Friday was Independence Day and here in the city it seemed the celebration was bigger than ever. The night started with a fireworks display at 10 pm. And at midnight, the Belize flag went up for the 26th time. The following morning the same dignitaries, with a few notable exceptions – the opposition leader had an especially long handshake for national hero George Price and the guest of honor, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. But the ceremony had to wait for this – a skydiver bringing down the Belizean flag, received by Chairman of the September Celebrations Committee Godfrey Smith. And from that amusing diversion, it was unto the Independence Day addresses by political leaders,
Hon. Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Belzie fi all a wi? Not completely, not totally. Not as long as there are still huge pockets of unemployed poor, of alienated youths, of marginalized single mothers. Not as long as on the south side of Belize City and in too many district towns young men continue to drop like flies and murder most foul stalks the land. And that is why finally this particular independence celebration is so important. It is the last before the next occurrence of that five yearly event that is the fullest expression of our democracy. I am talking naturally of free and fair general elections. General elections that will come by March. General elections that I think will mark the end of an era, the lifting of the long nightfall, the beating back of the Gemini curse of incompetence and corruption.”
And while Barrow focused on the negatives of the Musa administration, Prime Minister Said Musa attacked what he called a spirit of cynicism.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
“Cynicism is a luxury we cannot afford. Negativity drains the human spirit, it paralyzes when as a people we need positive energy to keep on working, moving forward. No turning back. If George Price had yielded to the paroxysm of cynicism that rocked Belize in 1981, he would never have led us to independence. We must never be wary of daily sipping at the poisonous propaganda of cynicism and doubt. A people’s morale and self-confidence must be lifted, their potential enlarged not dampened and crushed. In 26 years we have proven that as a people we are capable of self-government, capable of making difficult choices and capable of adapting to changing times.”
From there it was unto the official parade, which featured political personalities from both sides; marching bands, scores of flags, thousands of students, and a big bad jump up behind Kenny Gladden.
