On Tuesday, Panama celebrated the 25th anniversary of the handover of the Panama Canal, a monumental event that returned control of the vital waterway to the nation after nearly a century under United States administration.
The United States inaugurated the canal in 1914 and operated it until December 31, 1999. The transition was formalized through the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, signed on September 7, 1977, by Panama’s General Omar Torrijos and U.S. President Jimmy Carter, ending 85 years of the colonial enclave known as the Panama Canal Zone.
“These 25 years of Panamanian administration have worked on a common goal: to fulfill the national commitment to a safe and continuous operation for the world,” said Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino during a ceremony at the Panama Canal Administration Building—the very site where the official handover took place in 1999.
Mulino emphasized the canal’s significance to the nation, stating, “This canal has to be and has to continue to be the canal of our Panamanians, for Panamanians, at the world’s service but above all for Panamanians mainly.”
Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez Morales highlighted the achievements over the past 25 years, including the canal’s expansion and the construction of the Third Set of Locks, which began operating in 2016. These advancements have enhanced the canal’s capacity and solidified its role in global trade.
In a touching moment during the ceremony, Miguel Guerra, the first Panamanian hired by the Panama Canal following its historic handover, received Panama’s Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa from President Mulino, honoring his service and dedication.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
