About

The Corozal, Gatun, Mount Hope Cemetery Preservation Foundation (CGM) is a non-profit organization founded in 2017 by proud descendants of the Antillean diggers, other laborers, and their families, who sacrificed their lives during the construction and maintenance of both the Panama Railroad (1850 - 1855) and the Panama Canal (1904 - 1914). We believe our ancestors deserve recognition, respect, and a peaceful and dignified rest.  Thus, through this organization, we give voice to those who are no longer with us in this life, but are always in our hearts, minds, and souls.  The Foundation was born out of a dire need to bring light to the condition of these three ancestral burial grounds and to spearhead their continued maintenance, restoration, and preservation through widespread community action and the commitment of government entities, including the Ministerio de Cultura (Departmento de Patrimonio) and the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP). Thanks to the determination of Roberto and Lydia Reid, the three cemeteries were designated historical landmarks. In ​2012, under Law 7 in the Republic of Panama.   Despite this legal protection, the cemeteries have been woefully neglected.  CGM is committed to raising awareness, advocating for, and providing guidance and support to community members and government entities in Panama that share our belief that the lives and legacies of our ancestors matter too.