The Sound and the Fury: Belizeans Rally Against LGBT and Corruption

While the House debated, outside in the Belmopan sun, a selection of the population railed and called on the Prime Minister and his government to defend the nation from social ills and regain their rapidly fading trust. Correspondent Aaron Humes reports from Independence Hill.

Aaron Humes, Reporting

On this sunny Friday in the nation’s capital, hundreds that grew to two thousand, Belizeans from around the country gathered and effectively displayed their great dissatisfaction with the general state of affairs in the Jewel. To those we spoke with, Belize’s luster has been tarnished by the demands of a minority – which if they are to be believed, conflict with the views of an overwhelming majority.

Fitz Howard

Fitz Howard, Protestor

“I feel like the referendum on Section 53 should be appealed by the government because I don’t think the population, I don’t think the people agree with what’s going on right now. In other words, I di say, give we a chance to have a referendum and hear what we have to say on it. And if after the referendum says we decide to go ahead with it, then we at least had a chance to vote and show our rights.”

Jaime Requeña

Jaime Requeña, Protestor

“If you notice what my sign says here, “Belize—Land of the Free.” This is land of the free, but not free for same sex marriage. And you know how I got this, when I was praying to God and the Lord said to me that I need you to take this out there. I am taking this out so that everyone can see that Belize is land of the free. Let’s remember all of the sacrifices that our forefathers did. I know if George Price was living, he would not have tolerated something like this in the nation of Belize, because he gave his all for the nation of Belize.”

Moses Sulph

Moses Sulph, Protestor

“You are here today not because of same sex, but because of how God created us to be. Your mother did what God said to do…go forth and multiple with another man—that is why you are here today. I want to say to all of those who are opposed to those who are speaking the truth, without their parents being with the opposite sex, they would not be here today. So therefore, it is easy for them to understand that if same sex marriage were allowed, then they would not be here today.”

And despite his repeated disavowals publicly, these Belizeans believe Prime Minister Dean Barrow is the one man that stands between the amendment of Section Fifty-Three of the Criminal Code and accelerated moral and social decay.

Richard Whylie

Richard Whylie, Protestor

“The Prime Minister got power; ih could do anything weh he want. It all boil down to he; he dah the one weh have to make sure everything go back into order. They say ih legalize; directly we wah meet man and man di kiss pan street.”

Reporter

“But it is their choice? They can decide that.”

Richard Whylie

“Yes, we noh di say no, but come on before it get out of hand, betta we stop that.”

Cecilia Lazaro

Cecilia Lazaro, Protestor

“If they want to legalize sodomy—and let’s not play di fool because at the end of the day that’s what it boils down to—then you can legalize anything. And at the end of the day, it is free for all, we become Sodom and Gomorrah. I am here for two reasons: I do not want section fifty-three and I want any government that goes in to sign that anti-corruption convention. We are tired of this. Whether it is U.D.P., P.U.P. or any kind of P, all of them ends with people and the people wants trust. We are tired of corruption. Both parties have gone in and they were voted in because the trust was put there, but when you don’t act on that trust, at the end of the day, the people will tell you and that is why we are here today.”

And if he does not act, Brackett and Pastor Louis Wade, a co-organizer of today’s protest, say the people will.

Louis Wade

Louis Wade, Co-Organizer

“The Church was out here on Tuesday; today, the church is here, cola is here, the union is here, I want my country back is here. Therefore the prime minister need to at least, if he can see the optics right, need to start to say the people and not the church because it is the people that’s out here and people have the right to speak on behalf of their Christian values without him saying the church. If LGBT could talk about fi dehn rights; you don’t hear the church di talk about church rights. So we are not interested in the prime minister or anybody giving us church rights. We want rights as citizens of the nation of Belize.”

Geovannie Brackett

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA

“Next, civil disobedience…I want to tell you we will share a letter and you will see even why the unions are quiet. And I will tell you categorically that you will see serious civil disobedience. If we have to shet light, water and telephone down…be expected.”

Ominous warnings from a nation awakened. From Belmopan, Aaron Humes reporting for News Five.