George Price Day is Celebrated!
On Friday, as Belize commemorated the first George Price Day – now a National Public and Bank Holiday – People’s United Party officials along with family members of the late Father of the Nation gathered for a wreath-laying ceremony. Every January fifteenth, since his passing, the tradition has been held to celebrate the birth of George Cadle Price. This year, News Five’s Duane Moody was there and filed this report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
On what would have been his one hundred and second birthday, the Government of Belize recently made January fifteenth a public and bank holiday in recognition of George Cadle Price. Renowned as the Father of the Nation, Price was the premier of the country who would later become the first prime minister and led Belize to independence in 1981. Price was also the leader of government for six consecutive terms.
Henry Charles Usher
Henry Charles Usher, Chairman, P.U.P.
“We have national heroes, and I believe we have more than two national heroes even though only two have been named. But we have a lot of national heroes that deserve recognition, deserve acknowledge, deserve praise, and we need to have a day set aside where we can say this is national hero day, which is March ninth. But even though we have so many national heroes, we only have one Father of the nation, and that is the right honourable George Price. And so it is important for this country to come together, to be united and to celebrate George Price Day for what it represents.”
George Price
Annually on this day, the People’s United Party, which he led for decades, would hold a ceremony at his grave, where wreaths are laid. Family, friends, and government officials gathered to honour him as B.D.F. personnel participated in the activities. Party Chairman and grandnephew of Price, Henry Charles Usher, says that “Uncle George” was known for three main principles, which he lived by.
Henry Charles Usher
“Social justice, liberty, national happiness—those three critical principles that we find in our national prayer are principles that we need to live by and celebrate today.”
Dian Maheia
Dian Maheia, Relative of George Price
“Today as we gather to honour him, I keep thinking about the lessons we learned from him—the humility, the service, the faith—but more I have been thinking about why it matters. Why is it so important for us to continue to pay our respects to this humble, gentleman? Why do we need to teach our children about him? Why do we all need to learn these lessons. We need to learn these lessons because they are as relevant today as they were when Mister Price was here with us. Mister Price‘s service to Belize has been unmatched. His dedication to building this nation and to working for our common good is unquestionable. And he worked quietly without looking for fanfare, without fancy degrees. Image the good we could all do if we followed this example.”
In his government speech, acting Prime Minister Cordel Hyde says Price lived the ideals of social justice, building roads to indigenous people in the south and making the people independent.
Cordel Hyde
Cordel Hyde, Acting Prime Minister
“This may be George Price Day, but this is really the people’s day as he would have no doubt preferred it. We claim him as ours in the People’s United Party, but actually he is ours as Belizeans. Before there was a Pope Francis, there was a George Price; the humblest of leaders the world has ever seen.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
