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Posted By: Marty September Celebrations Officially Underway - 08/31/10 03:01 PM

The theme for this year's September celebrations is "United and Proud: Moving Forward: I am Belize". The theme and the logo were unveiled yesterday at the official launch of this year's activities at the burial site on the Island of St. George's Caye. Amada Balam of August Pine Ridge in the Orange Walk District took home the one thousand dollar prize for this year's theme competition. Government officials, representatives from the National Institute of Culture and History and other Belizeans were present to witness or participate in the official launch of the most patriotic time of the year. In his address Minister of Culture Manuel Heredia Junior spoke on the significance of the event that changed the course of our history 212 years ago.

Manuel Heredia; Minister of Culture

"It is fitting that we begin our festivities on this little island which has become the symbol of patriotism and endurance, loyalty and nation building. Our four fathers, masters and slaves, white man and black man, decided more than two hundred years ago in a town meeting held in the settlement of Belize at the mouth of the Belize River that they would stay and fight and maintain the life that they had come to know. St. George's Caye would be the first line of defence in this critical stand off on September 10 1798. An invading Spanish armada confused and lacking the skills to navigate the reef weaken by low moral and illness made an attempt to expel the Baymen and slaves and to no avail. Frustrated by the resolve of the settlers to stand their ground they realized that their cause was lost and retreated."

Minister Heredia also called on all Belizeans to subscribe to the content of this year's theme by participating in the activities that have been organized countrywide.

Manuel Heredia; Minister of Culture

"On the tenth of September we will come together on Memorial Park in Belize City to pay tribute to the Baymen and as this year's winner of the theme competition Ms. Amada Balam has declared we will be 'United and proud, as we move forward, for we are Belize'. On September 21 we will move to Belmopan for the 29th anniversary of our independence. There our armed forces will be assembled and will be joined by the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, members of government, church leaders and dignitaries from all over the world. Similar events including citizens' parade will take place all over the country in every town and village as once again we demonstrate patriotism and love for Belize."

The ceremony came to a close with musical presentations by the winner or this year's Patriotic Song Competition Silas Sabal and the theme song for the Restore Belize Initiative 'I am Belize' by Tanya Carter, Berne Velasquez and Sean Saldano.

LOVE FM
Posted By: Marty Re: September Celebrations Officially Underway - 08/31/10 08:29 PM
September Celebrations Schedule 2010
September 4
Miss San Pedro Pageant
Venue: Old Football field 8:00 PM

September 10
Miss San Pedro Coronation
Venue: Old Football Field 11:00 AM

Uniform Parade
Venue: Streets of San Pedro

St. George's Caye Day Family Fishing Tournament & Beach Party

September 17
National Colors Day
(Wear your national colors today!)
Throughout the country ALL DAY!

September 20
Independence Eve Ceremony
Venue: Old Football Field 10:00 AM

Fireworks Display 12:00 AM
Block Party All Night Long

September 21
Jump up Parade
Venue: Principal Streets of San Pedro 2:00 PM

Independence Day Party & Sporting Activities
Venue: Old Football Field
Posted By: Marty Re: September Celebrations Officially Underway - 09/03/10 02:55 PM

September Celebrations 2010 kick off at St. George's Caye

On September 10th, 1798 a battle between the Spaniards and the Baymen (the first recorded European settlement in Belize in 1638 - shipwrecked British sailors who settled and cut logwood for export to Europe) was fought at St. George's Caye. Against all the odds, the Baymen defeated the Spaniards. Britain gradually assumed more control over the settlement and in 1853 a Legislative Assembly was established, and it replaced the existing simple form of democracy that was instituted as the Public Meeting. In 1871 Belize became a Crown Colony with Legislative Council and a Lieutenant Governor. Today, over 200 years after, this day is still celebrated as a national holiday and forms part of a month long celebration.
The calendar of events for September 2010 for the country of Belize is jam packed with activities and festivities across the board. Sunday August 29th, 2010 marked the official Opening of 2010 September Celebrations under the theme "United and Proud. Moving Forward. I am Belize" The opening ceremonies took place at the St. George's Caye Cemetery on Saint George's Caye.
Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Rene Villanueva. Notable presence of his Excellency Governor General Colville Young and Lady Young, Hon. Manuel Heredia JR. and Mrs. Heredia, U.S. Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally. The day included presentations by: Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture: Dr. Jaime Awe, Ms. Diane C. Haylock co-chair of the September Celebrations Committee, Mr. John Searle, Jr. among other distinguished guests and visitors.
After the National anthem by the Belize Defense Force's marching band and invocation by Rev'd Lynda Moguel, Chairman of the Community Council of St. George's Caye, Mr. John Searle Jr., welcomed all present to the official ceremonies. This was followed by an address by Chairman of the National Celebrations Commission, Hon. Manuel Heredia in which he re-iterated the importance of the small island in the history of our nation, and the battle that paved the way for our nation to be the nation it is today.
Leading up to the September celebrations, entries were welcomed form the general public for a theme for this year's celebrations. With a total of 73 submissions for consideration, the winning entry was submitted by Mrs. Amada Balam of August Pine Ridge in Orange Walk, Belize. Ms. Balam, along with her husband and son, was in St. George's Caye where she was presented a check for $1,000.00, by Hon. Manuel Heredia.
On September 1st, 2009, the island of St. George's Caye (SGC)was declared a National Historical Landmark Site. This year the community was further honored by the signing or Statutory Instrument which declared the SGC Cemetery an Archeological Reserve and the declaration of change of status from the Community of St . George's Caye to St. George's Caye Village. In a presentation by Dr. Jaime Awe, he made mention of the various artifacts and skeletal remains that were un-earthed within the confines of the Cemetery dating back to the time of the battle of St. George's Caye and its earliest settlers.
In a telephone interview with Mr. John Searle, Community Chairman, he spoke of the importance of St. George's Caye being granted the status of a Village to the residents; "This is something we have been working on for some time now, however it was until three years ago that we really started to push for the status change - the residents of St. George's Caye would like to enjoy the benefits of the "Village Council Act". Overall, Mr. Searle would like to see the community of St. George's Caye more active in the day to day happenings of the Island. As a Village being run by a Council, he hopes that the community will have a little more control over what happens on the island and decision making process. He explained that while the island does not reach all the requirements to be named a Village - St. George's Caye was the first capital of Belize and as per the Village Council's ACT - any community t hat held the status of a village prior to the passing of the Village Council Act - would retain its status. It is under these grounds that the proposal was taken to Cabinet and on Tuesday August 24th, 2010 Cabinet accepted the proposal granting the change of Status to a Village.
After the unveiling of a permanent plaque declaring St. George's Caye a historical site by Ms Diane C. Haylock, Silas Sabal entertained the audience with his original, "Rememba Septemba" song, followed by a beautiful rendition of "I Am Belize" by Berne Velasquez, Shawn Saldano and Tanya Carter. Music was followed by the Youth Connection Band as lunch was served.

San Pedro Sun

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