Official Funeral Held for COVID-19 Victim Area Rep David “Dido” Vega
It was a solemn afternoon in Corozal Town, across the country and within the People’s United Party, as the man affectionately known as the “gentle giant” was laid to rest. An official funeral was held earlier today for recently elected P.U.P. Corozal Bay area representative David “Dido” Vega this afternoon. Vega died on Friday morning; hours before he was suppose to be sworn in along with his colleagues as a parliamentarian. He had lost the battle with COVID-19, succumbing from complications at Belize Healthcare Partners Limited. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo reports.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
An official funeral for David Dido Vega was held this afternoon at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Corozal Town. The forty-seven-year-old recently elected Corozal Bay Area Representative died from COVID-19 complications on Friday morning hours before he was scheduled to take the oath of allegiance of office.
Vega was hospitalized for more than a week, but the well-known son of the Bay and math teacher could no longer keep on fighting. And because he didn’t take his oath on Friday, an official funeral, instead of a state funeral, was held in his memory today.
A group of men in hazmat suits carried the casket into the tomb while the Vega family, the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and other political colleagues and friends said their last goodbyes.
One of those close friends was Gilvano Swasey who read the eulogy for the man dubbed as the ‘gentle giant.’
Gilvano Swasey
Gilvano Swasey, Friend
“At first people didn’t really know D. he had been away for so long. He had lost his convention by only twelve votes. After many years or pursuing and overcoming many articles, he finally won the general elections by over four hundred votes on November eleventh 2020. The people of Corozal Town bay were so happy. The gentle giant had won and they had big hopes in him. A few days before his birthday, which was on December fifth, he fell ill. He tested positive for COVID-19. He battled with this deadliest disease and many people were praying and were concerned. On eleventh December exactly one month after his victory at the polls he was called by our creator who saw that he was suffering. D is now with his loving parents and little his brother and heaven has gain an angel. He is where there is no pain and no suffering.”
Vega’s political brother in the north, Florencio Marin Junior read the government’s official remembrance during which he highlighted Vega’s mathematical skill and passion to make a difference.
Florencio Marin Jr.
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defence & Border Security
“In the year 2014, I remember Dido coming to me to say he was ready to enter the political field. I asked him Dido, you sure? This is rough you know. He told me Deputy I am as sure as the time I wanted my bachelor’s degree. I had no money. I saved enough for a one way ticket to Florida and went and just parked in front of the university. I asked him again, and he repeated the same story. From them I was convinced that he had that drive, inner strength, the right material to be a P.U.P. standard bearer and one who would deliver for us. He did return successful with his bachelor’s degree. Dido had a gift; a mathematical mind. I remember during the counting for the last municipal elections like twenty minutes afterwards he texted me: we are going to win. I was skeptical and so I called him and he said I am in the counting room and I am ninety-nine point six percent sure that we are going to win; upon hearing that, I was celebrating already. This skill he repeated for several village council elections in my area. I remember another time he was in the counting room and he called me early and he said we win deputy. That all I needed to know. He said this young man said that he went to Teacher Dido and he asked him for help. Dido knowing full well this young parents were U.D.P. supporters he did not hesitate. He immediately gave assistance for the school fees. The student said, Teacher Zenny we really needed that help. Of course I will vote for him. No man stands so tall as he stood to help the less fortunate. David Dido Vega was a tall ad a giant man.”
But, a man, nonetheless, whose body couldn’t successfully fight off the COVID-19 virus. He was a humble man, easy to connect with, charismatic and inspiring. His friend Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa says Dido’s vision must be realized.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
“For years, Dido Vega built a community movement in Corozal Bay based on two big ideas: the community first and the youth at the table of power. Dido was a mathematician with an incalculable love for people. His work as a teacher established his credibility among the young and he harnessed the aspirations into the work of nation building. So his victory on November eleventh 2020 was not just a Did Vega or a P.U.P. win but a victory to shape a better society. Your brother was a fighter like no other, a champion like no other. We owe it to the gentle giant to keep our appointment with history. We must work together to deliver on his dream, new hope for the Bay. I end how he ended all his phone calls with me, okay hermano we stay so. Rest in Peace warrior of the bay, Dido Vega.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
