Panama Canal is being expanded

Dear Editor,

The Panama Canal is being expanded. It is the largest project at the canal since its original construction in 1881 – 126 years ago. Panama is now the centre of attraction since it is the host country for the 8th Summit of the Americas which is being attended by more than 40 world leaders including US President Barack Obama and Cuba’s head of government Raúl Castro.

There were many twists and turns to the story of the world-famous canal which dramatically reduced the time for ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and made it possible to avoid the lengthy, hazardous Cape Horn route around southernmost tip of South America via the Drake Passage or Strait of Magellan. It was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken.

France started the canal, but the United States took over in 1904, 23 years later, and took a decade to complete it. The US handed over the canal to the Panamanian government in 1999, and it is now managed and operated by the Panama Canal Authority. Annual traffic has risen from about 1000 ships in 1914 when the canal was officially opened to 14,702 in 2008.

Reports state that the US government spent US$375M (roughly equivalent to US$8,600,000,000 now) to construct the canal.

The US invaded Panama in December 1989. The invasion was called Operation Just Cause. It occurred during the administration of US President George HW Bush and ten years after the Torrijos-Carter treaties were ratified to transfer control of the canal from the United States to Panama by January 1, 2000.

During the invasion, de facto Panamanian leader and dictator, General Manuel Noriega was deposed, President-elect Guillermo Endara sworn into office and the Panamanian Defence Force dissolved.

Hundreds of persons are now engaged in the expansion programme.

Yours faithfully,

Oscar Ramjeet