U.C.B. launches first book
One of the things that universities are supposed to do, in addition to holding classes, is to conduct research and publish it in books. In the case of our own University College of Belize, it’s taken a while, but the first of what will hopefully be many books, is hot off the U.C.B. press. This morning it was formally unveiled.
The book, “An Oral History of Land, Property and Real Estate Development in Belize City,” takes us back over a thirty six year period, beginning when the old capital was destroyed by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. According to the author, Doctor Joe Iyo, a Lecturer at the University College of Belize, most of the information he gathered for the book was from numerous interviews he held with key individuals of the community. Although the endeavor demanded much time and patience, Iyo said he enjoyed the work and could not help but be reminded of how his interest in oral history all got started.
Joe Iyo, Author
“I come from a tradition of oral history in the sense that I grew up keeping up late with my parents to eavesdrop on their discussions. Usually at nine clock you suppose to go to bed and the stories would be on and on and you would just be keen on listening through the window, though they think you would be asleep.
In my choice of oral history of lands, property and real estate development in Belize City. Now this 1961, as you do know, flooded Belize and destroyed most of the documents that would give us most of the information regarding the past of that event. So I said let me take this to the people who were either participants or actors or witness to the events that took place between 1961 and 1997. And my choice of informants or what you would refer to as a snowball effect: you go to an informant and you talk to him about the various aspect of what you want to do, and they lead you onto another person they think can give you adequate information on the other aspects that they lack so you get one, two, three, twenty something different versions of the past and this is where the historical craft becomes important.”
For Nicholas Pollard, also a Belizean historian, the book is a refreshing addition to what is available on the market.
Nick Pollard
“Several books have been coming out from the Angelus Press and Cubola Productions of late, mostly on poetry, folktales and the proverbial anti-British colonialism. I fear most of them have been gathering dust on the bookshelves when not forced upon by the attention of our unwitting students. The Doctor Iyo’s book is a refreshingly different and unique publication about Belize. Not only on style or technical craftsmanship but in context very attractive.”
“An Oral History of Land, Property and Real Estate Development in Belize City” is U.C.B’s first publication.
The book is on sale at the Angelus Press for nine, ninety five.
