Belizean Patriots Recognized for Unwavering Service to Country

The Tribute to Belizean Patriots was held on Thursday night at the foot of the new Haulover Bridge. Twenty-eight Belizeans received national awards for their service to country. The ceremony featured a musical ensemble entitled “The Builders of Belize Cambio Ensemble” arranged by Carlos Perrotte. Former Governor General Sir Colville Young made a special appearance as one of the members of the ensemble. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The foot of the new Haulover Bridge was transformed into a venue fit for recognition of Belizean patriots under the starry night sky. On Thursday night, twenty-eight Belizeans were recognized for their contributions to Belize in various sectors throughout the course of their lives. These patriots were VIPs at this year’s Tribute to Belizean Patriots Award Ceremony.

 

Stuart Leslie, Secretary of Awards Committee

“Whereas twenty-eight persons have labored diligently on behalf of the improvement of and to the benefit of our country Belize and to its people, and whereas they have contributed their time, energy and intelligence, often at great sacrifice to themselves in making Belize a better place for all of our people, now therefore by the power vested in her excellency, Dame Froyla Tzalam, Governor General, and acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, Honorable John Briceno, and on behalf of a grateful nation, her excellency proclaim that national awards be vested upon these twenty-eight honorable persons.”

 

Among those bestowed with a prestigious patriot award were names like 47:18 Carlos Perrotte, Herman “Chico” Ramos,  Leroy “the Grand Master” Young,  Francis Reneau and  Former Governor General Sir Colville Young, who was awarded the Order of Belize. Dame Froyla Tzalam, the Governor General of Belize, noted that they, like all the other awardees, displayed selflessness to country.

 

Dame Froyla Tzalam, Governor General of Belize

“September is reserved for the acknowledgement and homage of our independence, culture and importantly our Belizean patriots who tirelessly served our nation. The Tribue to Belizean Patriots ceremony presents the National Celebration Committee an the public with an opportunity to commend those among us who embody the Belizean way. Through their efforts, our modern-day patriots light a path that we all strive to venture on, a path of selflessness which prioritize country men and women. I thank these individuals for their dedication to the land of the free. I invite all my fellow Belizeans in joining us to celebrate their well-earned success.”

 

The highlight of the night came at the end of the award ceremony. The 1974 “Golden Girls” of Belize, that 1974 softball national team that won the nation’s first international gold, was recognized. The patriotic award comes five decades after the championship, at a time when numerous members of the team have passed away. But for those who were present, and the family members of those who have gone on, their achievement is worth celebrating today as it was fifty years ago.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The younger guys might not remember this, but the original Golden Girls of Belize were the remarkable, 1974 national softball team who made history by winning the country’s first ever gold medal in any sport on the international stage. I can still remember back then, we never had Tv, the internet, all we had was radio Belize. I was in high school and all of a sudden we are hearing about these golden girls, that they are winning all of these games in softball. It was such a big deal for us when we heard that little Belize won a gold medal in softball and that our girls, our girls from Belize were these winners. It made us so proud because at that time we were still in the nationalist movement towards independence. It helped us to build this sense of Belize is a country and that we have something to be proud. And these golden girls in 1974 put Belize on the map.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.