Let’s Pay Panama’s Helicopter Maintenance with the School Budget.
The request from the Ministry of Public Security received 11 votes in favor in the Budget Committee.
This is all part of the agreement between Panama and the United States known as CARSI/Mérida. CARSI stands for the Central America Regional Security Initiative. Three US Black Hawk helicopters arrive in the country for PANAMAX 2026 training. Assembly approves $13.4 million for the Ministry of Security for the purchase of helicopters. Six helicopters, a destroyer and a simulated assault. That’s how Panamax 2026 closed.
The Budget Committee of the National Assembly approved a transfer of $6 million to the Ministry of Public Security (Minseg) for the maintenance of eight helicopters operated by the National Aeronaval Service (Senan). The funds will come from the Ministry of Education’s (Meduca) school construction program, as confirmed by the National Budget Directorate in the session of Thursday, October 8. The Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego pictured above, and his team defended the transfer before the deputies.
Below are the Members of the Budget Committee of the National Assembly.
58.9%
Of the 2026 budget, the Ministry of Security had executed up to July 2026.
1500 Hours
The one-time payment of $6 million corresponds, according to Amendment 28, to a maximum of 1,500 flight hours.
8
These are the helicopters that will be serviced.
And the Schools?
Vamos congresswoman Yamireliz Chong pictured below, questioned the State’s decision to divert $6 million from school construction to service helicopters. She asked which schools would no longer be served and whether they would be in Colón, San Miguelito, or Panama. In addition, she asked for an explanation from the representative of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) who was present at the session.
Her colleague Jairo Salazar Pictured Below, from the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Raised a Similar Concern.
Valerio González, from the National Budget Directorate, explained that, due to the execution times of the Meduca budget, the ministry will not be able to spend that amount this year. At the end of the session, the chairman of the commission,
Eduardo Vásquez, CD Deputy, President of the Budget Committee Pictured Below.
Eduardo Vásquez revealed that, of the $80 million that the Ministry of Education (Meduca) had allocated for school repairs this year, only $32.4 million had been spent. He did not specify whether the $80 million corresponds to his circuit. “It’s October 2026. October, November and December… There’s no way they’re going to execute the budget and it’s a shame, because in my Capira we need a new school that costs $25 million.” Vásquez lamented.
What the Documents Say.
According to documents supporting the transaction, reviewed by this media outlet, the $6 million from the “Construction 7% GDP Education” project will now be transferred to the “Other Commercial and Financial Services” expenditure item of the “Strengthening of Capabilities Air Squadron” project of the Ministry of Security. The funds will pay for the maintenance of eight twin-engine UH-1ST helicopters and six single-engine UH-1H helicopters, as well as tools and training for 145 members of the Senan.
Above is a Bell 412 helicopter of the SENAN (National Air and Naval Service)
The program lasts 12 months, according to Amendment 28 of that agreement. It began on March 1, 2026, and Panama committed to paying $6 million for aircraft maintenance. In a note that the Ministry of Security presented to the Budget Committee to justify the funds, the ministry warns that failing to meet the commitment “compromises the continuity of this program and others that the United States Government maintains” with Panama. Furthermore, the note indicates that the fight against criminal groups in the Darien province would be weakened.
