In this part of the interview we were discussing the canal treaties (Torrijos- Carter Treaty signed in 1977) and whether or not they supported the canal belonging to Panama. Given that many West Indians worked for the American run canal at the time, I wondered how they felt about the Treaties, especially those who lived in the Zone (American owned housing). In these questions I try to pay particular attention to the use of pronouns (ours, theirs, we, they, us, your etc.) as my interviewees navigate questions about being West Indian (or of west indian descent) under American employment (Canal/Canal Zone) in the country of Panama.
Multiple people have commented on the mangoes trees that grew in the Canal Zone. The stories say: American soldiers would not allow Panamanians to gather the mangoes. In a show of power, the soldiers would rather let them rot on the ground than permit children (or adults) to take them from the Zone back to Panama. OR the recurring comment about mobility and access to the Zone "you could get arrested just for picking a mango up from the ground!"
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When the treaty came, in spite, despite the fact that I was in a good job, I was actually now almost getting to my tool masters license. I was in a good job in the Canal Zone. With all that the future could project for that, somehow I felt very strongly that Panama deserved to have the treaty. And so when there was a campaign for the treaty and it was time to vote and I could vote. I voted “yes” for the treaty. Which was not the common thing. (I was going to ask!) for those living in the Canal Zone, for those working on the Canal. (even non-Americans?) Non Americans yes! Americans of course. Well American could not vote. But Panamanian, the host of them ,would probably reject the treaty because the treat project to the idea of Panama taking over. And a lot of folks rejected that thought. I didn’t for some reason. I clearly identify, or I identify with the idea that Panama should have the Canal. So I voted yes. I was really happy.
I was worried, however, about whether or not it would work out well. I remember voting yes and I remember the day that it was finally been when it was implementation of the treaty. September 19-- no. October 1, 1979 was going to actually take place. And I remember sitting at the television set and watching the ceremony here in Amador. Watching Torrijos walking around and watching all of the movements and folks and all of the reporters going into the areas now that were now ours and I am saying, I am sitting here saying, geez. I wonder if this is going to be for the best. I wonder if it will be for the best. I voted for it. I believe it should But I wonder if this will be for the best.
And the reporter was interviewing folks. And I was kind of just oh geez. What is this person going to say. And they would ask “what do you feel?" You know the common question. How do you feel about this and how do you feel about that? You know," I feel great! It’s great this, it’s great that." But nobody, but there is nothing that really hits me about anything that has been said.
Then he turned to a boy. A little child. Maybe about 7 or 8 years old. And I am thinking, what is he going to ask this child?! What can a child say about this? So he says to the child, "what does this day mean for you?" And I am thinking what can this child say. And he said "It means from this day on, it means I can get all of the mangoes I feel. All of the mangoes I want. "
And I was sitting in my chair and I jumped and I shouted, "yes!! Yes!!" Because that is really what I wanted the treaty to represent. It meant you could now come in and you could be a part of this is yours, and you are going to get a benefit for it.
