Hilary Robertson-Hickling

Recalling the West Indian role in building the Panama Canal

The contribution of the West Indians to the building of the Panama Canal has largely been untold. In spite of the efforts of such researchers and writers as Olive Senior, Velma Newton and Annette Insanally to document and disseminate this information little is still known of the thousands who lost their lives and their health to participate in this great enterprise. To add insult to injury, black men earned silver, while white men earned gold to do the same work. The experience of the West Indian families who went to better themselves on this project and their participation in the subsequent development of Panama are still to be told.

Elections in Panama

'Fast forward' to the elections in Panama which have provided overwhelming support for the widening of the canal and all the excitement and opportunities which that will bring. The people of Panama face the prospect of raising the billions of dollars necessary for the project with the anticipation that the returns will more than justify the investment. Many Panamanians look forward to opportunities for employment and the growth of that economy. I hope that Jamaicans and other Caribbean nationals will have the opportunity to work on what will now be a high-tech effort and hope that our highly-skilled people will be able to participate in this new phase of this technological feat. I hope that the lessons of history will not be repeated and that all will get the same pay for the same work.

This links with the issue of the disgraceful way in which law-abiding Jamaicans are being treated by the government of Cayman in relation to the immigration issues of work permits and residency. It is high time that law-abiding people should be treated fairly in the countries in which they legitimately sell their goods and services. However, while we recognise that people will always go to seek their fortunes wherever the opportunities arise, we have to recognise the frustration of many Jamaicans who, like a recent University of the West Indies graduate wrote a letter in this newspaper expressing her frustration at being unable to find work here. When the economy of our country is not growing at the necessary rate, our people become frustrated and leave, then the countries to which they are going treat them with scorn and contempt. A prosperous Jamaica will result in others having greater respect for us.

Illegal immigration

The issue of illegal immigration further clouds that of legal immigration around the world. The situation in the U.S.A. is so charged that many Americans are committed to the expulsion and criminalisation of the 12 million illegal aliens who are now resident in the country. The issue is poised to be a bitter and contentious one in the mid-term elections which are coming shortly. The issue of migration is a very vexed one in the world where globalisation is having an impact on all phases of our lives.

As Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union The United Kingdom has placed quota restrictions on nationals of those countries coming into that country.

Disappointment and disgust have been expressed about the matter and the manner in which the British government has acted. The need for migration to be managed is becoming more urgent every day or it will appear that there is a lack of justice and transparency in the matter of migration.

Hilary Robertson-Hickling is a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies, University of the West Indies, Mona.