News Five looks back at Independence 1981
Tonight the dignitaries, the B.D.F. band and patriotic citizens will gather at the courthouse wharf in Belize City for a ceremony to bring in Independence. But eighteen years ago, the festivities were up the street at the Government House and it wasn’t only the local media who was paying attention. The international press was also there to cover the historic occasion as the Union Jack came down and the Belizean flag went up for the first time. Tonight News Five is pleased to bring you this slice of history, captured by the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC and rebroadcast in a story for Belize’s own “Belize All Over” in 1987.
Like any September in Belize the citizens were on the march, but this year in addition to the Red Cross, the Boys Scouts and friendly societies there would be soldiers of the British Army. Royalty was arriving, in this case Prince Michael of Kent appointed to represent the Crown in the transition from colony to nation.
In the days prior to the twenty-first the prince, accompanied by the governor and the premier, toured the country by helicopter. Where ever they stopped entertainment was never far away.
While the people danced, British and Belizean troops kept a careful look towards the border. Guatemala, alone among the family of nations, had failed to endorse our Independence, as we were reminded by the signs at the border. But opposition to Independence was not limited to Guatemala. Here in Belize the United Democratic Party boycotted the festivities. Dr. Theodore Aranda was at that time Leader of the Opposition.
Q: “Dr. Aranda what is your attitude towards Independence?”
Dr. Theodore Aranda, Leader of the Opposition, U.D.P.
“We will not have much to do with Independence; we just won’t have anything to do with it at all.”
BBC
“You can’t stop it.”
Dr. Theodore Aranda
“We may not be able to stop it but we just don’t like what is being done to our country and to our people. Britain is a very powerful nation so we can’t stop that yes, but we don’t like what’s being done to us.”
Q: “So what do you think is going to happen after Independence?”
Dr. Theodore Aranda
“Not so much what I think is gonna happen, but what I know is going to happen. Belize is going to be in a whole heap of trouble, that’s for sure.”
Q: “Do you expect the Guatemalans will invade?”
Dr. Theodore Aranda
“Guatemala is just one of the problems that we have. The guerrilla forces of Central America is another, Belizeans are so polarized is another, the economic development of the country is another. So Belize has a lot of problems that should have been solved before now but have never been.”
Q: “The country is going to be independent you cannot stop it, why not join in the celebrations like everybody else?”
Dr. Theodore Aranda
“Our concern is beyond celebrations; we are more concerned about the safety of Belize than we are about celebrations. If it was just a matter of dancing and jumping all over the street and that would solve the problem yes, we would do that. But it just so happens that that is not the way things are; that’s not life.”
Q: “Do you expect the British not to protect you after Independence?”
Dr. Theodore Aranda
“We know the British won’t do that. They may stay for a couple of weeks, a couple of months for that matter but we don’t expect the British to stay and they won’t…”
Dr. Aranda was soon replaced as Leader of the U.D.P. He went on to form his own party, the Christian Democrats and has recently joined the Opposition People’s United Party.
September twentieth, 1981, minutes before midnight.
(British flag is lowered and replaced by the Belizean flag)
George Price, Leader, P.U.P.
“Ladies and gentlemen on your behalf may I offer a toast to Her Majesty the Queen of Belize and the Head of the Commonwealth.”
September twenty-first, 1981 Independence Day.
In a programming note, we regret that Channel Five will not be broadcasting tonight’s flag raising ceremonies, but urge all Belizeans to come out to the courthouse wharf at eleven p.m. for the occasion to be followed by fireworks. This year the official ceremonies on the twenty-first will be held in Belmopan beginning at nine a.m. The uniform parade will still be in Belize City and starts immediately following the official ceremonies in the nation’s capital. The traditional jump-up or street fest is on Regent and Albert Streets.
