aug. 21. International Security: A Spanish court request to the U.S. seeks confirmation of phone data used in the Zapatero Plus Ultra influence-peddling case, with the phone reportedly copied at Miami Airport in 2021.

New World screwworm in the U.S.: USDA confirmed a second case in Zavala County, Texas, hours after Gov. Greg Abbott expanded the state disaster order, with officials ramping up sterile-fly releases and a faster push for a South Texas breeding facility. Regional ripple for Panama: Coverage notes the pest’s northward movement has been linked to gaps in the long-running sterile insect barrier that once helped keep it contained down to the Panama Canal. Local governance & democracy: A Panama-focused reflection marks 39 years since the 1987 Cruzada Civilista, saying freedoms are secure but institutions still struggle with impunity and weak justice. Travel & culture: Netflix’s “Outlast: The Jungle” heads to Panama, with contestants competing for a $1M prize in the tropical jungle. Business travel: Cayman Airways adds Friday Panama flights this summer to boost weekend and onward connections via Tocumen. Justice & accountability: An OHCHR update highlights an extradition request tied to Venezuela’s 2014 crimes against humanity, underscoring cross-border accountability efforts.

Cocaine Smuggling Watch: Panama’s role in regional trafficking routes is again in the spotlight after New Zealand customs seized about 100kg of cocaine worth up to NZ$35m hidden in “PRADA”-branded bricks inside a refrigerated container that transited through Panama. Public Safety & Prisons: Panama’s La Joyita prison escape has triggered fresh scrutiny, with a new $172–$177m megaprison in Divisa put out to tender to help ease overcrowding. Logistics Security: Panama Transshipment Group (PTG) is set to be the first partner using BigBear.ai’s AI cargo security platform with biometric chain-of-custody tracking to flag anomalies and strengthen customs visibility. Business & Travel: Cayman Airways adds Friday flights to Panama for summer, expanding weekend and business travel options via Tocumen. Regional Geopolitics: Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister warns that a China attack would affect Europe and the U.S., underscoring how far-reaching the Taiwan risk is. Agriculture Risk (US-linked): The New World screwworm outbreak continues to spread in the U.S., with federal testing shifting to Kerrville, Texas—an issue that could ripple into beef prices across the region.

AI Propaganda Watch: A newly uncovered Pentagon-backed operation is using AI-written, sloppy “news” sites to seed pro-U.S. messaging across Latin America, with tailored versions reportedly planned for Panama and other countries. Maritime Security in Panama: BigBear.ai’s biometric cargo security platform is rolling out with Panama Transshipment Group as a first deployment partner, aiming to strengthen chain-of-custody tracking and help customs spot anomalies faster. Cobre Panama Deadline: Panama’s government set a mid-2026 deadline to decide the Cobre Panama mine’s fate, with First Quantum Minerals pausing arbitration while an environmental and economic audit is completed. Livestock Alarm (US, with regional echoes): New World screwworm detections keep climbing in the U.S. (Texas and a dog case in New Mexico), sparking political blame and renewed quarantine/sterile-fly response—an issue that matters to Panama’s wider cattle and biosecurity conversations. Business/Finance: UBS says it will expand its Brazil wealth-management model into other Latin American markets, including Panama.

Panama-US Security Influence: A Spanish-English site called “La Tilde” is reportedly a Pentagon-backed SOCSOUTH operation using AI-written stories to build audiences and then roll out tailored pro-American military propaganda for readers in Panama and other countries. Agriculture & Biosecurity: The U.S. is racing to contain the New World screwworm after new Texas and New Mexico cases, with USDA and state officials expanding quarantines and sterile-fly production—highlighting Panama’s historic role in the sterile-insect program. Regional Sports: Venezuela won gold and bronze at the XII Pan-American Youth 9 Ball Championship in Panama, with Albany González taking the women’s title and Verónica López earning third. Justice & Sanctions: An Iranian national pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to smuggling and export violations tied to sanctions, with Panama involved in his arrest and extradition. Energy Trade: German utility Uniper is exploring LNG supply from Canada’s Ksi Lisims project, a deal that could route shipments via the Panama Canal.

Education & Universities: Panama’s National Assembly Education, Culture and Sports Commission asked Education Minister Lucy Molinar and CONEAUPA head to clarify claims that three new universities were approved, after her TVN interview said Hosanna, Hispanoamericana and Iberoamericana received five-year accreditation. Public Procurement Scrutiny: Investigations allege Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo had ties to Bio Materiales, S.A. and that MINSA purchases from the firm totaled about $1.21 million from 2024-2026, raising conflict-of-interest questions. Diplomacy: President José Raúl Mulino sent a congratulatory message to Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev for Independence Day, reaffirming ties and cooperation. Regional Context (U.S.-Panama link): A major U.S. response is underway after New World screwworm cases were confirmed in Texas, with officials noting the pest had been contained at Panama’s southern end for decades—raising concerns for livestock and beef supply. Business: Lasco Group says it will significantly expand exports, targeting growth across the Caribbean, the U.S., Canada and parts of Central America including Panama.

Panama Canal Watch: The ACP says it will cut the maximum draft for neopanamax vessels to 49.5 ft (15.09 m) starting July 3, citing Gatun Lake levels and possible El Niño impacts—reviving memories of the 2023-24 drought disruptions. World Cup, Panama in the spotlight: England’s Group L opener is set for June 17 vs Croatia, with Panama also in the group; England’s camp in Kansas City faced a major scare as a shooting near the base left nine people injured (non-life-threatening), underscoring security concerns ahead of the tournament. Ghana vs Panama build-up: Ghana’s sports minister Kofi Adams urged prayers for the Black Stars and backed a “David vs Goliath” run, with Ghana drawn alongside Panama, England and Croatia in Group L. Local governance & services: Panama’s World Cup-related logistics also show up in the wider region as teams and fans ramp up travel and planning for the tournament.

Panama Security & Diplomacy: President José Raúl Mulino wrapped up a State visit to Athens, Greece, highlighting stronger maritime and commercial ties and signing MoUs on tourism cooperation and political consultations. Public Safety: SINAPROC issued a Pacific-coast swell warning (June 7–10), urging people to avoid dangerous surf and rip currents, and to suspend or moderate beach activities. Health & Procurement: MINSA’s tender for cleaning nine hospitals drew 23 interested companies, with a reference price of about $80.1M. Education: MEDUCA mourned the death of Bocas del Toro’s regional education director, Anaica Lezcano, after a serious traffic crash on the Almirante–Chiriquí Grande road. World Cup Focus (Panama): Panama head into Group L with seven straight matches unbeaten but have conceded in every game; their final friendly ended 1-1 vs Bosnia in St. Louis, setting up the June 17 opener vs Ghana.

World Cup Warm-ups (Panama in focus): Panama and Bosnia and Herzegovina played to a 1-1 draw in St. Louis as Nikola Katić put Bosnia ahead and Jiovany Ramos equalized for Panama late in the first half; the result is a final tune-up before Panama’s Group L opener. England’s Group L prep: England edged New Zealand 1-0 in Tampa with Harry Kane scoring his 79th international goal, while coach Thomas Tuchel rotated heavily in the Florida heat ahead of matches versus Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Argentina injury update: Lionel Messi sat out Argentina’s friendly against Honduras with left hamstring strain/muscle fatigue, with his return dependent on progress. Brazil’s momentum: Brazil beat Egypt 2-1 in Cleveland in their last warm-up, with Bruno Guimarães scoring early and Endrick netting the winner after Egypt equalized. Public safety & agriculture: The U.S. USDA confirmed a second New World screwworm case in Texas, prompting heightened livestock monitoring near the border. Panama security raid: Panama’s Ministry of Public Security seized firearms, cell phones, chargers and Starlink antennas during raids at La Joyita prison to curb contraband.

Livestock Biosecurity: The USDA confirmed a second New World screwworm case in a one-month-old calf in Zavala County, Texas—about 5.6 miles from the first detection—prompting tighter movement controls and heightened monitoring as officials warn the pest could disrupt cattle supply and push meat prices higher. Local Justice Update: Panama’s La Joyita prison aftermath continues after a mass escape and riot; authorities say 23 inmates remain at large and a large security search is ongoing. World Cup Focus (Panama Group L): England revealed World Cup squad numbers and will open Group L on June 17 vs Croatia, then face Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27 at MetLife Stadium—while Panama’s World Cup story and expectations keep building ahead of the tournament. Ghana Prep Watch: Ghana’s Black Stars are pressing for cohesion and readiness for Group L, with warm-up matches including Honduras on June 9 after a 1-1 draw with Wales. Health Research (Regional): A study flags Darién as a key Oropouche virus epicenter in Central America, with risk signals for other Panamanian provinces.

US–China Rivalry in the Region: A scholar warns Trump’s pushback on China is already squeezing Beijing’s interests in Cuba, Panama and Venezuela, and could now target Nicaragua if China revives a Pacific–Caribbean canal plan. Military & Information Pressure: Separate reporting says the Pentagon is running an AI-backed propaganda operation aimed at Latin America, including messaging that highlights US–Panama training and frames China as a regional threat. Panama Canal Watch: The Panama Canal Authority says El Niño is unlikely to disrupt transits this year, but could trigger water-saving measures in 2027; it has also moved to adjust vessel draft rules amid concerns. World Cup Build-Up (Panama angle): Panama is in Group L for 2026, facing Ghana, England and Panama’s opener date is set for June 17 in Toronto—while broader tournament coverage keeps spotlighting heat, travel and squad readiness. Public Health & Agriculture Link: Panama’s role in the regional screwworm response is echoed as US authorities report new cases in Texas tied to the pest’s spread from Panama and Central America.