I met the former US ambassador to Panama who served under the Carter administration and he told me of the heady times during the negotiations of the treaty.  While there are some who disagreed with Carter’s decision, this was the first step that Panama took on the path to its greatness.

The Panama Canal Award will be granted to the late nationalist general Omar Torrijos and the former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who signed the 1977 treaty that carries their names and returned the canal and its surroundings to Panama.

In the case of the ceremony for Torrijos, the action is scheduled for September 5 at the Canal Administration Building.

Although the Canal Authority board of directors made the decision on July 24 to grant the awards, it was not part of the official centennial celebrations on August 15, something that was highly criticized.

Now the administration has announced that the award will be granted as part of the festivities.

According to a press release from the Authority, the agreement was relayed by the board of directors to former leader Martin Torrijos Espino, currently the president of the foundation that carries his father’s name.

The release adds that the date for granting the same award to Carter will be announced later.

The Panama Canal award is the highest recognition offered by the Authority and consists of a certificate and 24k gold plated silver medal that carries a bas-relief of two half-open Canal locks with a ship awaiting passage, and the control house with lamp-posts over the walls of the locks.