Panama threw a massive celebration on Tuesday 🎊, marking the 25th anniversary of taking control of the iconic Panama Canal from the United States! 🌊🚢
Can you believe it? For nearly a century, the U.S. operated the canal after inaugurating it back in 1914. But on December 31, 1999, everything changed when Panama officially took the reins. 🙌🇵🇦
It all kicked off with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, signed on September 7, 1977, by Panama's General Omar Torrijos and then U.S. President Jimmy Carter. This historic agreement ended 85 years of the colonial enclave known as the Panama Canal Zone. ✍️🤝
Fast forward to today, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino stood proudly on the steps of the Panama Canal Administration Building. He declared, \"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.\" 🌐❤️
Mulino emphasized that the canal is, and must continue to be, \"the canal of our Panamanians, for Panamanians, at the world's service but above all for Panamanians mainly.\" 🇵🇦💖
Back on December 31, 1999, this very building was the site of the official handover from the U.S. to Panama, led by then President Mireya Mosco. It's been an incredible journey since then! 🚀
Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez Morales highlighted the amazing achievements over the past 25 years, including the canal's expansion and construction of the Third Set of Locks, which began operating in 2016. Talk about progress! ⚙️🌉
During the ceremony, a special moment happened when Miguel Guerra, the first Panamanian hired by the Panama Canal after the 1999 handover, received Panama's Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa from Mulino. Such an inspiration! 🏅👏
Cheers to Panama for 25 years of sovereignty over the Panama Canal! Here's to many more years of success and pride. 🎊🇵🇦
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
