Placencia Rotary Honors Seniors From Peninsula Communities

Senior citizens from Placencia, Seine Bight and Riversdale were honoured on Saturday as the Rotary Club of Placencia hosted a special luncheon celebrating their contributions to their families and communities.  The “Rotary Luncheon for Seniors” was held at Tipsy Tuna Restaurant in Placencia Village. The event brought together residents aged sixty-five and older for an afternoon of food, fellowship and appreciation, with transportation provided by the Rotary Club.  Senior Rotarian and guest speaker Rene Villanueva Senior reflected on his personal connection to Placencia and the wider peninsula. Villanueva, who is seventy-six, recalled spending part of his childhood in the village, where his father, Edward Arthur Villanueva, was born and later met his mother, who had been assigned to the area as its first rural nurse.  Villanueva spoke about the development of Placencia from a small fishing community into a major tourism destination, while recognizing the families that helped to establish and sustain the village. He also highlighted the close relationship shared by Placencia, Seine Bight and Riversdale, describing the three communities as one peninsula family with distinct traditions but common experiences.  He said Placencia’s fishing heritage, Seine Bight’s strong Garifuna culture and Riversdale’s quieter community character all contribute to the identity of the peninsula. Villanueva urged residents to preserve that shared history and pass its lessons on to younger generations. The address also focused on the wisdom, resilience and service of senior citizens. Villanueva said seniors are “the living libraries” of their communities, having raised families, carried burdens and helped to shape Belizean society.  He commended the Rotary Club of Placencia for organizing the luncheon, saying the gathering demonstrated that the peninsula’s seniors have not been forgotten but continue to be respected and celebrated.