Is Relocating Worth It for Jamaicans in Panama?

Vanessa’s experiences offer valuable insights for anyone, especially Jamaicans in Panama, considering a move to this vibrant country.

Stay tuned because we have a truly engaging episode ahead for you, highlighting stories about Jamaicans in Panama and their vibrant contributions to the community.

She’s a business owner with Afro-Caribbean roots from Jamaica, and she has many exciting events coming up very soon that you’ll hear more about in this podcast episode.

Why Panama? Vanessa’s Journey

Vanessa, thank you so much for joining us on Life Abroad Panama. How are you today?

I am well. Thank you for having me.

Thank you so much for coming here. So, the first thing I want to talk to you about is what’s on everyone’s mind: out of all the places in the world, why Panama? What has brought you to Panama? Can you tell me a bit about that?

All right, so my story, which is what I tell everybody, is a little bit different from most people that are coming here. To make a long story short, I was working in Corporate America and a situation arose, and I was just like, «F this. I need to get out of here, I need to get out of here.» My parents at the time had already opened up a business, which is the beauty supply store—the first beauty supply store ever in Panama that is for people of color, people with textured hair, owned by a Panamanian, especially a Panamanian from Colón. We were the first to ever do that, and they wanted to expand. So, the opportunity arose for me to come to Panama to help them expand on the business.

I was just like, «You know what? I have nothing to lose.» On top of that, when I left… I don’t know if you know who Trayvon Martin is, but in America, there was a case with a young teenager that was Black and was in Miami in a gated community where he was visiting his father. He ended up being gunned down innocent, and the person who did the killing got off. When I saw that, I was just like, «Wow, this is the climate of America. I have a young Black boy, a son, and I wanted to give my son the opportunity at a normal life where he wasn’t judged because of the color of his skin.»

Now, I’m not going to say that racism does not exist in Panama because racism exists everywhere in the world, but there’s something different about Panama when it comes to it. Here in Panama, a lot of people are mixed. It’s more of a… I wouldn’t say racist, but it’s a classist country.

Setting Up in Panama

The situation set up… I already had an ID, you know, my cédula, so there were things that would have just been a lot easier for me versus if I would have gone to any other country. And when I came here, this was not the popular thing. When I left, people were saying, «Why would you leave America to go to Panama?» So now that I see a lot of people, especially younger people, coming to Panama, I’m like, «Oh wow, that’s cool.» But when I left, that was not a popular thing, and people were like, «Oh, you’re making life…»

It’s so interesting that you say to me that you’ve not experienced that racism in America in Panama, whereas you can talk to the next American, and they can tell you stories of back home, or even people from the UK, they can tell you their experiences. So, it’s so interesting that you’re saying that because that might be at the top of a lot of people’s minds when they’re thinking about coming to a new place—like, how will people treat me?

Starting a Business in Panama

You set up a business in Panama. Can you tell me more about that and how long ago was that as well?

Before I get into this, I want to tell you something and touch back on this. The first time I experienced racism in America, I was in second grade. So, age seven years old.

Seven? And you can remember that?

I remember it like it was yesterday. We were in the park and a white man was driving in a car, and he screamed out, «F you, you little…»

Wow.

Yeah, I was seven years old. That always stuck with me. My mom worked in finance. She ended up losing her job because of the World Trade Center, and also her boss was doing illegal trading. Everyone that was under her, even though she wasn’t doing anything wrong, ended up getting fired. Because of her age and not going to college, she struggled to find new opportunities.

…My dad was like, «Why does it make any sense for you to do this? You’re not making any money.» She decided to take out money from her 401K and open a beauty supply store, initially in Florida. But due to challenges in the U.S., the opportunity presented itself for us to open the business here in Panama.

She started with one store in El Chorrillo, which is considered «the hood.» But as the store grew, she opened another in Los Pueblos and eventually in Los Andes Mall. Being pioneers in this market was a mix of challenges and triumphs.

Colón’s History and Community

Colón has a rich Black history, with many Caribbean settlers who contributed to the canal. It’s part of what shaped the community and its entrepreneurial spirit. Jamaicans in Panama played a key role in building the Panama Canal and continue to influence the vibrant culture and history of the region.

Panama has its challenges—you need an open mind and persistence to succeed, but it’s worth the effort for those who stick to it.

Final Thoughts

So inspirational! Vanessa’s story is a testament to the opportunities Panama offers to those who embrace its culture and challenges with determination. The experiences of Jamaicans in Panama illustrate the importance of resilience and adaptation in building a better future.

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