Minister Guillermo Ferrufino says that it is not the Ministry of Social Developments responsibility to provide homeless shelters. In an interview on TVN News, Ferrufino clarified that what his ministry could do was work with the Mayor’s Office to address this issue and says that it has contributed $55,000 to non-governmental organizations that serve the homeless…

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Panamanian surfer Jean Carlos “Oli” Gonzalez took home the silver medal at the world surfing championship held in Santa Catalina over the weekend. Gonzalez, age 18, is the first Panamanian to win a medal in the Open Men’s category of the  ISA World Surfing Games.  South African Shaun Joubert won gold,  and Peruvian Cristóbal del…

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Panamanian long-distance swimmer César Barría will swim from Panama City to Taboga Island on May 19. “It is a tribute to my followers,” the 30-year-old swimmer announced at a press conference on Thursday. “Swimming in Panama will give me more strength because I will feel that people will be supporting me more closely.” Barria has swam…

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Authorities are investigating William Vélez, owner of the InterAseo company that administers Panama’s Cerro Patacon landfill, for possible ties to paramilitary groups. Velez, also known as a garbage and construction tzar for his extensive multinational business holdings, was fingered by former paramilitaries Edgar Ignacio Fierro, also known as Don Antonio, and José Gélvez Albarracín, also known as El…

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Rapper, actor and businessman Curtis James Jackson III, better known as 50 cent, arrived in Panama this week. He is in town to meet with sports and entertainment figures including singer Ingrid de Ycaza and members of the Panama Boxing Commission. He attended the Challenge of Nations boxing event at Roberto Duran stadium on Saturday…

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