Proud and Free Belize at 43  

The National Celebrations Commission has unveiled the theme for Belize’s forty-third anniversary celebrations. Although September is several months aways, the commission said that they wanted to get an early start on preparations. At a ceremony held at the Belize House of Culture this afternoon, the theme, “Proud and Free Belize at forty-three” was unveiled. This theme was selected from a pool of six hundred and fifteen submissions, the most submissions the contest has ever had to date. We attended the ceremony today for more information on the significance of this occasion.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture

“An exciting day. I think highly anticipated every year. I think the Belizean people look forward to the selection of the team. So we’re very proud of that we’re able today to unveil the theme. As you can see behind me, a nation proud and free believes that forty-three so that really kicks off the September celebrations and we look forward to an exciting celebrations that, the Belizean people have an opportunity to be fully engaged and participate in those celebrations. We had, I think, over six hundred, six hundred fifteen, I think, to be exact submissions from across the country. What’s very exciting is that we had all age groups involved, all ethnic groups, people from all over, from every section of the country. I think the youngest was eleven, person who submitted, and the oldest was seventy-eight. We had a hundred and, I think, one hundred fifty-five students.  from different schools across the country who also participated and made submissions on behalf of their schools. So that was fantastic.”

 

David Watson, Theme Contest Winner

“When I saw the advertisement for the that they were accepting themes, that’s the first thing that popped up in my head, and I just submitted right away.”

 

Reporter

“And when they called you and informed you that you had won, what was your initial reaction?”

 

David Watson

“I was surprised because I had even forgotten about that.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And what does that theme mean to you?”

 

David Watson

“It means that we are forty-three years independent already and as a nation we should be proud of that. And we also because we are a free nation for the past forty-three years.”