UDP Condemns Belmopan City Council for Skipping September 10 Parade

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has condemned the Belmopan City Council for not holding a parade on September 10 in honor of the Battle of St. George’s Caye. UDP Area Representative for the Albert Division Tracy Panton, took her concern to the House of Representatives today, saying that it was a national disgrace that the capital city did not hold a parade. She also took issue with comments made by Belmopan Mayor Pablo Cawich, about not holding the parade due to a lack of funding. Panton did not accept Cawich’s reasoning, saying that patriotism should be at its highest in the month of September.

Tracey Panton, Member for Albert: “I’m appalled Madam Speaker that there are many districts and towns that paid no homage or no respect to the Baymen. To our forefathers and to Belizeans across this country on the celebration of the Battle of St.George’s Caye and the anniversary of St. George’s Caye Day. Madam Speaker most glaring was what occurred here in Belmopan and the pronouncements of the Mayor. It was a national disgrace in my opinion. Diplomacy and patriotism has to extend beyond our personal differences, beyond our political ideologies. Patriotism and diplomacy and statesmanship Madam Speaker has to be cemented not only for those who came before but we need to teach our children and our children’s children the importance of our history. The importance of our legacy. The importance of the resilience of Belizean people.”

Meanwhile, Cawich stands by his position on the matter and said that it was better for the council to not hold a parade at all, rather than hold one that would not be fitting for the people of Belmopan.

Pablo Cawich, Mayor of Belmopan City: “That was my view. I don’t see why I need to retract a view. It’s my view. I can also comment on the portion that the council didn’t arrange any event for the 10th. I think I was very clear that we didn’t want to do something that would have been inadequate. I believe some of the news stations said that we said we were ill prepared. I completely disagree with that statement. It was that we didn’t have the funding to ensure that we plan something what we believe is appropriate. We didn’t want to have a parade with five people in it that was what we ended up with by the UDP trying to take it over to have an event. We believe that it was an insult to the 10th to have five people in a parade. So I don’t see why my view would need any retraction as I said and we have already started our planning for next year.”

Cawich went on to say that the council has put the majority of its efforts to make sure that the Independence Day celebrations are up to standard, and that planning has already begun for next year’s 10th parade