Leader of the Opposition Independence Unity Speech

Francis Fonseca

The prime minister was not alone in showering tribute to the late father of the nation, who died last year on September nineteenth and has been hailed as the greatest leader the country ever had. The Leader of the Opposition, Francis Fonseca, also gave reverence to first Prime Minister George Price. Fonseca also called for collaboration and consultation.

Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition

“One year ago that the Lord called home this good and faithful servant. The Lord saw that he had grown weary after a life of work and service to his people and nation. If but for a brief moment, our nation stood united in its loss and sorrow. Thousands travelled from our cities towns and villages to pay their final respects and honor the man whose tireless efforts and sacrifice above and beyond all others had made it possible for us to be Belizean. Maya, Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna, East Indian, Mennonite, Asian, Hindu, Arab, African; we all mourned as one. On this Independence Day, let us renew our commitment to this unity of spirit and purpose and let us guard against the growing danger of intense individualism. A healthy democracy is not simply a society in which individuals pursue their own goals; democracy flourishes when it is tended by citizens prepared and willing to use their freedom to actively engage in the life of their nation—adding their voices to the public debate, electing representatives who values reflect their aspirations and accepting the absolute requirement for consultation dialogue respect and tolerance in a free society. Independence, even thirty-one years on, offers us no guarantees. It is both a promise and a challenge. It is a promise that Belizeans working together van govern ourselves in a manner that will serve our aspirations for personal freedom, economic prosperity and social justice. It is a challenge because the success of that independence rests upon the shoulders of the citizens of Belize and no one else. Independence requires that we Belizeans share both in its benefits and its burdens. We, who have embraced the work of nation building and self-government, must commit ourselves to the principles of individual freedom, human rights and the rule of law for those who are yet to come.”