Central America
Environmentalists advance in closing copper mine in Panama
December 15 |
The formation of a technical committee to supervise the closure of the largest copper mine in Panama is moving forward in that Central American nation, according to the Panamanian Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last Tuesday.
This technical roundtable, which so far incorporates 101 people from different professional fields, has the purpose of “informing, accompanying, monitoring and being vigilant to the processes of closure of metal mining activity in the country in compliance with the legal provisions”, detailed the IUCN in a statement.
The formation of this oversight group was convened by IUCN last November 22. As it has been adding specialists, working groups were formed on specific topics.
The president of the IUCN, Ricardo Wong, explained during an interview that the technical committee is overseeing “that we have a closure that is as environmentally friendly as possible and that avoids harm to the population”.
He pointed out that the copper mine is currently paralyzed and awaiting a technical plan to deactivate it little by little without causing an environmental disaster.
He stated that closing the mine “is going to be complicated and will take years, effort by many and a lot of money to recover that area”, since now “the metal is exposed and reacts with the water turning it into acid, which if it reaches other areas has great impacts”.
The mine in question is the largest open-pit copper producer in Central America, and one of the largest in the world. It was operated by Minera Panama, a subsidiary of the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals.
It occupies some 13,600 hectares in the middle of the Panamanian forest, within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, an area of high biodiversity through which species travel from South America to North America. After months of massive protests, the Panamanian people forced its closure.
Central America
Washington calls for oversight as Honduras faces allegations of electoral interference
The United States government urged members of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday to support a transparent electoral process in Honduras, free from intimidation, interference, or fraud, just days before the general elections scheduled for this Sunday.
The call was made by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during an extraordinary session of the OAS Permanent Council. The meeting was convened at the request of the United States in response to reports of irregularities marking the final stretch of Honduras’ electoral process. Landau expressed concern over the situation in the country, warning that Honduras is facing an institutional crisis. “I fear that Honduras faces an uncertain future. Therefore, I urge you to use your collective voice to warn Honduran officials about the consequences of interfering in the electoral process,” he stated.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed its support for electoral integrity and called on Hondurans to exercise their right to vote. “We hear you and we stand with you. Go out and vote on November 30 to be part of the democratic future of this country,” Landau said in Spanish during his remarks.
In response, Honduras’ ambassador to the OAS, Roberto Quesada, rejected the allegations and said there is no evidence of election-related crimes. “We are surprised that a Permanent Council meeting was called when no crime has been committed,” the diplomat said, dismissing reports of repression against journalists. “These narratives are invented because, as we know, fake news runs wild on the internet,” he added.
The session was also requested by Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay, whose governments expressed concern over the direction of the Honduran elections.
The process has been questioned due to the actions of the Public Ministry and the Armed Forces, both accused of interfering in matters under the exclusive authority of the National Electoral Council (CNE). The Attorney General’s Office has opened investigations into senior electoral officials, while the military has been accused of improperly intervening in civilian affairs.
Marlon Ochoa, a CNE councilor, maintained that despite the pressure, “general elections will be held despite the conspiracy that has been attempted against the electoral process,” and confirmed that all logistical materials are ready.
Colombia’s ambassador, Luis Vargas, announced that his country will provide “accompaniment” during the election, while Argentina’s representative, Carlos Bernardo, stressed that “there is no room for rigged electoral processes” in the region.
The main presidential contenders are Rixi Moncada of the Libre party, Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, and Nasry Asfura of the National Party.
Central America
Panama reinforces security with new helicopters and Super Tucano Aircraft purchases
The government of Panama confirmed on Wednesday the purchase of two Bell 407 GXi helicopters for $10.49 million, aimed at strengthening the patrol and surveillance operations of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan), according to an official statement from the Presidency.
The funds used for the acquisition come from an insurance payout related to the crash of the AN-141 helicopter on September 10, 2023, an accident in which three Senan officers died. Panama received $13.4 million from the insurance claim, and the remaining balance will be allocated to three additional operational projects that have not yet been disclosed. “These two new aircraft are essential for Senan, as they will enable the protection of the country’s airspace, maritime domain, continental platform, as well as river and lake areas,” the statement emphasized. The government justified the purchase as necessary due to the deterioration of current aircraft and the reduced operational capacity of the security force.
In addition to the helicopters, President José Raúl Mulino’s administration announced the purchase of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, valued at $76.3 million. These military-grade planes will bolster aerial and maritime surveillance and are intended to support operations against drug trafficking and organized crime.
According to Panamanian authorities, nearly 70% of homicides recorded in the country are linked to organized crime, especially gangs involved in drug trafficking. As Panama serves as a key transit point for narcotics moving from South America to the United States and Europe, strengthening its aerial capabilities forms part of its broader national security strategy.
Central America
Trump urges hondurans to back conservative candidate Nasry Asfura in november elections
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Honduran citizens to support conservative candidate Nasry Asfura, of the National Party, in the upcoming November 30 elections. In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that Asfura’s rivals represent “communist expansion” and claimed that their victory could open the door to figures like Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
Trump described Asfura as “the only true friend of freedom in Honduras” and said that together they could “fight the narco-communists.” The U.S. president took direct aim at the other two presidential candidates: Rixi Moncada of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation (Libre) party, whom he accused of being “aligned with communism,” and Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, whom he claimed was part of a scheme to “deceive the people” and split the opposition vote. Trump also praised Asfura’s tenure as mayor of Tegucigalpa, highlighting his efforts to “bring water to millions of people.”
A day before Trump’s comments, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau had urged member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) to demand a transparent electoral process free of fraud and intimidation.
The electoral process in Honduras has come under intense scrutiny over alleged institutional interference. The Attorney General’s Office has launched investigations into senior electoral officials, while the Armed Forces have been accused of intruding into responsibilities reserved exclusively for the National Electoral Council (CNE).
In his message, Trump warned that “narcoterrorists like Maduro” could expand their influence into other countries, including Honduras, “just as happened in Venezuela and Cuba,” if voters do not choose clearly.
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