About Us

In 1998, the Association was legally constituted in Panama, with the name of “Association of Employees and Retired Personnel of the Panama Canal and Military Bases of the United States in Panama, recognized under Resolution No. 1998-PJ-103 of the Ministry of Government and Justice. Subsequently, at the request of the Association itself, the Ministry of Government and Justice, through Resolution No. 374-PJ-214 of November 15, 2000, changes its name to “Association of Retirees of the Canal Area – AJAC”.

The Association of Retirees of the Canal Area (AJAC), called The Association, is made up of retirees from the agencies of the Government of the United States who operated in the Republic of Panama until December 1999, when their closure occurred. and the Panama Canal passed to the Panamanian Government. The members have to be subscribed in the Health Plan, which operates under the sponsorship of the Office of Personnel Administration (OPM) in Washington, DC, United States of America. Apart from the retired members, they also include pensioners, and the surviving beneficiaries of the retired members, as long as they maintain a subscription in the Health Plan.

The Office of the Personnel Management of the United States (OPM) contributes to the Health Plan of the Panama Canal Area, 75%, and members contribute 25%.

In 1959, Public Law No. 86-382 established the coverage program for the 9 million employees of the Government of the United States of America, which included the employees of the Panama Canal.

On the first (1st) of July 1960, the Health Plan for employees of the Panama Canal, known as the Canal Zone Benefit Plan, was initiated. As of the year 1960, the workers of the Panama Canal and the Military Bases of the United States of America constituted a non-profit association, recognized by the Federal Government of the United States of America, called “Group Insurance Board”, through Contract No. 1066 of June 28, 1960. Since its foundation, and in accordance with the aforementioned contract, the Board has dedicated itself to the supervision and administration of the group benefits and health plans of its contributors and beneficiaries. “In the beginning, Gorgas Hospital was used in Panama City, and the Hospitals of Cristobal and Coco Solo. When Cristobal closed in Colón due to the approval of the Panama Canal”.

Due to the approval of the Panama Canal Treaties, “Torrijos-Carter Treaties” in 1977, the Commission of the Panama Canal, federal body of the government of the United States of America, disappeared on January 2000.

The first President of the “Group Insurance Board”, for 5 periods of 4 years each, was William Sullivan. Afterwards, for 4 periods of 4 years, Mr. Walter Bottin took the Chair. During the 9 periods of 4 years, the Board of Directors was composed of 25 members, 20 chosen by vote and 4 appointed by the groups of Retired Persons who had a voice but no vote. The President was appointed by the Canal Commission, which put the structure, the legal department, audit and the secretary.

In 1997 elections were held to select a Board of Directors for the transition period of 2 years, January 1999 to December 31, 2000. It is in this period that the number of members of the Board of Directors is reduced, being made up of only 13 directors, of whom 10 were chosen by votes of the active members and 3 directors appointed by the groups of retired people with voice and vote. In the first regular meeting internal elections were held for the positions of President , Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In this period, Mr. Julio Cisneros, served as President and called for the first time general elections to choose the new Board of Directors through the vote of all the active members of the new Association of Retirees of the Canal Area .

In the year 2000, elections were held, the 13 members who obtained the most votes to form the Board of Directors were chosen. The management periods of 4 years are restarted. At their first meeting the directors elected Mr. Mario López as President of the Association for the period January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2004.

The current Association of Retirees of the Canal Area (AJAC) was instituted the first of June 1999, under the name of Association of Employees and Retired Personnel of the Panama Canal and Military Bases.