Central America
Panamanian president consults attorney general to repeal mining contract
November 17 |
The President of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo, announced Thursday that a consultation was made to the Attorney General of the Administration, Rigoberto Gonzalez, on the legal feasibility of repealing Law 406 that contains the contract between the Panamanian State and Minera Panama.
“In relation to the request for the repeal of Law 406 presented to the Executive on November 9 by organized groups, we have consulted the Attorney General of the Administration on the legal viability of such request,” the President said in a televised message to the nation.
Regarding Law 407 of November 3, 2023, which prohibits metallic mining in Panama, he specified that in immediate compliance with its provision, “the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the National Directorate of Mineral Resources, proceeded to process the cancellation of seven concessions and will continue the process within the term established by law with the other pending concessions”.
He also informed that the company Minera Panamá made the payment corresponding to its obligations established in the contract law, and while waiting for the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice, instructed the Ministry of Economy and Finance so that the money received is not used and is kept in a restricted account in the National Bank of Panama.
In this respect, the Panamanian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) issued a statement in which it highlighted that Minera Panamá delivered to the General Revenue Directorate (DGI) a total of US$ 562,840,543, in accordance with the obligations established in the contract law.
In his speech, the Panamanian Head of State urged “to put aside personal, ideological, political or economic interests”, since “the solution of national problems requires the participation of all Panamanians with respect, listening to all opinions, considering the realities and always abiding by the laws”.
Likewise, he asked the Panamanian people to wait for the times determined by the rulings of the Supreme Court of Justice and reiterated that he will abide by the ruling issued by this entity on Law 406 of the mining contract.
For 27 days, thousands of Panamanians have been demonstrating massively and have closed the main roads, preventing the passage of vehicles, as a protest against Law 406 which approves broad concessions between the State and Minera Panama, with negative environmental impacts, which calls into question national sovereignty.
The President had ratified Law 406 between the State and Minera Panamá, of the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals (FQM), to exploit the largest open pit copper mine in Central America.
Central America
Bukele says AI partnership with xAI will transform public education in El Salvador
President Nayib Bukele stated on Monday that the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the support of Elon Musk’s company xAI, will help redefine the future of public education in El Salvador.
“El Salvador and xAI will redefine the future of public education. Children will not use Grok the same way we use it,” the president wrote on X.
Last week, Bukele and Musk announced a partnership to provide personalized tutoring through the AI assistant Grok for all students enrolled in public schools across the country.
This pioneering alliance between the Government of El Salvador and xAI represents the launch of the world’s first national education program powered by artificial intelligence.
“Grok will be used in all public schools in El Salvador over the next two years. More than one million students will receive personalized tutoring. Thousands of teachers will receive assistance and support as partners in the educational process,” the president explained.
Meanwhile, FMLN Secretary General Manuel Flores described the incorporation of AI into public school education as “reckless,” arguing that many schools still lack basic services such as electricity and internet access.
“Schools do not even have desks. They said: ‘All schools will have internet’; that promise was not fulfilled. And others used to say: ‘The only promises that matter are the ones that are kept,’” Flores said during his regular Monday press conference.
Flores questioned who would teach artificial intelligence classes, noting that in some areas schools lack televisions or electricity. “How are they going to have internet? Starlink [satellite internet service] has already been announced five times,” he added.
He further labeled the AI-driven education program promoted by President Bukele as “another lie,” comparing it to the “Two Schools a Day” initiative, which he claimed is “pure propaganda.”
The “Two Schools a Day” program was announced earlier this year and involves the construction or reconstruction of public schools nationwide to improve educational quality. The project is being implemented by government institutions such as the National Directorate of Municipal Works.
Central America
El Salvador ranks among top countries in the Americas in fight against organized crime
El Salvador has positioned itself as the country in the Americas with the strongest performance in the Global Organized Crime Index (GOCI), ranking 18th out of 35 countries in the region and 77th out of 193 nations worldwide that are engaged in the fight against organized crime.
According to the index, El Salvador outperforms Mexico, which ranks 2nd in the Americas and 3rd globally, as well as the United States, which holds the 14th position in the Americas and 60th worldwide.
The Global Organized Crime Index evaluates multiple indicators, including criminal markets, human trafficking and smuggling, extortion, arms trafficking, counterfeit goods trade, illicit trade in excisable goods, environmental crimes involving flora and fauna, crimes against non-renewable resources, heroin, cocaine, cannabis and synthetic drug trafficking, cyber-dependent crimes, financial crimes, mafia-style groups and criminal networks.
Within Central America, El Salvador surpasses Panama, which ranks 8th in the Americas and 21st globally; Costa Rica, ranked 13th in the region and 58th worldwide; Nicaragua, ranked 16th and 69th; Honduras, positioned 5th in the Americas and 13th globally; and Guatemala, which holds 9th place in the Americas and 25th worldwide.
Belize is the only Central American country ranked above El Salvador, placing 23rd in the Americas and 103rd globally. However, while El Salvador climbed 25 positions compared to its 2023 ranking—improving from 52nd to 77th—Belize dropped three positions, moving from 106th in 2023 to 103rd in the current index.
El Salvador’s progress in combating organized crime also surpasses that of several countries across the Americas, including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Chile and Paraguay, all of which rank lower both regionally and globally.
Central America
OAS urges swift recount in Honduras as election results remain uncertain
The Organization of American States (OAS) electoral observation mission in Honduras reported findings of a “lack of expertise” and “delays” in the vote-counting process, but stated that it found no indications that would cast doubt on the results of the November 30 general elections, according to a report presented to the organization’s Permanent Council.
The delay by electoral authorities in releasing the final results “is not justifiable,” said former Paraguayan foreign minister Eladio Loizaga while reading the report.
Honduras marked two weeks on Monday without knowing who its next president will be, following elections in which conservative candidate Nasry Asfura, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, holds a lead of less than two percentage points over fellow right-wing contender Salvador Nasralla.
Accusations of fraud have dominated Honduras’ political landscape since polls closed on the last Sunday of November.
In addition to Nasralla’s complaints, the current government led by leftist President Xiomara Castro has described Trump’s support for Asfura as an “electoral coup.”
The U.S. president has warned of “serious consequences” if the current results were to change and strip Asfura, a 67-year-old businessman, of his lead.
Although more than 99 percent of the votes have been counted, nearly 2,800 tally sheets contain “inconsistencies” and must be reviewed through a special recount, the National Electoral Council (CNE) said.
“The Mission urgently calls on the electoral authorities to immediately begin the special recount and to pursue all possible avenues to obtain official results as quickly as possible. The current delay in processing and publishing the results is not justifiable,” the head of the OAS mission told members of the organization.
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