Spirit lacking for September celebrations
In case you were wondering what has happened to this year’s September celebrations, don’t worry, you’re not alone. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods took a walk around Belize City, only to find that the spirit has not yet seemed to catch fire.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
There may be a few businesses in downtown Belize City that have started decorating their buildings for the September celebrations, but judging from those banners that can be seen you would think we were getting ready for an election instead of our twentieth birthday party.
Citizen #1
“I think it is not really prepared. We really no feel in the spirit of the celebrations.
Jacqueline Woods
“What do you think needs to be done in order to get people in the mood?”
Citizen #1
“I think it has to be with government, because they usually say that tenth of September is for the UDP’s and twenty-first for the PUP’s. so it has to be something with the government and that shouldn’t be in it any at all, celebrations is a celebration.”
Citizen #2
“Everybody more interested than years gone by, but now everybody has sides, they just don’t care much.”
Citizen #3
“I no see nothing yet, but I’m in the mood though.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What do you plan to do for the celebrations?”
Citizen #3
“Go party.”
However, the September Committee says while they are trying to promote the mood they advise everyone, especially businesses, not to wait for them to start the celebrations. Everyone must do their part to make the occasion an enjoyable one.
Ernesto Vasquez, Exec. Director, Sept. Celebrations Committee
“They are waiting some official or government to put money on the street, then they put theirs. We’d like to change this around, we would like to have when September comes around the radio station start playing the national songs or whatever to get in the mood and immediately buildings start putting up their decorations. We do it for Christmas, why can’t we do it for our national celebrations.”
However, the September Celebrations Committee says there will be functions throughout the month for everyone to attend and enjoy. According to Ernesto Vasquez, the committee’s executive director,
in the past a lot of money was spent on activities that people were either not aware of or they simply did not attend. This year there are far less government sponsored events.
Ernesto Vasquez
“Yes in the sense of the ones you had like the poetry reading contest, some karaoke contest here or there, yes. But, the main events, which is the tenth of September, the twenty-first and the flag raising event, which if you look at the programme, that is being hosted. In other words, what we’re doing, is concentrating it in one event instead of scattering out in little events and we don’t get any reaction to it.
“At the City Centre will be, I hope they can take it, will be very busy this year, with Leon Coldero, Byron Lee, Del and the Sensations, they are all coming in.”
The committee has focused its attention and has targeted the private sector to get involved in the programme.
Ernesto Vasquez
“I think too much dependency has been put on public money, on tax payer’s money to pay for, if it means putting a coconut palm on the lamp post, this is what we’re used to. The direction is try to be a little more economic, more frugal and spend the money wisely instead of wasting it, trying to use it in official events and encourage the private sector. If you look at our programme, ninety percent of it is all private events. And we don’t have everything everyday, but we do need a break, it’s a full programme.”
As for the street decorations…a company, Suprem Creations has been contracted to do the work at a cost of close to ten thousand dollars. That work is expected to start by the weekend. Reporting for News 5 Jacqueline Woods.
The celebration’s most popular single event, Carnival, will blast off this Saturday. If you can’t be on hand for the fun, catch it live beginning at 1:00 p.m. right here on Channel 5.
