It has always been said that one needs to know where he came from, in order to understand where he is going.  Students throughout Belize are taught a bit of Belizean history on a daily basis and with the present territorial dispute with Guatemala Belizeans are getting a crash course on that specific historical part of Belize.

Here in the north, there are several culturally related historical developments that are seen and lived on a daily basis.  One such story is that of the Sugar Cane Industry.   Belize is currently one of the countries offering quality sugar to the world market.  Sugar production is the major industry for the northern districts of Belize creating employment for over 6,000 cane farmers with economics benefits of millions of dollars to the communities.  In an effort of going back to yesterday, even as far as the 1800's, an exhibit titled "Back in the Day" has been put together for showcase at the Corozal House of Culture.  David Ackerman, Chairman of COLCHA, Corozal Organization Leading Cultural Heritage and Arts, stopped by our studio this morning to tell us about this unique exhibit. It is unique because a lot of the pictures to be placed on exhibit cannot be found in the Belize Archives.

Screen_shot_2013-01-24_at_6.33.15_PMDavid Ackerman-Chair COLTCHA

"It shows and explains how the migration of the people running from the war of castle, how that people blended into the sugar industry, how trade was conducted at that time between Corozal and what id Chetumal now so it is very important in fact, during that period Corozal was known as one of the brightest economies in the entire country of Belize, it explains that because it had chart and figures of what was the evolution of the economy at that time.  The sugar cane coming in at that period had the pros and cons, and it explains there simple things that the people in the villages, when the industry came in, roads had to be open so you find that the villagers had a means of communicating easier, even explaining the, there was more inter marriage within the villages, when the industry came in the villagers were able to commute and come out from one village and come out to another village and finding their wives and their husbands."

All the photos on exhibit were mounted by Dr. Grant D Jones who resides in the USA.  Dr Jones sent the photos for exhibition at his expense for the Corozal House of Culture. He will be unable to be present at the exhibit's opening ceremony due to health conditions.  Everyone is invited to the opening ceremony that is scheduled to begin at 7pm tomorrow Friday 25th January 2013 at the Corozal House of Culture.

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