A $172 – $177 Million Prison in Divisa Panama is Put Out to Tender
The size of the project would place it among the four largest penitentiary centers in the country and would raise the possibility of redistributing the overpopulation that currently exists in La Joya and La Joyita. Last Monday, 195 inmates escaped from La Joyita prison. The facility houses 4,801 prisoners, while its capacity is only 1,944.
The escape of 195 inmates from La Joyita prison exposed a prison system where prisoners operated with hundreds of cell phones, routers, wifi antennas, firearms, ammunition and drugs. That appears to have accelerated the Ministry of Government’s plans to put out to tender the construction of a new prison in the interior of the country just seven days after the escape at La Joyita prison.
The size of the project would place it among the four largest prisons in the country and would raise the possibility of redistributing the overcrowding that currently exists in La Joya and La Joyita. It was precisely from the latter prison that the 195 inmates escaped, most of them convicted or awaiting trial for gang activity, homicide, drug trafficking, and crimes against sexual integrity.
The $172–$177 million prison in Divisa is a major planned penitentiary center in Panama. Slated for the Corregimiento of Los Canelos in the District of Santa María (Herrera province), it will house around 2,500 inmates to alleviate overcrowding. The megapenal, situated on a 45-hectare plot adjacent to the Inter-American Highway and the Cañazas River, has provoked significant local debate.
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have expressed concerns about the project’s proximity to the historic Instituto Nacional de Agricultura (INA). Key details about the project include:
- Capacity: 2,500 incarcerated individuals.
- Target Inmates: Relocation of prisoners from old police holding cells and regional facilities in Coclé, Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos.
- Infrastructure: The comprehensive facility includes agricultural and vocational training spaces.
- Status: The Ministry of Government has finalized the tender specifications and prepared the project for public bidding.
The government’s goal is to transition inmates toward rehabilitation and auto-sustainability, drawing inspiration from programs like the Casa Granja de Penonomé.
