Tag Archives: Silver-cemeteries

The Silver People Law – Join Us to Defend Our National Patrimony

Image: One of the helpful functionaries at Participación Ciudadana explaining to me the series of steps our Proyecto de Ley would go through.

Our Bill or Proyecto de Ley #348 will be up for a very important debate next week and we are calling for people to support us with their presence.

This past Tuesday morning I was cited by the Asamblea Nacional de Panamá Permanent Commission to appear on next Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 10 A.M at the Budget Commission (Comisión de Presupuesto) to make a presentation defending our projected Law# 348 (Proyecto de Ley #348) Declaring Patrimonio Histórico the 3 cemeteries on the Banks of the Panama Canal and Black Canal Zone, Corozal (Silver), Gatún, Mount Hope (Monte Esperanza) in Colon. Continue reading

National Memory

The beginning of November in Panama always marks the start of Patriot Month, the celebration of Panama’s independence from Colombian rule.  It is also no accident that the 3rd of November celebration comes a day after All Soul’s Day or El Día de los Difuntos, the day to honor our dead. Continue reading

The Silver People Law- We Are Closer to Victory

The Honorable Legislators who make up the Comission on Culture, Education and Sports.

This is me in only my preliminary arguments for our Silver People Law.

The Press, of course, insisted on an interview.

Our joy and sense of satisfaction received a giant boost this past Tuesday, August 2, 2011 when we answered a citation of the Permanent Commission on Education and Culture of the Asamblea Nacional de Panamá prepared to make our presentation in 1st Debate. Continue reading

2010 in Review

Happy New Year

In several respects this year has been especially satisfying for us at the Silver People Chronicle. We have many things to be thankful for- many things we have accomplished despite the universal tendency to forget the historic accomplishments of a little known Panamanian people- The Silver People- although their contribution was largely responsible for Panama’s thriving economy today. Continue reading

Escaping Segregation in Death

This image represents the grand celebration
of light that is observed in Presov, Slovakia.
This is how we all should celebrate All Soul’s Day
in the Americas in memory of our beloved
ancestors who worked to leave us the best of all
possible worlds. Image is from: www.iarelative.com

I learned a great deal from Miss Polly and her experiences, especially about death and dying. Since my grandmother’s retirement my Aunt Berenice had lost her first (and only) child and no one talked about the infant or my two deceased uncles Eric and Vicente or where they were buried, much less go visit the graves of these young men who had long ago become part of that Black Canal Zone. I used to watch how the Black Westindian people buried their dead and congregated during the funeral for any and all spiritual gifts from any kind of church or organization that might have presided. Continue reading

Learning From Observing

Even today the “Silver Cemetery” at Corozal remains segregated.
In the foreground is the Silver side of the cemetery, in the background,
divided by the cyclone fencing, is the American “Gold” Roll cemetery.
 
The radio shows of the times made me into the individual that I am today. The abuse of my person by my relatives had come so early in my life and continued for so long after that I made every attempt to avoid them as much as I could. I often retreated into the world of radio personalities and shows to try to forget the periodic pummel-lings I would receive. Our neighbors and the people from the neighborhood around me also became my source of solace.  Continue reading