Belizeans in London celebrate bicentennial of battle
September is the month in which Belizeans are asked to examine their attitude toward history… and for many that means deciding how close an ancestry to claim to those dashing figures known as the Baymen. But, as this next story demonstrates, not all the Baymen remained on this side of the Atlantic. Many — minus of course their slaves and concubines — are reliving the great victory in the comfort of the mother country.
While Belizeans celebrated the two hundredth anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye, Belize was not the only place where the event was commemorated. In London, September tenth witnessed an unusual celebration which marked long and close military ties between Belize and Great Britain. Over six hundred guests attended the black tie event which was hosted by Belize’s High Commissioner Dr. Ursula Barrow and Vice Admiral A.W.J. West of the Royal Navy. Principal sponsor was Michael Ashcroft, chairman of BHI Corporation, who was recently named as Belize’s ambassador to the United Nations.
The evening’s festivities included a re-enactment of the Battle of St. George’s Caye, performed in full sound and color by the Trafalgar Gun Company. More familiar military music was provided by the Royal Marine Band.
A dazzling dinner followed at which the Belizean and British guest list included diplomats and government officials. It was left to the U.K. Secretary of State for Defense, the Right Honorable George Robertson, to recall the long history of Anglo-Belizean military cooperation and prospects for the future.
George Robertson, U.K. Secretary of State, Defense
“Two hundred years from the Battle of St. George’s Caye to the present date the British Armed Forces have, as we’ve heard, been intimately involved with Belize. Since the British Garrison was withdrawn in 1994, strong links have still been maintained between the British Army Training Unit and Belize and the Belize Defense Force through an extensive program of training exchange.
And our armed forces still continue to derive great benefits from the excellent facility which Belize offers for jungle warfare and other types of training. And this war, as I see it, recognized in the Strategic Defense Tribune, which endorsed the requirement for a newly joined rapidly action forces to incorporate jungle trained units able to deploy to crisis.
And 1998 will see some two thousand British soldiers pass through training courses in Belize. So we are grateful for all that Belize has been able to offer our armed forces over the past two centuries and look forward to many more years of corporation.
We also wish happy birthday to Belize and many, many happy returns. Thank you very much.”
As a result of the party several thousand pounds were raised for Belizean charities.
