Schoolchildren rally for Independence Day

Experts and laymen alike may argue over whether Belize’s primary schools do a good job at educating our children…but if you’ve ever seen a seven year old struggling to walk home with a twenty-pound sack of books, you know that the kids work hard. That’s why the annual pre-Independence Day rally is a well deserved day of relaxation for our young people. Here’s how the event went in the old capital.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Thousands of children from twenty-three different primary schools filled the bleachers at the Belize City Centre. The boys and girls rallied to celebrate Belize?s twenty-third birthday.

Minister of Education Francis Fonseca told his young audience that just as the country goes through changes and matures so too will they grow up and encouraged the students to enjoy learning and get an education so they can help the country continue to develop.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

?Belize is still very young at twenty three. But our country is a country with tremendous promise; tremendous potential and now we are beginning to find our own way in the world. And that potential and that promise that Belize has really lies and rests with you; the young people of our nation. You are the promise of Belize. You are the promise of our future. You are potential of Belize.?

Among the highlights in this year?s children rally was a tribute to Wifred Peters of the Boom and Shine Band. Recently Mr. Peters was honoured as a Belizean Patriot. Tribute to the Belizean Flag, a poem written by Dr. Corinth Morter?Lewis was also recited by Innocenta Villanueva and Jianna Diamond of the Salvation Army School.