Panama Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Canal’s Handover
On Tuesday, Panama marked a significant milestone—the 25th anniversary of regaining control over the Panama Canal, a vital waterway that had been under United States administration for nearly a century.
The canal, inaugurated by the United States in 1914, was a strategic route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It remained under U.S. control until December 31, 1999, when sovereignty was officially transferred back to Panama. This historic handover was the result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, signed on September 7, 1977, in Washington D.C., by Panama’s General Omar Torrijos and U.S. President Jimmy Carter, effectively ending 85 years of foreign administration 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 commemorative ceremony held at the Panama Canal Administration Building.
“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,” Mulino emphasized, speaking from the very steps where the canal was handed over to Panama’s then-President Mireya Mosco on December 31, 1999.
Ricaurte Vasquez Morales, Administrator of the Panama Canal, highlighted the achievements made during 25 years of Panamanian management, including the canal’s expansion and the construction of the Third Set of Locks, which began operating in 2016.
During the ceremony, Miguel Guerra, the first Panamanian hired by the Panama Canal following its historic handover in 1999, received Panama’s Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa from Mulino. This recognition underscores the contributions of Panamanians in operating and managing the canal, a critical asset for international trade and maritime navigation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
