Over 2,000 students attend pre-independence day rally

It’s an annual event held just before Independence Day and this year was no different as primary school children from throughout the country gathered in their respective district for a Children’s Rally. The Belize City version was held at the City Centre and there was no shortage of participation from the audience and on stage. Over two thousand children waved flags as they enjoyed entertainment in the form of dancing, poetry, and drama. For Minister of Education, Patrick Faber and Deputy Chief Education Officer, Carol Babb, it’s important for children to develop a sense of patriotism.

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“I want to make the appeal to all students who are expected to go out and march, all the schools, to not let those evil perpetrators stop us from celebrating our nations twenty-seventh anniversary of independence. Let us celebrate, let us go out and wave our flags, let us go out and jump up, let them not make us afraid, let them be afraid of us because we are by far a more powerful force than those few out there who are doing evil deeds.”

Carol Babb, C.E.O., Ministry of Education
“It’s a time for them to focus on patriotism, to focus on love of country, to focus on the wonderful things that education can do for them. So I think it is significant and I think it is a good thing that we have it yearly.”

Marion Ali
“If you had a message what would that message be?”

Carol Babb
“I would advise the children to stay in school to try to follow the examples of our good patriots particularly those people who try to do the best for our beloved country Belize.”