The tenth of September, it is to be sure, a defining date in Belize's history, but scholarly opinion on the battle is so divided that it seems many are fine with celebrating the Tenth, but are just as content to simply observe it. Where do you stand? Well that may depend on what you've read about the Tenth, or who wrote it. Now you can find many of the principal pieces of historical research on the tenth in one compilation, and after reading it, make up your mind for yourself. The Belizean Studies Resource and Data Processing Center has released the compilation. The book contains a analyses on the battle of St. George's Caye written between 1978 to the early 1980's. They include writings by Richard Buhler, Peter Ashdown and H.F. Humphreys. Editor of the Belizean Studies Resource Center Yasmine Andrews today told us that the publication is meant to provoke and perhaps forge one universal stance on the Tenth.
Yasmine Andrews,
"There are five prolific researchers that we identified, two written by Fr. Buhler, there is two by Francis Humphreys, and there is one written by Peter Ashton. The objective was to obtain a diversity of opinions, relating to the battle and so that readers would be able to make their own analysis and formulate their own educated opinion.
The articles include opinions that are pro the battle for instance that yes battle took place and it is very significant and then we have researchers within the book who say that the battle was not significant and that nothing ever took place and therefore, like I said, the objective was for readers to formulate their own educated opinion and to have the diversity of scholarly research that was done in the early 1970s to 1980s.
The Battle, regardless of diverse opinions out there, is a very significant event. It is a part of our history, it is a part of our tradition and I think the responsibility falls on us, this generation, to be able to preserve that historical event and be able to pass it on to those coming after us. Again there is a lot of skepticism about the Battle but I think that the essence is that something did take place in 1798 and as a result of that we have independence and as a result of that, we are living in 2006 in a country called Belize.
We are living in a period of time that we need to come and realize a certain consensus and instead of division, realize that something did take place in 1798 regardless of what opinion is out there, regardless of what the feelings are. I think as Belizeans and I think as one people, we should be able to appreciate all our historical traditions and be able to pass it on to those who come after us."
The publication also includes a section called faces and places of old Belize that includes photos of a Belize in a bygone era.
