Derek Aikman Passes Away at 59
Derek Aikman
Well-known Derek Aikman died over the weekend at the age of fifty-nine. A colourful personality, Aikman rose to prominence with the United Democratic Party in 1984 when in a major upset, he unseated former Prime Minister George Price in the Freetown Division. But in 1992, Aikman was declared bankrupt and expelled from the House. He also made the headlines in 1993 when he defected from the U.D.P. to form the National Alliance for Belizean Rights, NABR, along with Phillip Goldson amid the controversy surrounding the signing of Maritime Areas Act. He rejoined the U.D.P. and attempted a political comeback in the Fort George constituency in 1998, but was thrashed by Said Musa. Most recently, Aikman was involved with a movement known as BUFERHD, Belizeans United For Equal Rights at Home and Diaspora, advocating for Belizeans living overseas to be able to lawfully participate in the upcoming I.C.J. referendum. Aikman passed away on Sunday. In remembering the social and political activist, we revisit his participation as an audience member in a town hall meeting organized by Channel Five on the I.C.J. Referendum.
Derek Aikman, BUFERHD
“My name is Derek Aikman. I am so happy that I followed that question from Ms. Cansino. Minister, I have a flash drive in my pocket of an interview you did a couple months ago at the airport, upon returning from a visit abroad with Marisol Amaya and I quote you. You said that the Maritime Areas Act was bad for Belize and that you were concerned that it will work against us at the I.C.J. In that same interview you’ve went on to say that on that recent trip in London, you also learned of some more atrocious things that the People’s United Party government did post the Maritime Areas Act that you are concerned will come to haunt us at the I.C.J. Could you please tell us tonight why the Maritime Areas Bill was bad, according to you, for Belize and the adverse effect it would have against us at the I.C.J. and could you disclose to the Belizean people what are these things that you found out in London that the People’s United Party did that can come to haunt us even more at the I.C.J. Thank you.”
