After his UN Speech Panama President Mulino will Undergo Surgery in New York

The President of the Republic of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, announced that, after completing his official agenda at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, he will undergo outpatient surgery on one of his shoulders.  The procedure will be performed in a hospital center in New York City.  “I’ll be recovering at my hotel, I’ll be paying for it of course, so I’ll be back in Panama on Sunday the 28th, to be back at my post on Monday,” Mulino told international media.  

He jokingly commented: “I don’t know if they did witchcraft on me, but it’s messed me up.”  In his address to the UN General Assembly, the president announced that he will highlight his administration’s progress compared to his previous address and will emphasize immigration policy. “I will emphasize, for example, the efforts we made to close Darién,” he said.  He will also reiterate Panama’s stance in favor of multilateralism as the cornerstone of its foreign policy.  During his stay in New York, he also plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Presidential Veto Warning

At the national level, the president warned that he will veto the draft law seeking to terminate the concession granted to the Panama Canal Railway Company, which operates the freight and passenger railway between Panama and Colón.  “If that bill becomes law, I will veto it… that’s a dead letter,” he declared bluntly.

Relationship with Venezuela: Consular Only

Mulino clarified that his government has no intention of reestablishing diplomatic relations with Venezuela, but has reopened the consular section for three reasons:

Humanitarian: facilitate the repatriation of undocumented Venezuelan migrants.  The president said he did not know whether the Venezuelan government would open consular services in Panama.

Progress on Metro Line 3

Regarding infrastructure, the president highlighted the progress on Metro Line 3, a project that seeks to ease transportation costs from the western sector to the capital city.
 

Panama Tunnel Boring Machine Achieves Historic Canal Crossing  

“We’re working hard to finish it during my term. It’s been a feat: we crossed under the Canal and now we’re moving from Farfán to Albrook,” Mulino commented, recalling the operation of the Panama tunnel boring machine, which is currently headed toward Balboa.

Naviferias Announcement Without Politicking

In preparation for the holiday season, the president announced that the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA) will hold its traditional Christmas fairs, where Christmas boxes will be sold that include ham and other products at affordable prices.  “There is no such thing as free ham,” Mulino emphasized, stressing that this initiative will be free of political overtones. In addition, new agricultural stores will be opened in San Antonio (via Tocumen), Río Hato, Aguadulce, and Las Tablas. 

Cutting-Edge Medical Technology at the Oncology Institute

Finally, the president announced that the Da Vinci robotic system will be inaugurated next Wednesday at the National Oncology Institute, which will allow for more precise and less invasive oncological surgeries.  “This system has eight intelligent arms operated from a console with high-definition 3D vision. It will be a huge advance for public health,” the Chief Executive emphasized.
 

Commercial: Support affected companies, especially in the Colon Free Zone.  Air travel: Following the suspension of Copa Airlines flights to Venezuela, some frequencies have been resumed.