The Panama Connection

[THE OMBUDSMAN]

"Yesterday, August 15, marked the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal and the inaugural observance of Panama Day in Barbados. While not a national holiday, the occasion has been declared a national day of celebration, on which activities will be held to highlight the significance of the Panama connectionto Barbados and help “preserve preserve the memory of the contribution of thousands of Barbadians to the construction of the Panama Canal”.

By now it is well known the important contribution made by Barbadians and other West Indians to the construction of the Panama Canal, one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. According to the Barbados Government Information Service, “Barbados became the first and largestsource of foreign labour contracted by the United States Government during theconstructing phase of the Canal”, with some 60 000 emigrating to that Central American country. What was always known anecdotally, was the integral role that the remittances from these emigrants (‘Panama money’) played in the upward social mobility of many working-class Barbadian families. Given that the stability of contemporary Barbados is often attributed to the existence of a large middle class, it is only fitting that greater recognition be given to the Panama connection. We are therefore grateful for the work of several historians whose research has documented this important part of national history so that it might not be forgotten over the passage of time.

The history of post-colonial Barbados’ features several waves of emigration, but usually when persons thinkof the Diaspora, their minds turned to places such as England, the United States of America, Canada and even Australia. Perhaps it is the Commonwealth connection, or perhaps it is the language barrier, but seldom did we hear of Panama, or even Cuba. Therefore, kudos must be given to the current administration for the active role it has assumed in turning the spotlight on this section of the Diaspora. Indeed, forging closer and more productive ties with the Barbadian community around the world has been a core strategy for this administration since 2008 and they cannot be accused of not following through with its stated intentions in that regard.

In 2010, Barbados and Panama signed a Double Taxation Agreement and several trade missions have been executed to Panama and other Central American territories of interest. Meanwhile, the most recent Barbados National Consultation was the occasion for the signing of a Seaports Agreement between Barbados and Panama, and negotiations continue to establish a direct air link. Government therefore is playing its part in creating an environment that is conducive for greater trade and investment between the two countries; it is up to individuals to take advantage of the opportunities that are being created.

Meanwhile, the introduction of Panama Day shows a commitment to establish closer ties on a person-to-person level and hopefully inspire more curiosity about our long-forgotten Panamanian relatives and in time, a closer affinity. The Barbados Museum & Historical Society is currently staging an exhibition highlighting the Barbadian contribution to Panama and we certainly hope that locals will make an effort to visit. It is also hoped that teachers, especially of Social Studies, History and Spanish, will make a push to incorporate the Panama connection into their classrooms. The onus will be on them, since the new Panama Day does not fall while school is in session.

Perhaps, like the Canal itself, this growing interest in our Panamian connection will open a pathway to further penetration into Latin American markets, bringing with it the language and economic diversity this country needs to stand tall in the 21st century and beyond."

Source: http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=editorial&NewsID=38174