Faber Says the Youth Shall Inherit Belize

Patrick Faber

The deputy P.M. made reference to the coming of new, younger leadership as the older generation, including Prime Minister Dean Barrow, departs. Faber addressed the importance and necessity of change for Belize, especially through the young people now rising through the ranks in business, politics and other sectors of society. He said they must be taught our history and culture to ensure their loyalty. Faber also reiterated a call to fight crime, violence and corruption which he said plagued the Belizean society.

Patrick Faber, Co-Chair, September Celebrations Commission

“We have mainstreamed Belizean history into our primary and secondary school curriculum, and have dedicated Flag Day on September first. It is amazing to see and hear our children sing our national anthem and wave our flag with pride. But as was the focus of my address to the children at the Children’s Rally last Friday, our teachers and parents must ensure that our children learn the words of the national anthem, so they may even more emphatically declare themselves, with every rendition, loyal to our beautiful Belize. Our flag is not only a symbol of unity and democracy, it is also the most visible expression of how we portray ourselves to the rest of the world, so teaching our children about our flag, about our history, is an investment that will aid us as we transcend into the period post this thirty-sixth anniversary of our Independence. This, ladies and gentlemen, is evidence of progress in the face of all adversity. We choose to renew our resolve because we are resilient. We have respect for the democratic process, and we believe that our youth, our rich history and our diverse cultures are essential elements of nation-building. As I close these remarks to commemorate the thirty-six years of our nationhood, I highlight, and in some respect reiterate, that as Belizeans we need to be united in solving the Belize-Guatemala dispute; there ought be absolutely no room for lip service to that unity – if ever there is a cause for total unity, this is it. We must also put our exertion strongly into fighting the destructive roots of crime, violence and corruption that now seem to have invaded all levels of this society.”