LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating 112 years of Panamanian Independ-
ence from Spain on November 3, 2015

WHEREAS, Prior to Spanish colonization, Panama was inhabited by the
Cuevas and Coele tribes who were largely decimated by disease and fight-
ing upon arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s; and
WHEREAS, The Spanish came to Panama in pursuit of gold and other valu-
ables; the first to land in Panama was Rodrigo de Bastidas, and one year
later, Christopher Columbus, who established a short-lived settlement in
the Darien; and
WHEREAS, The first trans-Panamanian trek by Vasco Nunez de Balboa
proved that the Isthmus was the path between the seas and would be for
centuries to come; and
WHEREAS, Panama became the path for gold and silver which were hauled
by ship from South America, by land across the Isthmus and then
reshipped to Spain; this route became known as the Camino Real, the
Royal Road, though it was more commonly known as the Road of the Cross-
es; and
WHEREAS, Panama would remain a part of the Spanish empire for more
than 300 years and their identity would be based on the sense of
"geographic destiny"; the Isthmus was of paramount importance to Spain
and the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS, On November 28, 1821, Panama was liberated from Spain, but
was assumed under Colombian rule; and
WHEREAS, Between 1880 and 1890, a French company under Ferdinand de
Lesseps made an unsuccessful attempt to construct a sea-level canal
where the U.S. developed canal now sits; and
WHEREAS, On November 3, 1903, Panama entered the Hay/Bunau-Varilla
treaty with the United States which granted a significant right-of-way
to a zone 10 miles wide and 50 miles long in which the canal was
dredged, operated and fortified by U.S. forces; and
WHEREAS, Signing the November 3, 1903, treaty with the United States
occurred parallel to a proclamation of separation from Colombia, known
as "Separation Day" in Panama; Panama also celebrates the anniversary of
their independence from Spain on November 28th; and
WHEREAS, Many Panamanians have made New York their home, and this
Legislative Body is justly proud to thank the Panamanian people for
their contributions to this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate 112 years of Panamanian Independence from Spain on November
3, 2015.