September Ceremonies 2020, The End Of the Barrow Era
COVID was also the top item at yesterday's downscaled Official independence day ceremonies in Belmopan.
Jules Vasquez has the report:
For Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his family, it was his last ceremonial walk on the 21st September, and probably his last inspection of the guard of honour - an eventuality that his ailing back is probably thankful for.
And for the other two men making their official entrance on a warm Monday Morning, Patrick Faber and John Briceno - one of them know they will be walking in Barrow's shoes one year from now - making the main entrance.
And before a COVID-limited audience of about 20 persons, their speeches both suggested that aspirational feel of the last September in a Barrow Administration:
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I have been delivering Independence day speeches for over twenty years now, either as Leader of the Opposition or as Prime Minister. I do so one last time today in circumstances that are the most taxing in a generation."
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"In the weeks ahead we will go to the polls to decide how we will get through these troubling times. This is our appointment with history. We get to decide if we want to live in a country where we will say no to corruption and cronyism, no to lawlessness and crippling poverty. No to mismanagement and incompetence. We must decide if we want a fairer more prosperous nation where everybody wins or if we want more of the same."
Hon. Patrick Faber, Chair - Naitonal Ceelbrations Commission
"The open government that I envisioned means that secret deals and large sell offs can no longer be tolerated and it means that true partnerships between labour enterprise, government and civil society has to be forged and maintained, that, ladies and gentlemen I can assure is what a continued UDP administration will aim for."
And while they campaigned - Barrow spoke of the present difficulty of COVID 19:
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I am certain that we will defeat this covid-19. Even as I speak there is qualified good news. That is because the testing record over the last month or so, shows a trending week-over- week percentage deceleration of positive cases."
"The phenomenon of indiscipline, the lax or wilful behaviour that contributed to the new outbreaks, is, I think, receding."
And turning today torment into a September theme, the PM said that COVID is also about patriotism:
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"But we will ever know that during our greatest trial we once more found our heroes: our nurses and doctors and health inspectors and immigration and customs officers; our police and our soldiers and our coast guard and all those that defend the ramparts against this insiduous scourge."
"It is an irony of ironies, though, that this merciless leveler is also a great elevator. In basic ways, it has validated our humanity and our Belizeanness. We have come together as one. We have lifted each other up. We have found new ways of doing things."
"We are inspired by the hardscrabble creativity of everyday people: the tacos and tamales makers, the coconut huskers and juicers, those women and men that have gone from street side hawking to internet vending in order to preserve their livelihood and feed their families."
"Belize's ultimate triumph will depend most on Belize itself. Our recovery, our tourism and agriculture and manufacturing and services rebound, will oblige us to work harder than ever, make more sacrifices than ever. Most particularly, we will now be mandated to deploy in fullest measure those innate talents, that Belizean capacity, which we proudly possess in demonstrated plenty."
"So, for me, I leave with the certain knowledge that we can do it; that we will prevail because our leaders - political and spiritual and social - are all united in their love for Belize, their will to rescue our country."
And, with that, farewell:
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"And so, Hail and farewell. I thank all for the unmatchable privilege of having been allowed to serve this country and God bless Belize."
Channel 7