George Price honoured by CARICOM

He was the father of Belizean independence and the man who has shaped the character of this country more than any other. Today we have received word that George Price, Belize’s leading political figure for the last half of the twentieth century, has been honoured by the region’s heads of government. It was announced at the recently concluded CARICOM Summit in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that Price will receive the Order of the Caribbean Community. This is the highest honour that CARICOM bestows and the former Prime Minister was cited for his role as a founder of that regional grouping as well as his leadership in Belize as the country’s first Premier and Prime Minister. Two other regional personalities were similarly selected. They are Dr. George Alleyne, a Barbadian who heads the Pan American Health Organisation and legendary Calypsonian, Slinger Francisco better known as the Mighty Sparrow. Others who have received the O.C.C., which was created in 1991, are Sir Shridath Ramphal, Dr. William Demas, Dr. Derek Walcott, Michael Manley, Sir Alistar McIntyre, Telford Georges, Dame Nita Barrow, Sir Phillip Sherlock, V.C. Bird, Sir Garfield Sobers and A.N.R. Robinson. Belize’s delegation to the St. Vincent Summit was headed by Prime Minister Said Musa, who returned to the country on Thursday.