Worse thing Jimmy Carter did was give up the Canal Zone. As a bumper sticker in 1979 said..
“JIMMY CARTER! BEST PRESIDENT PANAMA EVER HAD!”
In 1990, on Amidor, by the sea before the start of the causeway, there was a fountain to friendship the US and Panama that was dry, over grown with weeds and abandoned by both. It was fitting symbol for the time of the relationship between the too countries.
It still seems strained today, but the new leadership may change that. The parliament is likely still full of folks enamored with China and socialism or at least china’s money. Other than the skyscrapers and new buildings I wonder if thier is any change for the people.
I still don’t think the poor and middle class folks there live any better than they did 30 years ago.