Islanders on Ambergris Caye brought in the 10th of September, Saint George’s Caye Day, with a Tribute to the Baymen celebration at the Central Park. The Tribute to the Baymen celebration is done countrywide on the eve of St. George’s Caye Day, and in San Pedro it has been a very long time that such practice was not done. The event was hosted and coordinated by the San Pedro Cultural Committee with the assistance of the San Pedro Town Council.
The event started shortly after 8PM on Sunday September 9th with a marching band presentation by some of the band groups on the island. The band, which was accompanied by their cheer groups and dancers, is always an attraction all by itself. The rolling of the drums could be heard from a long distance as the drummers and dancers alike put their skills to display to large crowd of eager spectators. Following the marching bands showdown, the official Tribute to the Baymen ceremony took place.
District Education Officer for Belize Rural South Miriam Codd officially gave a tribute to the Baymen recalling the bold stance by the Baymen to stand up and defend the colony of the then British Honduras from the constant provocative attacks by the Spaniards. She gave a detail description of the final encounter between the Spaniards and settlers of British Honduras consisting of a hand full of British Baymen and African slaves. In remember the September 10th, 1798 event, Codd said that the encounter was the last of several attacks in which well armed Spaniards captured the residents of colony’s main capital at Saint George’s Caye and burnt down all the buildings. The decision to stand and defend the small colony by strategically launched an attack on the Spaniard which forced them out of the unknown waters giving up on the settlement that is now modern day Belize.
Following the historical account of the battle, Trisha Codd gave an impressive rendition of the patriotic song, Belize by the Sea. Other entertainment followed and included presentations by San Pedro Dance Academy, Miss Chiquitita Kiryani Pou, Neslin Rivero, Barrington Castillo and Natalie Arceo. The highlight of the night was the performance by Belize’s very own, Mista Peters and Boom and Chime brukdown band. The crowd dance the night away with popular Belizean Creole folk music such as Run Mr Petaaz Run, Bud Bank wehding, Good Mawning Belize, Salomon Gial and elem Bocotora. A modest crowd showed up to enjoy the event which went all through the night and until wee hours of morning of the St. George’s Caye Day.
The event will be an annual one and will be adopted next year as one of the official activities during the month of September.
