Former PM Said Musa Calls September 10th a “Colonial Construct” 

Former Prime Minister Said Musa is renewing a decades-old debate. It’s the reason Belizeans are looking forward to Thursday’s holiday, the Battle of St. George’s Caye.

Musa argues that the September 10th holiday remains tied to the country’s colonial past. It goes back to the commemoration of the 1798 Battle of St. George’s Caye, a colonial-era holiday celebrating a historic defense by the Baymen and enslaved locals. 

It is a reason why Belize’s independence day is the 21st of September instead, according to Musa. He said the former Premier George Price believed the country needed a national celebration that reflected its emergence as an independent and sovereign nation. 

In an exclusive interview with News 5, he said, “The tenth of September historically was our national day. The problem was that it was from the colonial days, the tenth of September was tied to the colonial period and Mr. Price realized that we have to break away from that.” 

He added, “People came and wanted to know, why did we not stick with the tenth? Because, the tenth is a colonial construct, that is why, plain and simple.” 

Since independence, the People’s United Party has placed greater national emphasis on September 21st, though the 10th remains a public holiday and continues to be marked with ceremonies, celebration and even the annual Queen of the Bay coronation.