Afro Panamanian Women stand out within Bicentennial

As part of the celebrations of the Bicentennial of Independence of Panama of Spain, the Ministry of Government (MINGOB) organized an event with recognition of the inputs and merits of 16 "influential Afro-Panamanian" and with the special guest to participate in the ceremony as the Minister of Culture (MiCultura) and President of the National Bicentennial Commission, Carlos Aguilar Navarro.

Among the ladies distinguished by the MINGOB were: Opel De Ycaza, at Highlights Youth and Electra Isabel Castillo in the category of Art and Culture, both partners from MiCultura.

Also, Alma Montenegro was distinguished from Fletcher and Guillermina Mc Donald, in Law and Political Science, Idania Dowman, in Art and Culture, Atheyna Bylon, Gloria Quintana and Natalia Kanem in the International Projection category and Itzel Slocum from Hewitt, recognized as Health and Science.

Also awarded were Jacqueline Esther Hurtado Payne and Ibeth Navas Jaramillo, at Political Leadership, Agatha Williams and Mayanín Rodriguez Caicedo, at Academic Trajectoria, Eunice Meneses, Aristela Blandón "Mma Ari," and Mizar A. Powell at Highlights Youth.

The incumbent of Culture, after his address to the 16 recognized Panamanian people, stated that "you represent history and today," and that his office of Government became light with this act of recognition to "Influent Afro-panamies, because they are" women who have taken the torch as heirs and as a generational relief from an ancestral legacy that continues to grow through you to transmit with his example to the new and future of the Panamanian nation. "

"Each dream reached is inspiration for the girls and young people who look at you, who also wish to draw their own voice in history, from the family or professional womb, all are important," added the headline of MiCultura.

Opel De Icaza, Chief of Staff of the Superior Office, who was recognised as an "Highlights Youth" recognized that "Afro-descendant women are the pillars of my hope and the teachers of my resilience for challenges to be met."

"There are still many challenges to be challenges that we have to face with the issue of discrimination, racism and the cultural identity of ethnicity," added De Icaza.

For his part Electra Castillo, who was outstanding in the category of Art and Culture, held that she filled with emotion that "to see this tribute as a recognition of skin but for the family's legacy and family name." "It's to feel that she's walking.

He challenges knowing that one comes from a fighting family and how important his status and his government have been, as we are always looking after the honor and name of his roots, "Castillo said.

To the Jazz Lady, Idania Dowman, also recognized as an art and culture category, "this indicates that I have been working with the right thing, inspiring me to continue to work, as most beautiful as there were people I grew up watching, admiring his activity and now I'm sharing with them."

At the event a video was shown showing the contribution of Afro-descendant women in the 200 years of Spanish Panama's independence.