The canal behind the expansion – La Estrella de Panama

About 9:20 am, beginning the act of recognition to workers Panama Canal expansion in the auditorium of the Convention Center Ascanio Arosemena, especially decorated for the occasion with posters with the faces of men he and women.

‘Some 1,300 workers Canal worked in the expansion work, which although not the world’s most expensive project is the largest global impact “said Jorge Luis Quijano, administrator Panama Canal authority (ACP), on arrival at the event.

Workers

• the expansion program also included the participation of contractors.
• Nearly 40 thousand people, including workers Grupo Unidos por el Canal, the Panama Canal Authority and other contractors, participated in the works expansion of the route through a third set of locks.

the curtain opened with the participation of Deputy Administrator of the ACP, Manuel Benitez, who makes 38 years began in the program apprentice electrician in the canal institution.

then the swimmer Cesar Barria spoke of his determination to succeed, even with its limitations after the accident in which he lost a leg, while congratulating workers.

Then it was the turn of the painter Olga Sinclair, for whom his relationship with the Canal is historic because his grandfather came to build and married a colonense.

‘Four months after the passage of steam Ancón born my father, Alfredo Sinclair, a person who always encouraged me and told me to believe in me, though my notes in art always were 2 and although when I started my career people said that my dad painted my paintings’.

Later, went on stage the writer Rosa María Britton, who mentioned that in three Panamanians, five are critical, and that the day of the inauguration of the way it is ‘running the manzanillos’ who voted for the new locks were not made and now want prominence.

Britton also said that with the stage of El Niño has prayed to arrive rains soon and operation of the road is not affected.

Step followed, the singer-songwriter Erika Ender made his appearance on stage and compared his role as a composer with the workers of the waterway, which have managed to successfully complete this work and whose faces are not visible, as in the case of songs that are hits in the voices of other artists.

Ender share a story about a song dedicated to enlargement, which it reflected the importance of the Canal to the Panamanians and held that together have accomplished a work of such magnitude.

the turn was for the Quijano administrator, who recalled that went to work to channel 40 years ago and many things have happened since then, including the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, the referendum and now enlargement. The road has not been easy, he acknowledged, but there are many people committed to the country, he said.

About Panamanians who did not approve the expansion of the Canal, he said that is a have convinced compliment to the small minority said she could not do.

on 26 June, will be inaugurated the new locks of the expanded canal, Cocolí and Agua Clara, ceremony were invited heads of state from around the world and presidents of major shipping companies using the services of the waterway.