Premier George Price introducing a "Bill for An Ordinance to change the name of the Colony of British Honduras to Belize" in the House of Representatives, February 23, 1973
"To retain the name (British Honduras) further is to subvert the burning ambition and aspirations of the Belizean people for Independence" he said.
Hon. Santiago Ricalde is placing a placard on the vacant seat of the opposition.
This was the historical meeting of the House of Representatives, in 1973, when the name "Belize" substituted the name British Honduras, as the new name, for the new emerging nation of Central America, in the heart of the Caribbean basin.
But even the name was objected by the UDP delegates: Lawyer Hassock, Senator Reginald Brooks and Senator Ulric Buntin Fuller. They claimed that Belize sounded too much like Guatemala's BELICE.
This was in preparation for Belize's Independence in 1981.
BELIZE is legally and Constitutionally the name of our country. Any contract or agreement made using BELICE as an address, would be VOID. AND anyone sitting at a conference table with the name BELICE, does not represent BELIZE.
Photograph courtesy Hector Silva
The Reporter's headline on the name change
The name change of our country from British Honduras to Belize came into effect on June 1st, 1973.