PANAMA’S Minister of Economy and Finance Dulcidio De La Guardia  has sent a note to the United States Department of the Treasury requesting  a one­ year license to allow Grupo Editorial La Estrella and El Siglo (Gese) to have access To U.S. commercial and financial services.

Gese's operations have been negatively affected since its main shareholder, Abdul Waked, was included on a blacklist in May for alleged ties to money laundering and drug trafficking.

The United States prohibits its companies, institutions  and citizens from maintaining commercial or financial relationships with entities on the list.

"Forcing these newspapers to close their operations as a result of sanctions would have a significant impact on press freedom in Panama given that El Siglo is currently one of the two most popular newspapers in the country and La Estrella is not only the oldest newspaper in Panama, but it is also part of our national identity and a source of great pride for all Panamanians," De La Guardia said.

Gese currently has an operating license, which expires on Jan. 5.

De La Guardia said in his note that the extension request is not only based on a respect for freedom of the press, but also to save the jobs of about 250 people working for the two publications.