2011 Independence Day Address
By Prime Minister – Hon. Dean Barrow
Your Excellency, the Governor-General, Sir Colville Young, and Lady Young
My Lord Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin, and other Justices of the Supreme Court
Hon. Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño, and Mrs. Briceño
Hon. Ministers of government and Members of the National Assembly
Your Worship the Mayor of Belmopan, Mr. Simeon Lopez, and Mrs. Lopez
My Lords the Bishops of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches of Belize
Superintendent of the Methodist Belize/Honduras District
President of the Evangelical Association of Churches
Other members of the Clergy
Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps
Members of the Consular Corps
Special guests, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Belizeans
I begin by acknowledging the pall cast by the death of Belize’s first National Hero, the Rt. Hon. George Price. And I want to announce right away that, in his honour, next Monday, the day of the state funeral, is being declared a National holiday. But our mourning has to be interrupted today, even if only to be resumed tomorrow. And it has to be interrupted because today is the day of our Independence. Our Independence that was the dream of George Price; that was the struggle of George Price; that is now the legacy of George Price.
So full-bore, flat-out celebration is what is required now. We celebrate sovereignty; we celebrate George Price’s vision; we celebrate George Price’s life. Download entire speech (PDF)
