PROMTUR Project

2. Allow me to introduce you to the West Indian museum; it is the only monument
in Panama dedicated exclusively to this ethnic group that contributed immensely to
making our country the show case of progress that it displays today. The museum
is housed within the structure of what was before the Christian Mission church,
which was built in 1910, and therefore served as a place of worship for almost 70
years. This museum, established in 1980, is the only one in Panama that has
remained continuously open for 40 years. This is due in great measure to the
support offered by an organization of West Indian descendants called the Society
of Friends of the West Indian Museum of Panama, or SAMAAP, as it is better
known, by its Spanish acronym.
3. A picturesque mural was recently painted on the adjacent enclosure wall and it
chronicles the story of the migration and integration of West Indians into the
productive life of our country. While the story of our people has been vibrant it
certainly has not always been as colorful.
4.5.6.7. Inside, one will find articles that relate to historic periods, events, or way
of life, of this very resilient group of people. Although there is evidence that West
Indians may have arrived in the Bocas del Toro province well before the historical
developments, we know that people from the Caribbean islands came to this
republic in three significant waves as part of three monumental construction
projects.
8.9.10First there was the Panama Railroad construction which took place between
1850 and 1855. It was the project to construct the first trans-continental railroad in
the Americas, that would transport persons from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean
by traversing the dense jungle of Panama. In its beginning there was reluctance to
hire West Indians due to racial prejudice of the company’s manager but in the end,
these men proved to be the best workers for the job. In this period over 10,000
West Indians may have entered the isthmus. There were no truly clear records kept
during the railroad construction, so the death toll is only estimated to be around
6,000, with the vast majority being West Indians.
11.12The second immigration wave from the islands occurred for the French effort
to construct a canal through the isthmus, 1880 – 1889. During the years of
construction attempt about 40,000 West Indians migrated to the Isthmus from
various islands but mainly from Jamaica. It is estimated that some 22,000 persons
died in this project mostly due to disease; of these no less than 15,000 would have
been from the Caribbean Islands.
13.14.15The third wave of migration occurred in response to the American
construction of the Panama Canal (1904-1914). Official canal records show that
over 31,000 West Indians were brought under contract to the isthmus; but this does
not consider those who came on their own and were employed locally on the canal
project or were engaged in other services as would be necessary. There were
shoemakers, tailors, seamstresses, masons, carpenters, cooks, druggist, teachers,
clergymen, and other dependent family members. The project employed almost
45,000 workers. Although the official death toll is 5,609, it is estimated the real
figure was several times higher.
There are estimates that over 100,00 West Indians entered Panama during the canal
construction period at a time when the total population of Panama would have been
less than 300,000. Many of those who came elected to remain on the isthmus in
productive capacities since employment opportunities in the islands had become
extremely limited.
16.17.The American construction of the Canal introduced the very degrading and
disgraceful practice of racial segregation and the compensation for work performed
according to race, the infamous gold and silver roll. This placed West Indians at
the bottom of the pay scale even if they did comparatively better work than their
counterparts on the same job. The discriminatory practices against blacks in the
Canal Zone persisted for almost 50 years.
19.This group of immigrants also faced discriminatory attitudes from Panamanian
nationals. In 1941 the newly elected president introduced a new constitution that
prohibited the acceptance of West Indians as residents or their descendants as
citizens. The constitution was later revoked, and West Indian immigrants and their
descendants proved themselves to be worthwhile citizens as they blended their
culture and cuisine into the lifeline of the Panamanian population.
20.21.22They introduced boxing and horseracing; they excelled in sports.
Descendants Lloyd La Beach won for Panama’s its first medal ever in World
Olympics and Teofilo “Panama Al” Brown won Panama’s first ever world boxing
championship. The first Panamanian beauty queen to reach the finals in a Miss
Universe pageant was Gloria Karamanites, of West Indian heritage and the actual
national stadium is named after Rod Carew, a major league baseball hall of famer.
23.24.25Over the years since their entry into this country countless other West
Indians and their descendants have distinguished themselves as exemplary citizens
as they have excelled as teachers, doctors, lawyers and other professional fields.
26.27.28For the last 35 years SAMAAP has promoted the recognition of West
Indian’s contribution to Panama through the celebration of its annual cultural and
gastronomical fair that has become a much sought-after festivity not only within
our community but across the wider multiethnic and multicultural spectrum of the
Panamanian society. They also coordinate an annual memorial pilgrimage through
the Gaillard Cut, to remember and honor those who died in the construction of the
Canal or in its subsequent years of operation.
29.Some years ago, the West Indians were recognized and honored as one of the
nine main ethnic groups that contributed significantly to Panama’s now flourishing
development, the others being: Americans, Spaniards, Italians French, Greeks,
Jews, Hindus, and Chinese. The monument located in the area of Amador is
dedicated to honor these groups.
As West Indian descendants we are fully committed to our responsibilities as
citizens to promote the development and wellbeing of Panama, but we will also be
always fully committed to promote and defend our rich ethnic heritage, bequeathed
to us by those who ventured from Caribbean islands long ago, braving hardships
and even death, to make this land their new home.
Thank You.