Calendar released for September Celebrations

This September Belizeans will be celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of our Independence and the two hundred and eighth anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye. And while the festivities have had their ups and downs over the years, today the September Celebrations Committee made it clear that next month’s revelry will be long, large and meaningful.

Alyssa Noble, Reporting
This morning, the September Celebrations Committee launched its official calendar of events at the Belize House of Culture. And according to Committee Chairman and Minister of Tourism Godfrey Smith, this year?s version will feature a variety of new activities.

Godfrey Smith, Chairman, Sept. Celeb. Committee
?The September Celebrations Committee, a very good and diverse team, has been meeting for at least three months. A couple of innovations include ensuring that the playbill–we brought out for the first time a proper playbill, not a simple calendar. Which actually encapsulates activities all across Belize from North to South, East to West, that will be made available en masse. Right now the media has copies of it, so that is one new innovation. You are aware of course of the great piece that Frankie Reneau, our noted Belizean international composer, and a team of at least fifteen are working on that will be unveiled as well.?

In addition to these new innovations, the committee has also brought back Oldies but Goodies like the Independence Day Bram on Albert and Regent Streets and the Festival Grand Market.

Zenaida Moya, Mayor of Belize City
?I am sure everybody remembers when they used to go to Festival Grand Market and really enjoy themselves over the days. We will be bringing that back. We just feel that Albert and Regent Streets is the place to be. You know to be out there and have you different live bands out there and the different DJ?s. You know have the different stands where people can go out there and eat. How they seh it? Eat til you drop or something like that.?

This year?s festivities will be held under the theme ?A Nation Alive, a People with Pride, Belize at 25!? and according to it?s creator, Victor Cucul, coming up with the concept wasn?t easy.

Victor Cucul, First Place Winner, Sept. Celebrations Theme
?I came up with so many themes. I had was to add, I had was to subtract, it was very difficult for me. ut eventually I came up with the theme ?A Nation Alive, a People with Pride, Belize at Twenty-Five?. And I wrote it now for the intention of winning. I wrote it mainly because as a young person, I should do something for my country.?

And that patriotic expression has made Cucul a thousand dollars richer. As for what he will do with his prize money…

Victor Cucul
?I think I will go outside and buy an ice cream for everybody.?

Alyssa Noble
?A thousand dollars worth of ice cream? Am I included??

Victor Cucul
?Well, once you?re there, you?ll get right.?

But while many of Cucul?s friends are waiting for their belly full, the celebration?s organizers are high on music…

Godfrey Smith
?I can?t say any particular single one, but certainly the opus by Frankie Reneau and the fifty Belizean musicians is something I?m really looking forward to participating in along with all the other activities.?

Zenaida Moya
?I?m looking forward to hearing a lot of the September music. I love those patriotic type music, I mean, it just gives you cold seed. It?s like so beautiful to hear and I know we have wonderful artists.?

The official activities kick off on September first.

Alyssa Noble reporting for News Five.

If you would like more information, visit the Committee’s website at www.septembercelebrations.com.