Late PM Esquivel’s Remains Lying in State; Belizean Leader Pay Respects
It was a sombre moment today as the remains of two-time Prime Minister Doctor Sir Manuel Esquivel were escorted to the House of Culture in Belize City for the official viewing. The two-day event culminates on Wednesday with a ceremonial send off, and is part of a state memorial that has been accorded for the late Sir Manuel Esquivel and which will be carried live on this station. News Five’s Duane Moody reports on day one.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The state memorial for the late Doctor Sir Manuel Esquivel commenced at one p.m. sharp. As Lady Kathy Esquivel and one of her daughters were escorted into a waiting pickup, out came four B.D.F. soldiers – one of whom carried the remains of the former two-time Prime Minister in an urn. As the national anthem was played by the B.D.F. band, it was a solemn moment as residents stood watch while his children and grandchildren walked behind them. The motorcade travelled down Queen Street over the Swing Bridge and onto Albert Street before making its way to the final stop at the House of Culture on Regent Street. While vehicle traffic was barred from obstructing the path of the motorcade, some residents braved the rains to witness the event.
Norman Rodriguez
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney-at-law
“I remember running in the Belize City council elections in 1996 and 2003 and I still have the letter that he signed thanking me for participating and contributing where I can. It is really a sad day to see someone like Sir Doctor Manuel Esquivel leaving us the way he did. He had a lot to offer and I was able to glean some of that history from him. So it is really a sad day and personally I think he stands out as the best prime minister this country has seen. I don’t think many people would argue with that.”
Due to COVID regulations, At the House of Culture, the white picket fence and the military and police guards separated a few residents who carried umbrellas, paying their respects from a distance.
Dalton Franklin
Dalton Franklin, Belize City Resident
“I am just out here to pay my respect for a past leader of the country, for a man who some might say didn’t do much good. But to me, everyone who leaves the country did something good for the country, so I am just here to pay my respect for a man who served the country.”
Duane Moody
“You have any memory of him, when he was a leader? How old were you when that…”
Dalton Franklin
“Well I would say I was a young boy. I was early teenager so I won’t have many fond memories, but the only memories that sticks around would be the one that they broadcast on the news. I won’t say what it is, everyone know what they broadcast on the news. But I would say there are better things to say about the man so I would not say that.”
The official viewing began just after two p.m. when Prime Minister John Briceño was escorted into the state room inside the House of Culture. The media wasn’t allowed to enter the compound, but we did manage to capture the arrivals. Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow was also among the list of government officials to attend.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“He did not want a funeral; he wanted a celebration with musicians. That we had in common, I being a musician and very passionate for the fine arts. What I contemplate about Sir Doctor Esquivel as I had said in my Facebook post was his prudent and collective governance. In speaking to people who were there in that era, one of the things that was most noteworthy about his leadership is the fact that he did not do things for individuals, but he did things for the collective. So it was never about a quid pro quo as much as it was about the nation and having systematic impact, collective impact. And so it is something that inspires me because I like to think of myself more so as a nationalist as a patriot that thinks about all Belizeans.”
Sir. Manuel Esquivel
Doctor Sir Manuel Esquivel had wanted to be a physicist and shared his love of science with his students. He later got involved politics and went on to become Prime Minister in 1984 and then again in 1993. Union Senator and National President of the Belize National Teachers Union, Elena Smith also paid her respects to the former physics teacher.
Elena Smith
Senator Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.
“Not everybody may have appreciated his leadership style and the way he managed things when he was the Prime Minister, but I think for the most part we have not heard too many negative things about his leadership. And so this is a time for us to pay tribute to his work, to his contributions to our country. But also for me, he was a teacher so for me as a teacher and as the leader of the teachers union, I thought it just fitting for me to be here – not only as a parliamentarian, but also in my role as a teacher and as union leader as well.
having had a teacher rise up to that rank, it is our hope and I hope it is the hope of our younger teachers that one day – I may be too old for that now – but there must be somebody in the profession who may have that kind of aspiration and can one day also become the prime minister of our country.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
