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Focus on Panama as District Council 37 celebrates Latino Heritage Month

DC 37’s Latino Heritage Committee kicked off its month-long annual celebration Sept. 1 with a colorful opening ceremony at union headquarters.

This year the committee, chaired by Local 372 Executive Vice President Santos Crespo, is honoring Panama. Many people know the Central American nation mainly for the Panama Canal, which stretches 48 miles from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean and was controlled by the United States until 1999.

To start the evening a troupe of Panamanian dancers in traditional costumes performed songs and dances from their native country.

DC 37 Assistant Associate Director Henry Garrido welcomed guests at the opening and highlighted the arduous struggle of Panamanian workers in building the canal, which was completed in 1914 after malaria, yellow fever and landslides claimed the lives of 27,500 workers.

“The history of the construction of the canal is closely linked with the history of the working class and the labor movement in Panama,” said Garrido.

In a brief presentation Vicente Alba, a veteran of community and labor struggles in New York City, who is also of Panamanian ancestry, pointed out the important contributions made by immigrant workers to the city.