A Tribute to the Leader Emeritus

The love from the Freetown Division for the Father of the Nation, Right Honorable George Price, is strong among supporters of his generation who worked the peaceful, constructive revolution. But how do young people relate to Price? This morning on the eve of independence, News Five’s Andrea Polanco got reaction from high school students.

Citizen

“He was a man who dedicated himself to his country and his family. He never gave up the thought of independence, he fought hard for it and when he got it he was the only leader in the Caribbean who took his nation to independence without bloodshed. And I must say that we should be proud of the man who led the country for so many years in such a peaceful manner. We must always remember that George Price was the greatest leader the country ever had.”

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

While the older citizens of Belize grieve the loss of this iconic Belizean figure, the younger generation shared their views on the man who wore many hats, the late Right Hon. George Cadle Price:

Asher Mendoza

Asher Mendoza, Third Form, E.P Yorke

“It meant, it was very sorrowful at first but then in the end I felt like a great glory, victory right; because he was the father of the nation right? He stressed, he pressed, he strained for us and he continued to uphold the country and try to bring them up from a lesser developed country to a more developed country so that was quite meaningful to me”

Kyle Perez, First Form, St. John’s College

Kyle Perez

“Well it was very sad because he was also a part of the St. John’s Family so it was a really hard thing to take and he was a good person in life.”

Asher Canto, Fourth Form E.P. Yorke

“Right Honorable George Cadle Price, he’s the father of our nation and personally I think he was a good man. He did a lot of good things for our country. My feelings towards him, he had a successful life.”

Asher Canto

While Belize prepares to celebrate thirty years of sovereignty, a movement led by the Father of the nation, the young people weigh their thoughts on independence and the progress of the nation:

Asher Mendoza

“Basically for the political part, the leaders I see that most of them try to do their best in each different sector and dimension of where they work. But I have seen maturity in our leaders and that has grown very much.”

Ashley Rudon

Ashley Rudon, Third Form Nazarene High School

“Well Belize got its independence; it makes its own elections for the Prime Minister for your own Prime Minister who you think is good. That it is a free country.”

While some believe it is fitting for the country to observe a day in honor of the late leader, the young students had consensus on the idea:

Zarina Zetina

Zarina Zetina, Fourth Form, Pallotti High School

“Yes I believe that we should have a special day for the honorable George Cadle Price, as he is the father of our nation. He is the one who brings about the independence, bring us Belize. If it wasn’t for him we probably won’t be here as it is.”

Asher Mendoza

“I am not really against it I am for it because it expresses our gratitude to him so I don’t mind. It is our privilege to have it for him.”

Shawna Cal

Shawna Cal, Fourth Form, Pallotti

“Yes I do believe that because we should honor him for what he did so I do believe that we should have a George Price Day.”

Asher Canto

“George Cadle Price Day, yes, people in my class they love the fact of another holiday, who doesn’t? But I am more of an academic student. I do not mind another holiday but to me it all boils down to the government, if they want it they can have it; paying my respects, I would love to have it.”

Michelle Vernon

Michelle Vernon, Fourth Form, Nazarene High School

“Yes because he was the father of the nation like you said because he was a humble man and he didn’t worry about being rich or fame or anything he just wanted our country to be free.”

Hubert Joseph, Fourth Form Nazarene High School

Hubert Joseph

“Yes ma’m I would like to see that because he is someone that we should honor because he did, he brought us where we are today so I will like to  honor him every year yuh know, continue to celebrate his achievements for our country.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Andrea Polanco.