Panamanians gather in Brooklyn to honor Afro-Panamanian women, back Torrijos

More than 200 Panamanians gathered in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, March 27, at a fundraising reception in support of the presidential candidacy of Martín Torrijos of the Revolutionary Democratic Party and Popular Party of Panama. The affair, In Celebration of Afro-Panamanian Women, was held at Luntey Commons, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus.

The event was sponsored by Panama Vote 2004, a group of Panamanian residents of New York City and headed by Dr. George Priestley, Queens College political science professor. Proceeds went toward the presidential campaign of Martín Torrijos Espino.

The group made it a point to honor all Afro-Panamanian women, presenting each woman in attendance with a long stem rose. The evening's highlights were keynotes by three prominent, Afro-descendant Panamanian professional women: Journalist Onida Coward-Mayers, Dr. Anjanette Ferris, and Judge Shawndya Simpson.

"I am very proud of my heritage and my homeland," said Mayers, who acknowledged the thousands of Caribbean people who arrived in Panama at the turn of the century "to build someone else's country and canal." With 18 years in the media, Mayers's many accomplishments include spearheading Brooklyn's first and only local television station.

"Women of Panama have made great contributions in Panama and the United States," said Dr. Ferris. "Panama is a country rich with history, fine people, fine food and lots of love," she said. Ferris, a clinical fellow in cardiology in New York City, is committed to heart disease awareness. Last year she was nominated for physician of the year at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.

Judge Simpson was elected a Brooklyn's Civil Court judge on November 4, 2003 --- coincidentally, the day after the 100th anniversary of Panama's independence. "Panama's values made me who I am today," she said. She congratulated the organizers and encouraged the assembly to "get involved in politics to effect change."

"The Afro-Panamanian woman can do anything she puts her mind to; she is resilient and invincible," said Simpson.

In his address to the audience, Dr. Priestley shared a letter from Martín Torrijos with the audience, and explained why Panama Vote 2004 was supporting his presidential candidacy. Priestley said "[W]e want to exercise our rights as legitimate Panamanians by securing the Absentee Ballot or El Voto en el Exterior, and Martín has promised to deliver on this demand. Second, we want to effectively influence the economic, political and cultural development of Panama, our country which seems to have lost its way, and he has agreed to set up a High Level Commission, with representatives from the Afro-Panamanian community residing in the United States to deal with this demand. Dr. Priestley concluded his remarks by making reference to Martín Torrijosí concept of a New Motherland. He said "[a]s a redemptive concept Patria Nueva or New Motherland should be constructed in such a way that it rejects all of the racist discourse and discriminatory practices of the present and past --- particularly those committed against our fellow indigenous and black populations in Panama, and principally against Afro-Panamanian women.

Also in this section:
Jackson, Constitutions and popular sovereignty
Bernal, Standing up to a university inquisition
Committee to Protect Journalists, Eisenmann's case
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, Taking stock on March 8, 2004
Caribbean Community, Heads of state weigh in on Haiti
Panama Vote 2004, NY Panamanians honor Afro-Panamanian women, back Torrijos
Fisher, Scarlet Letters

opinion

NY Panamanians honor Afro-Panamanian
women, urge vote for Martín Torrijos

opinion

NY Panamanians honor Afro-Panamanian women, urge vote for Martín Torrijos

NY Panamanians honor Afro-Panamanian
women, urge vote for Martín Torrijos