A date is yet to be announced for a Toledo East by-election, following the death of P.U.P. Area Representative, Michael Espat. So today reporters asked the prime minister when the by-election will take place. His response was that we will find out when he decides.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think that is something for me to decide and when we do decide then you will find out, but it has to be done by the third week of July. So, take a day.”
Reporter
“Are you leaning towards any contestant?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well, I will be supporting the candidate of choice for the people of Toledo East.”
Paul Lopez
“So, there is am expectation that there may be a convention there?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Of course, they are campaigning there. We have made public announcements and there are three very good candidates that have expressed their interest in representing the people of P.G. and Toledo.”
Wildfires continue to burn through parts of Toledo and Cayo districts. Tonight, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Department of Environment are advising residents living in the affected areas to stay indoors, keep their windows and doors closed and wear masks. A joint press release says that the air quality in Toledo and Cayo districts has significantly decreased. Wildfires have led to substantial air pollution. So, not only are some residents working overtime to safeguard their livelihood, but they must also now contend with the air they breathe to protect their very lives. News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the situation. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Wildfires have been burning for the past three weeks in Toledo and Cayo Districts. These fires pose a threat to the livelihood of residents in these areas. And now, another concern has arisen, emanating from the wildfires. That is air pollution. It is a concern raised by Orlando Habet, the Minister of Sustainable Development, during a media tour of Mountain Pine Ridge last week.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“You see what happened in San Ignacio and Santa Elena in the past week. The air quality is really bad and you can’t come out on the verandah, jog or exercise, do your bicycling because it is terrible.”
These social media images and videos capture some of what residents in the Cayo District have been experiencing. The blanket of haze in the sky, stretching for miles, is smoke from wildfire. In Toledo District it is no different. Residents are left with no choice but to inhale this contaminated air.
Voice of: Blue Creek Village Resident
Voice of: Blue Creek Village Resident
“I think this is the worst I have seen it and a couple days ago here in the village the smoke was really intense, intense to the point that I was worried about the kids and the elders in our community, because this is not normal.”
Voice of: Santa Cruz Resident
“I believe yes, it is the worst fire I have seen around this time here, because it gets really, really, smokey around here and just recently that side was burning day and night and all the smoke was coming this side. Sometimes I have to move from here and go to my parent’s house to spend the night sometime just so that the kids are safe and off the heavy smoke.”
On Monday, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Department of Environment warned the public that the substantial increase in air pollution due to smoke can lead to health risks for the vulnerable population. This index describes air quality and its associated health effects. The higher the number, the more air pollution is being inhaled. Anything beyond a numeric value of one hundred is unhealthy, all the way up to three hundred where the air pollution becomes hazardous. On Sunday, for example, the air quality in San Jose Succotz was at one hundred and seventy-five. That is where internist and bioethicist, Doctor Marvin Manzanero resides.
Dr. Marvin Manzanero
Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Internist and Bioethicist
“And when you look at air quality monitors, the particular situation that they look for is P.M., particulate matter. Two point five micrometers is what will get lodged all the way deep into your lungs. Those are particles that we will never see. Who is at risk then? Just like most other deceases, it is the most vulnerable. So, we are going to have the elderly population, young children, people who have underlying conditions, asthmatics, people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary decease, people who have hypertension and diabetes. There has been links to those not doing so well, people who have cancer, people who are on steroids and other types of immunosuppressants. One thing we ought to highlight is that the WHO recently released its global report and air pollutants have been shown to be the trigger of the building up of plaque in your arteries, so microparticles and even nano plastics are being found in those arteries that are building up in your circulatory walls.”
One of the measures recommended by healthcare providers to limit the risks associated with inhaling air pollution is the use of protective respiratory masks. Additionally, individuals living in the affected areas are being advised to limit outdoor exposure. This also includes children attending school.
Dr. Marvin Manzanero
“If you have to be outside, wear protective respiratory mask or you try to limit the amount of time you are going to be outside. Even with exercise, I have mentioned it to some colleagues, you really cant be doing strenuous activities when you have so much air pollutants in the air. Even on a person’s note, two weeks ago I tried running and started wheezing after one point five miles. So, exercise had to be cut short because you are inhaling too many pollutants. For example I have two teens and one of the ones that is a little more active I have to limit his outside exposure. They do go to school. They don’t do physical activity in school these days, but as soon as they come home they are in an indoor environment.”
Meanwhile in Bella Vista Village on Sunday evening, a resident, who police say was consuming alcohol earlier that day, fell into a well and drowned. Ezekiel Jiron was reportedly sitting on the edge of the shaft when he lost his balance and fell inside.
“On Sunday, twenty-sixth of May, around 5:45 p.m., police visited an apartment area at Bella Vista. Upon their arrival, they saw the lifeless body of Ezekiel Jiron beside a well. Information is that Jiron was sitting at the edge of a well when he fell over and plunged down. His body was retrieved and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Information is that he had been drinking and may have lost his balance and fell in the well.”
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the Department of the Environment (DoE) are issuing a critical advisory regarding significant air quality concerns caused by ongoing wildfires affecting several communities in the Toledo and Cayo districts.
These wildfires have resulted in a considerable increase in air pollution due to smoke, posing health risks, especially to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
The following health advisories are being issued:
Stay Indoors: Residents are advised to remain indoors as much as possible, especially during periods of heavy smoke.
Keep Windows and Doors Closed: Ensure that your living spaces are sealed to prevent smoke from entering.
Use Air Purifiers: If available, use air purifiers to reduce indoor air pollution.
Limit Outdoor Activities: Minimize outdoor physical activities to reduce exposure to polluted air.
Seek Medical Attention: Individuals experiencing respiratory issues should seek immediate medical attention.
Wear Masks: Wear masks when outdoors in affected areas to filter out fine particles.
Efforts are underway to control the wildfires and mitigate the impact on air quality. The DoE is acquiring air quality monitoring equipment to be installed in strategic areas to detect changes in ambient air quality, aiding in the national response and decision-making process.
The villages of San Pedro Colombia, Jordan, Criquejute, and Ya’axche have all been impacted by wildfires. In response, the entire district of Toledo temporarily closed schools due to poor air quality and multiple fires affecting various villages.
A recent situation report from the Belize Red Cross Society gathered information from the Statistical Institute of Belize and Google, with information gathered from various news sources, to estimate the affected population.
According to the report, approximately 200 families, totaling around 800 individuals, have been affected by these fires across 19 communities and 600 acres in the Toledo district.
The Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve is experiencing severe forest fires that are affecting both the Toledo District and the air quality in the Cayo District. These forest fires have been burning in the Mountain Pine Ridge area for about three weeks. The local government has mobilised volunteers and defence forces to assist. At the request of NEMO, the Belize Red Cross has been distributing cooked lunches to community volunteers and the Belize Defence Force, with 160 plates distributed to date. Farmers and residents in remote areas have been particularly affected, with crops such as corn, avocado, cocoa, pasture, forests, and water sources being destroyed, leading to long-term devastating effects. Multiple agencies are collaborating to provide meals and other relief items, focusing on containing the fires and supporting the affected families.
Forest fires in Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve
NEMO Emergency Committees are on-site in the affected areas, providing support through the DANA Committee,conducting search and rescue operations (including fire suppression) with the Fire Department and the Belize Defence Force. They continue to monitor the situation to determine if further evacuations are necessary. So far, one family has been rescued and relocated to a shelter in Toledo. They are working closely with partner agencies to coordinate the response and have requested that the Belize Red Cross provide protective gear for volunteers fighting the fire, first aid services, and meals.
Preliminary assessments indicate that assistance will be needed for the affected population, particularly in the agriculture sector. The humanitarian aid required includes food, water, and hygiene products. Additionally, livelihood support over the next 3–6 months will be essential, which will encompass various forms of agricultural assistance. The agricultural ministries are particularly concerned about the losses in agriculture and are planning future steps to aid the recovery of the farmers.
The fight against the fires brought on by the severe regional heatwave is a continuous effort across the country. The recent fire at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve drew great concern for the Forest Department, as resources and manpower were already divided amongst several fires in southern Belize. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, told us that it is due to the collaborative efforts between several organizations, that all the fires can be addressed and that additional assistance for the affected individuals is in the pipeline.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change
“It was something that we had to make a decision on because we also knew that there were fires down south in Colombia. And so we wanted to share the personnel. But because NEMO had taken the leadership down because it’s now close to communities, they took jurisdiction of that and assistance from some of our fire department forest department personnel from the south in Machaca, and they also got assistance from the N.G.O.’s like TIDE who have a lot of experience doing fire training. And also with Ya’axche, they had a lot of help. So, we decided that it was best that we address this area with the personnel we had. I think within the limits of the towns and villages, it is very important that we stress information and education for the public because it is absolutely necessary for us to educate our public. Sometimes it’s just a small fire in the backyard fire that can get away and then the smoke and everything else is a problem. You see what’s happened in San Ignacio and Santa Elena during the past week. The air quality is really bad. You can’t come out and run or jog or exercise, do your bicycling because it is terrible.”
Reporter
“Sir, Columbia, the villagers have lost a lot of farmlands. I think close to 90 farmers were with Nima earlier this week assessing the damage. Is the government doing anything to assist these people? Because this is their entire livelihood gone just like that.”
Orlando Habet
“Yeah certainly the government will come in to assist. I think right now they’re doing some assessments to see the people who are affected, the farmers who are affected. And as any emergency and any event, a catastrophic event like this, then the government makes these assessments. And if it’s in the agriculture sector, then the Ministry of Agriculture goes in to assist. And then certainly with the housing, then NEMO comes in and then the Ministry of Human Development also comes in to assist. The government will have to use some type of funding, maybe a contingency fund to try to get the funding to assist these people.”
In the bustling halls of Toledo Community College, a transformative movement is underway. Students and faculty have joined forces to tackle one of society’s most pressing issues: bullying. Through an innovative approach to competency-based learning, Toledo Community College is rewriting the narrative on preventing bullying. Sabreena Daly tells us more in this week’s Look on The Bright Side.
Jeremiah Logan
Jeremiah Logan, Student, Toledo Community College
“I believe a bully is someone who doesn’t love themselves to a certain extent that they want to hurt you. They want to make you feel bad about yourself. If you’re a bully, then you’re always going to try to do negative things. Sometimes people who are bullies are people who have low self esteem, who are being treated badly, probably at home, and they don’t know how to control themselves. So they go on, you know, they bully others to get that comfort.”
Jeremiah Logan is a proud member of this year’s graduating class at Toledo Community College. Known for his easygoing nature, he holds kindness and humility as core values. Ironically, these very qualities made him a target for bullies.
Jeremiah Logan
“Well, my experience is that, you know, um, because I’m a male, people would expect me to, as they say something to me, I would be a bit more rowdy with them, but I walk away. So, for these reasons People think I’m kind of soft, I’m weak, or so, but I try to, you know, be more, be more on the upper side and not to engage myself with any kind of conflict.”
A similar experience was shared by Lynel Arzu, also a member of this year’s graduating class. Bullies targeted her because of her skin color.
Lynel Arzu
Lynel Arzu, Student, Toledo Community College
“My experience with bullying I would say is that I was a part of being discriminated against because of my skin color. It was something hard to deal with because there wasn’t much of my skin color where I used to live. So it was really hard fitting in. And I remember I used to try to go out of my way to make myself be seen or heard because no one really wanted to listen to me or hear my ideas, which were very brilliant. They would always say, Oh, you’re not smart. You’re black. You look like a monkey.”
T.C.C. has a population of over seven hundred students. Vice Principal Joanna Monk explains that while the wellness center and counselors educate students on STIs, teenage pregnancy, bullying, and mental health, she collaborates with parents to address significant student issues.
Joanna Monk
Joanna Monk, Vice Principal, Student Affairs, Toledo Community College
“They come to me when we have, you know, much larger issues that we need to address so we have to reach out to our parents, to solve difficulties that students are having, so we work hand in hand. Now, the Wellness Centre, our counselors, they also do a lot of education on pertinent social issues affecting teenagers; STIs, teenage pregnancy, bullying, you know, mental health awareness, all those things that they are also responsible for engaging students in. I’ve noticed that it’s a post-pandemic issue, particularly the amount of online cyber bullying has increased substantially since the pandemic. I think it was always, if you’re, if you’re my age, you always remember that there was somebody who was trying to steal your money or shove you around, and that was the bullying that we dealt with. But this is very different because this is saying horrible things about people, derogatory things. that really have an impact on people’s mental health.”
The Ministry of Education, through its competency-based curriculum, champions innovative approaches to education, promising a more impactful learning experience. Althea Sanchez is an English teacher who challenges her students to confront bullying.
Althea Sanchez
Althea Sanchez, English Teacher, Toledo Community College “We were discussing a new topic, persuasive writing, and we were talking about the three appeals, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, and I wanted a project that highlighted the students’ creativity, and also highlighted a social issue that many of our students were facing. And at the time, a lot of bullying videos were coming about, and other scenarios were coming about, and other situations, and I thought we needed something to highlight that issue, especially with our students because they experience it. I said it would be a perfect time to actually showcase that. And send a message out to the school population that bullying is not okay.”
These three persuasive appeals are often used together to create compelling arguments and effectively influence the audience’s beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.
Jeremiah Logan
“We did ethos, pathos, and logos, whereby the ethos is based upon your character, the pathos is based upon your emotions, and the logos is based upon facts and data.Based upon someone’s character that causes you to want to bully them and your emotions is how you respond to the bullying if you’re aggressive towards it if you’re passive or so and the logos is based upon the facts like if you go and start a problem, some people you would say they fight fire with fire and then they have some whereby they would just walk away. So the outcome of our video was that the person got sent to the principal’s office where they got either expelled or suspended. And then they have in the other videos where the outcome of the bullying was death or suicide or depression or so.”
The assignment proved effective, as the students understood the concept being shared. But what Sanchez did not expect was how moved she would be by the message.
Althea Sanchez
“They were very emotional for me when I watched them. I myself was a student of T.C.C. and I was bullied also. So to see them actually highlighting different aspects of bullying and the fact that they themselves were victims of it really resonated with me and the fact that they and the teachers threw themselves into this project, and they did so excellent, Iit was emotional. It was captivating, and you can see the message being important. I brought it to the attention of our VPSS, Ms. Joanna Monk, the idea I had, and I told her that since we have a Facebook page, I would love if we can showcase the students projects on our Facebook page, to show it on social media, to have the wider population view it and see that you’re not alone when it comes to bullying, and everyone experiences bullying at some level, and there’s ways that you can actually mitigate that.”
Joanna Monk “When I saw the videos, I was so impressed that they really, there was one of them that actually gave me shivers when I saw it. That these are issues that are actually impacting students. And that it’s something we have to absolutely address. We have to identify where students are being bullied, how they’re being bullied, and how we address it.”
The activity provided an opportunity for students to simulate bullying, as well as its effects on victims. The students feel that they’ve created a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Sabreena Daly
“What do you think will be the impact of this project that they carried out?”
Althea Sancez
“I think it links back to the competency base that we’re doing now with the new curriculum. And it’s all about authentic, realistic, showing the kids that you can go beyond the classroom. And that’s what I wanted to showcase with our kids that shows your competency. You have collaboration, you have digital literacy, you have communication, and all of that, I think it works perfectly with what the ministry has aligned for us.”
Sabreena Daly
“So now that you are graduating from the school, a school that has sent a strong message against bullying, how do you feel?”
Lynel Arzu
“I’m so, I’m filled with joy. I actually am because bullying is nothing nice.”
Jeremiah Logan
“Hopefully this helps someone. Hopefully this changes someone’s mentality towards someone else. So I believe we left a great impact and hopefully there’s better to come.”
Wildfires have destroyed more than six hundred acres of farmland in Toledo District over the past three weeks. An initial damage assessment conducted by the National Emergency Management Organization estimates over three million dollars in losses. More than two hundred families have been affected, the equivalent of just under a thousand residents. They describe these events as the worst they have seen in their lifetime. Compounding the challenges brought on by wildfires is an extensive period of drought and little to no access to water in some villages. News Five’s Paul Lopez traveled to Toledo today. He filed the following reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Over six hundred acres of farmland, in addition to a vast expanse of forest, have been destroyed by wildfire in Toledo District.
Novelo Chiac
Novelo Chiac, Blue Creek Village Resident
“That is our, that is where we get our food and we call it our home because we get our lumber there and stuff for our house.”
This is Novelo Chiac, a resident of Blue Creek Village in Toledo District. For the past two weeks, wildfires have been burning through his community.
Novelo Chiac
“Last week Friday the fire reached close to neighbors on this side and we couldn’t find no help.”
Paul Lopez
“Is this the worst you have ever seen?”
Novelo Chiac
“This is the worst one, yeah.”
Wildfires are not uncommon in these parts at this time of year. But increased temperatures, coupled with the absence of rainfall for more than a month, have led to a wildfire fire crisis in Toledo. We came across a brushfire that was growing quickly on a hillside in Blue Creek. Most of the hilly terrain in this community is covered with lush rainforest. At the foot of this hill, one family was on high alert as the fire threatened to destroy their life’s work.
Voice of: Nelson
Voice of: Nelson, Blue Creek Resident
“This has been an area that my dad has invested in. You can see a lot of cacao trees, coconut trees. So what I went and did earlier was try to create a little path as close as I can to it so that in case it reaches down we have our little spray pump there, assuming that it wouldn’t get as big as how it is in other areas around that side.”
Nelson and his family have already lost four acres of corn and two acres of pepitos to this year’s wildfires. Government trucks deliver water to communities in the area almost on a daily basis for general use due to limited water access caused by the drought. Creeks have dried up. River levels are at an all-time low. With limited access, villagers who come together to fight fires are required to travel long distances to fetch and carry water in buckets and gallon bottles.
Voice of: Nelson
“It is a little hard because it is dry, everything is dry but we are trying to salvage what we can because this is the daily livelihood of us here in the village and we rely on this house. This thatch house, it may look small and thing but that is somebody’s home and that is where somebody is living but it means a lot to them.”
West of Blue Creek lies Santa Cruz Village. Both communities are separated by the flaming hills. Francisco and his family live in the village on of top a hill that provides a panoramic view of the smoke-filled horizon and scorched earth. Overwhelmed by the smoke in the air, Francisco has had to relocate his wife and children several times over the past few weeks. His experience has been similar to that of his neighbors.
Voice of: Francisco
Voice of: Francisco, Santa Cruz Village Resident
“Deh same farm pumps we use to do chemicals in the farm and the five gallons to go for water wherever we could find water source. We don’t have specific like the water system is down foe the moment, not down to say that it is not working but we are out of water under the ground so we don’t have that much availability of water anywhere around close.”
It has been established that most of the communities in Toledo live off the land. And for decades, farmers have been practicing slash and burn, a method used to clear forested land for farming. Ironically, this traditional method, practiced by villagers, is believed to be one of the root causes of the fires that are leveling farms in the village. There is now a growing call for safer agricultural practices and stricter penalties for law breakers.
Voice of: Francisco
“To me that is something that could be dealt with with some type of care. The thing is with slash and burn is that we as the farmers we depend on those and that is our main source of food. Without those, if we can’t do that then we can’t plant crop this year. I think the solution to that is when there is slash and burn it shouldn’t just be one person out there to do the slash and burn we need to ensure there is enough water around and man to out the fire if it goes out and off thr limit. And before that we need to make sure we do the fire pass around it and make sure it is wide enough not to pass the fire to the other side.”
Voice of: Nelson
“I would hope that out leaders would come together just like they did for the COVID19 regulations and implement it and be strict about it. We are destroying this environment. What will we have for the future?”
Brushfires continue to wreak havoc across Toledo District where farmers from several communities, including San Pedro, Columbia, are directly affected. The National Emergency Management Organization has responded with firefighting and relief efforts, however, the opposition is calling on the Briceño administration to introduce a supplementary to the House of Representatives. The additional funds would be used to provide assistance to families that have lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the devastating fires. Over the weekend, Shyne Barrow, the Leader of the Opposition, visited several communities in the south and saw firsthand the damage that has been left in the wake of these forest fires.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It’s very heart wrenching to visit families that have lost everything due to these wildfires. So I was able to find some resources to help at least four families in the rebuilding of their homes on behalf of Dennis Williams who is going to be the next area representative of Toledo East, by the grace of God. But certainly it brings into sharp focus the role of NEMO and the role of the Ministry of Housing in these types of emergencies. I know I have been extremely critical of the government when it comes to them bringing supplementary after supplementary to the house, but if the Ministry of Housing cannot find within the current budget the resources to help these families, the opposition would certainly support a supplementary in this instance which is the true intent of the supplementary. It is for the emergencies that could not have been anticipated when the budget was being forecasted, and this certainly counts in that. It also brings into sharp focus the fact that we need to look at investments in our apparatus to deal with these wildfires as far as planes that could fly over to release water to put out these fires.”
Although making up less than four percent of the population, the East Indian community is coming forward to remind Belizeans that their culture is alive. In this week’s episode of Kolcha Tuesday, we take you to Punta Gorda Town, where we met with a group of girls who are sharing their heritage in the way they know best: dance. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
From Mayans to Chinese. From Garifuna to Creole. Many of the diverse and rich communities that gave the country the title, “melting pot of cultures” can be found in southern Belize. It is here, in Toledo District that we find the heartbeat of the East Indian community, fighting to preserve its culture. At the 2024 Chocolate Fest of Belize, held in Punta Gorda Town, several cultures were highlighted through music and dance. The East Indian community was represented by three girls who wanted to find a way to connect with their heritage since they do not know the language and felt that dance would be the perfect medium to do so. Venice Parham, one of the dancers at the event, explained this desire to us.
Venice Parham
Venice Parham, Dancer
“The kind of dance that we were doing is our cultural dance. It’s an East Indian that descends way from India. We practice almost every time when there is events. We try to keep our culture alive because our East Indian culture in Belize doesn’t really show so we try to keep it alive through dance and our food.”
The trio of dancers has been practicing together since primary school, having grown up watching family members and friends attempt to preserve the culture in the same way. Giselle Parham, older sister of one of the dancers explained how they navigate the disconnect with the culture.
Giselle Parham
Giselle Parham, Former Dancer
“So for the East Indian culture, one way that we would preserve it as young youths, because growing up, I started when I was about ten in primary school. We represented our primary schools. I also represented my high school but, again, how we preserve and try to keep the cultures alive is through dancing. We don’t know what these songs are saying, what it means. We don’t really know what the move means in these dances. But we just try to look at these YouTube videos, these dances that these Indians do. And we basically just do the same thing and portray it through dancing.”
Fourteen-year-old Arceli Parham was the lead choreographer for the performance, she explained that she put together the routine through YouTube and with the help of her sister.
Arceli Parham
Arceli Parham, Lead Choreographer
“I get choreographed from like, some of the dances, like the dance songs. Sometimes the choreographer is in there, and I just pick up some of the dances from that. Since my sister, she danced, when she was younger, so I also got some ideas from her. There’s two dances that I remember. There’s Nainowale and Aaja Nachle .”
Arceli and her family carry their desire to embrace their East Indian heritage into their love for pageantry. She explained that the dancers were able to source the dresses from her sister, Arelee Parham, who represented Belize at the Miss International Council of India Culture in Trinidad and Tobago in 2019. Dancer, Viaani Mangar, said that she is honored to take up the mantle and set examples for other young girls.
Viaanie Mangar
Viaanie Mangar, Dancer
“To be honest, I wasn’t really nervous because I really love this cultural dancing that I am a proud East Indian. And it really means a lot because the culture in Belize is dying. So, we as young youths have to encourage younger youths when they get our age to be able to do stuff like that.”
Britney Gordon
“How did you girls get the chance to dance here today? Who approached you about this?”
Viaanie Mangar
“We got our chance through her sister, Giselle Parham, which works at Copal. Her sister was the queen once, and they continued dancing, and right now she gave it up, so she passed it down to us, and we are currently dancing at Copal Lodge.”
Giselle believes that if people in the community continue to encourage youths to engage with the culture in fun ways, then it is possible to reclaim other aspects such as language. She hopes that through passing on the love for dancing, a new wave of support will be ignited for her people.
Giselle Parham
“We try to pass this now on to my younger sister and my other little cousins for them to also be advocates for other children’s out here who are East Indian descent, that they can be able to proudly represent their culture through dances, to maybe one of these days, learn the languages. Our culture is one of the cultures that lost their language. It’s most of their traditions, music dances many, many years ago, and we really don’t know what it’s all about. And so us as the younger generation have to come out and try to preserve it, try to learn about it, try to learn the history so that we could be able to spread the word because is really three percent of Belize’s population and that’s a very little amount tpo say that we have a huge support.”
