Central America

The Financial System Superintendence will strengthen public service’s efficiency

In order to respond to President Nayib Bukele’s government vision of making the country’s public services a more efficient and transparent model of administrative transformation, the Financial System Superintendence (SSF) signed four inter-institutional cooperation agreements. The objective: to improve the processes of fighting bureaucracy, strengthening supervision work, and improving public services provided to the population.

These agreements were signed by the Salvadorian Social Security Institute (ISSS), the National Registration Center (CNR) and the Deposit Guarantee Institute (IGD). They will expedite the exchange of information between the SSF Superintendence and the institutions. Thus improving services and strengthening supervision processes.

Two agreements were signed with the ISSS, through which members of the Pension Fund Administrators (AFP) and Institutes of the Public Pension System, including the ISSS and the National Institute of Public Employees’ Pensions (INPEP), will be benefited.

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These agreements would allow for the information to be centralized in a single database, according to the terms established in Article 19 of the Pension Savings System Law. Both institutions will be able to immediately consult the data on the contribution forms.

The procedures carried out in the Disability Qualification Commission (CCI) of the Superintendence may now be carried out at the users-service posts in the Santa Ana and San Miguel ISSS. From now on, users will process their disability rating application faster.

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Meanwhile, the agreement signed with the CNR will provide additional support to verify the transparency of the information provided by the supervised financial entities during the authorization process. Strengthening the technical knowledge of public service.

The agreement reached with the Deposit Guarantee Institute (IGD) will provide resources to facilitate the work done in benefit of depositors and the country’s financial system stability.

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Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.