Friday, March 29, 2024

UK honours Panama Canal workers

Date:

Share post:

August 15, 2014 marks 100 years since the Panama Canal became operational. 
Built over the course of ten years following previous failed attempts, the Panama Canal helped connect distant countries, boosted trade and opened up the world. 
The vast majority of workers who made this project possible came from the West Indies, particularly from Barbados and Jamaica. 
Over 20 000 individuals travelled from Barbados to work on the canal, which is estimated to be a substantial percentage of the island’s population at that time, whilst Jamaican labourers had long been active in infrastructure projects on the isthmus.
To honour the contribution of the West Indian workers, Foreign Office Minister for Latin America, the Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, recently presented a bronze plaque at the Miraflores Locks Visitor Centre commemorating the contribution the people of the West Indies made to its construction.
Speaking at the unveiling last month, the Minister said he was “enormously honoured to be unveiling today a new bronze plaque here at the Miraflores Locks that will memorialise the important contribution of the people of the British West Indies in the construction of the Canal. I hope this plaque will be seen by all the visitors to the Canal for the next 100 years”.
Following the presentation, the Minister had the chance to meet members of the West Indian Community in Panama, in some cases direct descendants of those whose labours had built the canal 100 years ago. (PR)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

No decision yet on Lester Vaughan School

A firm decision has not yet been made regarding when the Lester Vaughan School will be reopened. Following a...

BDF to conduct simulation exercise on April 2 & 3

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) will conduct a Mass Casualty Simulation Exercise from Tuesday, April 2, to Wednesday,...

Barbadians reminded to file taxes online as filing season starts

The Barbados Revenue Authority (the BRA) is advising that tax filing season for 2023 begins on April 1 this...

Minister Abrahams’ statement on Ismail Patel’s passing

Below is the full statement by Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams: I was saddened to...