Belize at 44: Honoring the Struggle Behind the Independence

It’s officially September, and you know what that means, Belize is in celebration mode. The full lineup of national events is out, and it’s all happening under the powerful theme: ‘Belize at Forty-four, Stronger Together, Rising Forever.’ Now sure, we all love the music, the dancing, and the Carnival Road March, but September is also about patriotism. It’s a time for reflection, unity, and national pride. In tonight’s edition of Five Point Break Down, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes us beyond the festivities to explore what the September Celebrations truly mean, from the rich history and cultural roots to the impact on our economy. Here’s that report.

 

1). The Historical Significance of September

 Paul Lopez, Reporting

September 21st, 1981, is a date etched in Belizean history. That’s when the Union Jack was lowered, and for the very first time, the Belizean flag was proudly raised, marking our birth as an independent nation. But the journey to independence didn’t start there. It stretches back centuries, to the days of European colonization and the Battle of Saint George’s Caye in 1798. Fast forward to the early 1900s, and Belizeans were already pushing for self-governance, riding the wave of global decolonization. At the heart of that movement was the Right Honorable George Cadle Price, the man we now call the Father of the Nation. Through years of tough negotiations and tireless diplomacy, Belize finally broke free from British rule with a vision of unity, resilience, and national pride.

 

2). Community and National Unity

 Today, across Belize, citizens celebrate the month of September with national pride and as one people. Whether it’s participating in the carnival road march or taking time to reflect on how far Belize has come over the last forty-four years, September has a meaning for everyone.

 

Belize City Resident #1

“September dah celebration month. So September makes everybody come together as a family. We enjoy the carnival, the September tenth St .George Caye dah wah important day and so we have the twenty-first, Independence Day as well. So September is a month that everybody come together, have fun and celebrate.”

 

Belize City Resident #2

“It means my history, my past, it is about the future, the obstacles, the challenges, what we are going to face in the future. So it means something very patriotic, deep.”

 

Belize City Resident #3

“People the have fun, joy and carnival the come, watch yah, we the look out to see. Watch deh pretty girls weh the dance. We dah man and man, and Belize blessed. Belize dah wah jewel, Belize dah wah jewel.”

 

3) The Economic Impact

It’s not all flags and festivities, September also brings serious business opportunities too. From the Carnival Road March to the Belize Market Place Expo, these events are a chance for entrepreneurs to cash in while celebrating national pride. Take Francisco Gonzalez, for example. He’s been running his street-side shop for over a decade, selling everything from flags to September-themed merch. For vendors like him, this season is about patriotism and turning a profit.

 

Francisco Gonzalez, Entrepreneur

“I got big flags, I got bags, horns, mirror covers, small flag for kids, big flag for kids, I sell the things for your head, the things you tie around your head and I have good prices on my things, because I have to turn over to make something you understand.”

 

4). The Cultural Expression

 For fifty years, the Carnival Road March has been the heartbeat of Belize’s September celebrations, bringing music, movement, and pure energy to the streets. But did you know it all started as a way to ramp up the festivities around St. George’s Caye Day? Fast forward to today, and it’s one of the most anticipated events on the calendar. It’s about the costumes and the rhythm, but it’s also about culture and creativity. Artists like Ernestine Carballo play a huge role in setting the tone. Her latest track, “Stronger Together,” is a celebration of Belize’s rich history and vibrant heritage.

 

Ernestine Carballo, Belizean Artist

“Right before the carnival takes place you can put that in the speaker box and pump it or pump it in whatever festivities is taking place, you can pump it on the tv for your commercial, you can pump it on the airwaves, cause the children can listen and enjoy, all the young in heart could dance and shake a leg to the song, because it has that flavor with the Garifuna drums and everything.”

 

5). Looking Ahead to Another Four Decades

 As the nation looks forward to countless September celebrations, youth voices are important to shape the future. And that is why the September Celebrations Committee has carved out a day on the celebrations calendar to host a National Youth Creative Idea Summit, an avenue for youths to reflect on the nation’s achievement and present ideas for future development.

 

Kim Vasquez, Member, National Celebrations Committee

“When you talk about Belize at forty-four, it really helps you to stop and just reflect, where we are with arts, culture, with economic development, with our growth as a nation. It is always important for us to celebrate, but we remember the road to independence and along that road we have had patriots and national builders.”

 

Whether you’re jumping up in the Carnival Road March or sitting down for a serious forum on Belize’s journey, it’s quite obvious, September brings us together. It’s a time when Belizeans show that we’re stronger as one, and these celebrations create the perfect space for that unity to shine. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.