Maximum-security prison project in Santa María de Herrera moves forward; community to be consulted

A plan to construct a maximum-security prison in Divisa, located in Panama's Herrera province, will move forward despite local opposition, confirmed Iván de León, the mayor of Santa María district. The mayor met with Dinoska Montalvo, the Minister of Government, to discuss the project, which is slated for a site in Divisa.

During the meeting, municipal authorities voiced their strong opposition to the initiative. However, Minister Montalvo conveyed that the prison is considered a state project, thus its development will continue. The proposed facility is intended to house inmates from the provinces of Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas, and Coclé.

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it is a state project, so its development continues.

Local officials also raised concerns regarding the project's placement within the Santa María river basin and its potential environmental and social impacts on the district. Mayor de León reported that the Minister assured them the prison would be built outside flood-prone areas and away from educational centers, suggesting minimal community impact.

In response to requests from local authorities, Minister Montalvo agreed that the project's explanation should extend beyond municipal representatives to include direct engagement with district residents. She committed to returning to the district after August 13, following the formal proposal presentation, to hold community meetings. These sessions aim to clarify the project's scope and outline the benefits the national government believes it will bring to Santa María.

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the infrastructure will be built outside of flood zones and away from educational centers, so, according to her, the impact on the community would be minimal.