Panama City, Panama – The National Assembly's Committee on Indigenous Affairs has approved the formation of a subcommittee to analyze a bill proposing the creation of two new districts within the Guna Yala region. Deputy Flor Brenes Medina introduced the bill, citing population growth and the need for better resource and service distribution as the driving forces behind the initiative.

The proposed districts, Gardi and Uggubseni, would be carved out of existing districts Narganá and Ailigandí, respectively. The newly formed subcommittee will thoroughly assess the project's scope and feasibility before it proceeds to a full legislative plenary session for debate.

This move comes after similar district creation initiatives during the previous administration (2019-2024) drew significant criticism. Deputies faced accusations of prioritizing territorial divisions to secure increased public spending. Critics argued that the proliferation of districts was less about addressing population or development needs and more about accessing millions of dollars allocated to local authorities through municipalities and communal councils. The subcommittee's review will likely address these concerns as it evaluates the current proposal. The future of the Gardi and Uggubseni districts now rests on the subcommittee's findings and the subsequent debate within the National Assembly.