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At the Panama Canal, Mira Flores Visitors
Centre, there is a large wall mural which has the following
inscription:
“CANAL HEROES - They came from many places and spoke different
languages. Bringing with them nothing but their desire to work
and their hopes, they came together to build the engineering
feat that still marvels the world. Most came from Barbodas,
but also from Martinique, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Jamaica.
Spanish, Italians, Greeks, HINDUS (capitals mine - early Sikh
immigrants were called Hindoos in USA also), Americans, Armenians,
Cubans, Costa Ricans, Colombians and Panaminians also contributed
to the effort. They managed to understand each other, started
families, made fortunes and exalted the country”.
The mural shows some turbaned workers. The story of early Sikh
Immigrants to Panama is connected with the construction of the
Canal 1904-14 by the US Government. There seems to be no evidence
that Sikh workers were involved in the earlier effort by the
French in 19th century which had to be given up. The Central
and South American Sikh migration is intertwined with Panama
because of its strategic location. Post completion of the Canal,
some restrictions were imposed on foreign workers. Sikhs had
to look for new job avenues. Some of them became peddlers called
‘pheri’ and others started driving locally assembled
small pick-ups called ‘cheevas’. Some of them left
for other Latin American countries such as Brazil and Argentina.
Others returned home either temporarily or permanently. I was
told that about 10-20 Singhs are presently working with the
Canal as Director, Pilot or in IT Department. There does not
seem to be much recent immigration
An impressive Gurdwara was inaugrated in 1986 and the present
President is a Sindhi. During my visit on a Sunday about 100
people attended, only a handful with turbans. Gurdwara’s
constitution is registered as "La Sociedad Civica Guru
Nanak Sahib". One of the Sikh immigrants owns “Sher
e Punjab” farm not far from Panama City.
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