Dear Mr. Baptiste,
It is with some deep concern that I write you this brief note.
For some years now I have been visiting the burial grounds of my grandparents and aunts and uncles at the Corozal Cemetery in Panama. With grief in my heart I have seen that we, the descendants of the Silver Men, have to continue to experience the segregated indignities of our forefathers. After successive visits since 1998 I have noticed time and again how the gradual deterioration and abandonment of what we know as our ancestors' resting place has become a reality. And yet, the portion of the cemetery that is known as the "Gold Roll" burial ground that is fenced off from the "Silver People's" section is kept, conserved and has been placed under the protection of the American Battlements Monuments Commission.
With this great concern for our cultural heritage on February 27, 2008 I contacted the World Monuments Fund for assistance. They immediately sent me a Request for Assistance form. I am encouraged with the possibilities of transforming our ancestral resting grounds into a World Cultural Monument for Humanity. After studying the WMF's forms I have embarked on obtaining support for this effort. I know that you, as an advocate of our people, will join me in supporting this idea and this endeavor.
I need from you letters of support from organizations and/or individuals. I have attached for expedience, a copy of a sample letter of support should it be more convenient for you or anyone who would support this effort.
Please understand that this movement would also involve actions by us, as a community, to combat the present threats to the sites (Corozal and Mount Hope- formerly know as "Monkey Hill") from inappropriate prior conservation efforts, inadequate maintenance, neglect and inadequate planning.
We hope to include in our plans for responsible stewardship of these important historic sites tourism management and a visitor education effort.
Hoping to hear from you with a positive response.
Su hermano,
Cobert Roberto A. Reid . see photos.of "gold" and "silver"cemeteries.
Hello Oswald:
Thanks so very much for your speedy reply to my request. As I stated in another email sent earlier tonight, I ran across a more detailed report regarding the discrimination against Afro-Americans in the Canal Zone; during the construction of the Canal. (National Archives.gov, Prologue Magazine Summer 1997Prologue: Special Issue on Federal Records and African American History) I realize that your informative Newsletter covers so many topics and space is at a premium. I believe that I had seen the article, I contacted you about earlier, appeared in the same issue which featured Profiles in Wisdom, Excellence and ourage featuring: Mr. Alfred Osborne, Mr. Edward Gaskin and Mr. George Westerman (May their souls rest in peace). Nevertheless, your Website has been an invaluable source of information and entertainment.
I wish you, your staff , membership and readership every success for your tremendous effort which is a source of inspiration to all.
Please give my best regards to Mr. Earl Watson and his wife who are dear and esteemed friends of our family.
Blessings, Alfred T. Soley
Let me start by saying how proud I am to see this site. I got it form my friend Mahogany's newsletter. Please keep up the good work. Our people need to be informed with a sense of pride for who they are. You are on the right track. I am the president and founder of a non-profit organization for women headquartered in New York. I am also Panamanian-born and from Colon. My father is a retired SDA minister and we lived in Colon for many years. This March my non-profit will be traveling to Panama to have a 2-day empowerment conference for women at the Riande Continental on March 22 and 23. We offer free counseling and 16 workshops on everytthig from domestic violence, self-esteem, finances, nutrition etc. One of our keynote speakers will be the Honorable Graciela Dixon. We are expecting to service 500 women from all walks of life. Currently we have about 80 women from Colon signed up to attend - we would love to have more. The conference fee is $65, however we here try to pick up scholarships to get more low-income women to attend. We would appreciate any form of adveritsements in Panama or connections about the event in Panama. Please visit our website and read more about what we do and who we are. http://international.4realwomen.com/ If you are interested in sponsoring some scholarships for Colon women and you have the names of these you can pay for the scholarships on the online sotre at our website send us the names od the women and let these ladies show up at the event. We will take care of them. You may also call me at 866-494=4794 ext 701 Sinceramente, Norka Blackman-Richards
Hail fellow Panamanians of West Indian descent,I congratulate you on the vision that you speak of so eloquently,I wish you the very best in all your endeavors and hope that you will be part of the glue that hold the "Decendants of the Builders "in place for generatios to come..We somehow lose the fact that without our Grandparent"s contribution to the building of the Panama Canal that country would not be one of the most important contributors to world commerce,hence making us, aside from being culturaly rich,a people whose legacy is in its infancy and therefore overwrought with infinite possibilities....I am from the Town of Paraiso and our heritage is a mirrowed image of each other's,My uncle was a school teacher in the Rainbow City High School,His name is Leslie Thomas ,who currently reside in Pilon....I say to you ,may the wind be at your backs in all the things that you aspire and is inspired to do.... I remain,Carlos E. Chambers.
Hello, My name is Shevon Welch. I am residing in Virginia in the United States. I currently attended my grandmother's funeral, Peggy Louise Westerman Welch. She was residing in Brooklyn, NY. In some of her pictures I noticed a newspaper article honoring Dr. Westerman in which Congresswoman Shirley Chisolhm spoke. I new that my Nana used to tell me when i was younger that Ms. Chisolhm was related to us because she was a St. Hill. I also knew that by looking at this article that Dr. Westerman had to be related to me from somehow because he had ancestory from Barbados and he was a Westerman. My grandmother's father was from Barbados and mixed with German so i was told. He is a Westerman and her mother was a St. Hill. My grand father Decoursey Welch parents were from Navis and St. Kitt island and I'm unsure of his parents names, however I do have pictures. They all moved to reside in brooklyn ny. I was writing to see if you were able to help me trace my heritage back and to find some of my relative possibly. booboo_24060@yahoo.com
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