Citizens on the street say farewell to Price
The news of his passing was greeted with both sadness and respect for the man that has been central in the history of Belize. Many paused today to pay tribute to the father of the nation. News Five’s Andrea Polanco was in the downtown area today and got the views of Belizeans from all walks of life.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The Right Honorable George Cadle Price is the first Prime Minister of Belize, the Father of Nation, and a national hero. But to scores of Belizeans, he was all that and more. Today we took to the street to canvass the sentiments of the people of Belize. They shared their most poignant memories of the late Leader Emeritus, on his work for the country:
Citizen #1
“Belize wouldn’t be the Belize that it is now if it wasn’t for Mr. Price. I grow up in Stann Creek and in days when I was growing up we neva had any doctor there or any. I remember having a bad toothache and I had to come up yah and it was rough. And Mr. Price was the one who put the road through from the Cayo road to Middlesex.”
Citizen #2
“But knowing Mr. Price, my mother was one of the first women who sold newspaper in this country so she used to, yeah Ms. Ivory Robinson. She used to sell the Belize Times, so we grow up knowing Mr. Price. So she had a lot of good praises for him especially when she got hold of her own house on Vernon Street where I still reside right now, through George Price. She always had good praises for him saying ‘mien if dah neva sake ah Mr. George we woulda deh outta door or some kinda ah thing.”
It was his personality, humble yet charismatic that engaged Belizeans and made him loved by thousands. His intelligence, integrity and patriotism paved the way for him to become the most respected man of all times in Belize:
Citizen # 3
“He was a very, very humble person, honest person. He worked hard for Belize, for all Belizeans right. I am very sad this morning to hear that he passed away at the age of ninety-two right. All Belizeans, the majority of Belizeans they are very sad also for his passing away.”
Citizen #4
“Well I used to then live in city; I use to live on Front Street.”
Andrea Polanco
“What year was this?”
Citizen #4
“That was about in the forties or so. But he used to walk around street to street and talk to us yuh know. Sometime he use to push ih hand under the door to come under the low verandah to visit with us and talk to us yuh know. We have a lotta fond memory with him, fond memories.”
Citizen #5
“When I was in school I knew him at that time and I noticed he was a person very friendly. Even after many years when we crossed paths he knew what school I was going to, what is my name, who is my family; so in that respect he had a brilliant memory and for that I always remembered him.”
Citizen #1
“I was telling this gentleman here he didn’t only help his friends; he has helped everybody, his enemies as well. So I look up to him greatly because he has done a lot for this country, not for me specifically but I enjoy whatever, but for the country. He is one that I don’t think we’ll ever get a replacement like him, so I thank God for Mr. Price.”
And those are but just a handful of personal testimonials of the late Rt. Honorable George Cadle Price. Countless Belizeans will remember him as a political leader for four decades. He championed the causes for his people and country, those liberties we enjoy today. He is best remembered as the man who married Belize, having served the country for his entire life. Reporting for News Five, I am Andrea Polanco.
Feeling sad about the passing of George Price, he was the essence of that wonderful Belizean personality. Behind the ready smile, caring and humble nature was a man of strength and perseverance, a true and honest leader of his country.
Your memory will live on, Rest In Peace.
Uncle George……You are one of a kind……YOU SET A GOOD EXAMPLE THAT HAS YET TO BE FOLLOWED.
PUT COUNTRY FIRST…..do what is best for the country.
TODAY WE HAVE PIRATES ROBBING THEIR OWN COUNTRY…who call themselves POLITICIANS.
R.I.P.
A one and only true leader who cared about all his people he was never a lackie or a racist.
The villages in Corozal North will always remember the father of the nation. we have lost a father. His humility, his love for us belizeans will always be in our hearts. it seems just like yesterday when he walked through our streets in Patchakan, when he ate amoung us. when he visited us he chose the humblest home to have lunch. He used to love eating corn tortilla cooked in the firehearth and “pirishpak” (tomatoes fried with eggs). Your memory will remain in our hearts.
Rt Hon Price was for the people of Belize and we all loved him. These politicians on both sides of the fence could learn from him. Looked how every one commented: how he walked the streets, he would come to their homes, sit and eat with them irrespective of the colour. Why? Because he was humble, he remain in Pickstock st with his people, he wasn’t greedy or selfish.
These politicians today as soon as they are elected, they moved in bigger properties, become rich, they only grin with you at election time, and can’t even return a phone call. This the reason why people are so emotional. Charlie know that your uncle was well loved, as he was a man of the people. He didn’t discriminate and we loved him in return, I must agree with you Rod.
Hon. George Price, our first Prime Minister: May you rest in peace. We all have a lesson or two learned from you. Now we must show that your sacrifice to build this nation was not in vain. My condolences to your family and our beloved nation of Belize.Viva Belice, Long live Belize!!!
In a time when the country is struggle and only news is killing .drug bust and thing we should all pray for Mr.Price and think about how to help the country the way he did and how he would have deal with these problems that plagues the JEWELL…
Well done, thou good and faithful servant of God and the People. Very well done. Farewell and Rest In Peace.
Belizeans, let us unite – not behind partisan bias – but for our country and for our People.
George C. Price, the GREATEST. You will always be in the hearts of the noble, humble, hard-working and honest Belizean. You, with the help of the almighty, have given us a country. You have asked us to “build the nation.” You set the example of honest and good governance, but few have listen to you. May your soul rest in peace and may the Lord accept you in home of eternal happiness. Condolences to the Price Family.