Flags to Be Flown at Half Mast; Church Bells Will Toll

On the occasion of the Queen’s death, there are certain protocols that will be followed in respect of the fallen sovereign who was the Queen of Belize. Late this evening, News Five spoke with Cabinet Secretary, Stuart Leslie, who shared plans for flags to be flown at half-mast and the tolling of church bells across the country on Friday morning.

Stuart Leslie

Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary

“This morning the Governor-General’s office informed the Office of the Prime Minister of the official word that Her Majesty has died. So immediately the Prime Minister asked that the office of the Governor-General express heartfelt condolences to the family of Her Majesty, the Queen, of course to the British people and to all the other members of the Commonwealth. The Governor-General has already issued a statement, where she had asked for the flags to be brought down at half-mast as we are in a period of mourning now and the Prime Minister will issue a statement this evening.”

Marion Ali

The flags will fly at half-mast for how long?

Stuart Leslie

“They will fly at half-mast from now until the funeral on the eighteenth of September. We’ve just concluded a meeting with the Minister of Culture and Education, the Foreign Minister with the Governor-General’s office and the Office of the Prime Minister to look at what we call a more somber celebration. The country is in mourning. Queen Elizabeth was the queen of Belize and so we’re looking at areas where events will reflect not only on the fact that we are a country in mourning now but to celebrate the life of the Queen. So for example, on the National Day of Prayer, which is on Sunday, there will be a Memorial Service celebrating our forty-first year and praying for Belize and as well as praying for the Queen and for her family at the same time. Minister Fonseca is looking at the September celebrations to see how we can properly celebrate the life of the Queen, celebrate our forty-first year of Independence, bearing in mind that we were under lockdown for two years and do it in a tasteful way that reflects that we are a nation in mourning. We will be tolling bells tomorrow morning across the country at eight a.m., and the tolling of the bells will be in honour of the new king and then on the eighteenth – the day of the funeral for Her Majesty, the Queen, we will be tolling bells celebrating her life.”