Miss Belize Rebecca Rath Has Not Been Dethroned

Rebecca Rath

On Friday night, the Queen of the Jewel organization via its National Director Opal Enriquez issued a release cutting short the reign of Rebecca Rath as Miss Belize Universe 2016.  Word of the premature end to her reign reached Rath via the news and social media. Effective immediately, the official title of Miss Belize 2017 and all affiliated duties as the reigning Miss Belize will pass to the 2016 first runner-up, Marcia Moody of San Ignacio in the Cayo District, wrote Enriquez in a lengthy release. She also informed that there will not be a 2017 Miss Belize pageant and once again Belize has not been issued the license to return to the international stage of pageantry.  While the release didn’t go insofar as to strip Rath of her title, her one-year reign was cut drastically short; by four months to be exact. Today, News Five spoke with Enriquez who says Rath has not been “dethroned.”

On the Phone: Opal Enriquez, National Director, Queen of the Jewel

“It’s really just not like that. I just did a previous interview and I have to say that we want to move forward in a positive respect with respect to everybody. We also want to give Marcia an opportunity to garner the sponsorship that she needs in order to represent Belize in Miss International later this year. She only has a few months to get ready and she needs all the support that she can possibly get to do that. In reference to Rebecca, I want to make it clear that Belize does not have a contract for Miss Universe for 2017. There were several applicants for the contract and nobody was awarded it because it is annual; and for that reason, there will be no Miss Belize Pageant 2017. For that reason and also for the fact that my availability has changed drastically.  In terms of Rebecca’s term being cut short, Rebecca is still Miss Belize Universe 2016. She’s allowed to do appearances; she is allowed to give her speeches. I sent a letter to Rebecca saying listen Rebecca, you are not being fired, you are not being dethroned, you are not being terminated. All we are doing is giving Marcia an opportunity to get the things that she needs.”

Duane Moody

“Is there a reason why we didn’t get that license once again?”

On the Phone: Opal Enriquez

“Honestly Duane, I sent a letter to Miss Universe saying I am not going to have time. The license to date has not been issued to Belize. So as the term Miss Belize, I don’t have a time to do a pageant this year; I don’t have time to fly to Belize; there is no Miss Universe listen….so it is like alright, we didn’t have a pageant every year anyway. So we are just not going to have a pageant this year.”