Giant ship makes first voyage through new expanded Panama Canal

[Judi Lynn]

1. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jimmy Carter congratulates Panama on a “superb job."

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jimmy Carter congratulates Panama on a “superb job."


Panama inaugurated larger new canal locks on Sunday, doubling the capacity of the strategic waterway. Carter says history proves he was right to sign the historic 1977 treaties that gave Panama control of the canal.



Por: David Adams
Publicado: jun 26, 2016 | 03:06 PM EDT

When president Jimmy Carter signed the Panama Canal treaties in 1977 handing over control of the strategic waterway, he came under heavy criticism from conservatives at home for a risky give-away of what many considered a vital U.S. asset.

Now, almost 40 years later, as Panama inagurates a massive $5 billion expansion of the canal's locks to accomodate larger ships, Carter says he is proud of his decision to begin the process of giving Panama back its full sovereignty.

"I’m excited and pleased and very grateful that the Panamanians have done such a superb job, not only in operating the canal but in increasing its revenue and at the same time expanding its capacity," Carter told Univison News in an exclusive phone interview on the eve of Sunday's inauguration of the new locks.

"They’ve just exceeded my own very high expectations on how well they have taken care of the canal and used it properly," he said.

More:
http://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/exclusive-interview-jimmy-carter-congratulates-panama-on-a-superb-job