And while the carnival had all the sex, flash and splash of the holiday weekend, the history and ceremony was reserved for the Tenth - which, this year, was celebrated on Monday the eleventh. Our news team was all over the ceremony and the festivities, and we begin with the ceremony.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
The morning started with the Governor General as Head of State inspecting a BDF guard of honor as the army band played a song that would echo many, many times throughout the morning. After the soldiers marched off, the ceremony commenced with Mayor Zenaida Moya. She discussed the ongoing battle over the Tenth
Zenaida Moya, Mayor of Belize City
"More than one hundred years after the first commemoration of the centenary, we are faced with yet another battle against those who seek to undermine the significance of this momentous occasion. It is heartwarming to note however that just as our forefathers who occupied this land in 1798 made the decision to fight rather than flee the settlement, so are Belizeans, demonstrating by the thousands around this country today the determination to defend and preserve against all odds, the memory of the Battle of St. George's Caye. To this I say Hip Hip Hooray!"
By the end of the day, her words would prove prophetic, but before that the Chairman of the September Celebrations Committee, Tourism Minister Godfrey Smith spoke about the mixed feelings over the Tenth.
Hon. Godfrey Smith, September Celebrations Chairman
"The Battle of St. George's Caye evokes mixed feelings in Belize, primarily because of the twin factors of colonialism and slavery existing at that time. But clearly the slaves could have deserted to the Spanish, if they so wished, or they could have mounted a revolt once they had been armed by the British Baymen. Instead, history records that they fought alongside the Baymen.
The slaves had clearly determined that not withstanding their condition of slavery, they preferred to fight off the Spanish to maintain the life they and thief families had come to know in what was now their new homeland Belize. Viewed from such a historical perspective, we might therefore be obliged to recognize them as Belize's first patriots. Their decision to stay and defend the settlement has helped to give us the Belize we know today."
After that the Queen of the Bay was installed, with the installation declaration read by Vernon Cuthkelvin in full Tenth regalia.
Vernon Cuthkelvin,
[Reading] "Hear ye, hear ye citizens of this jewel, Belizeans all, whereas the reigning Queen of the Bay, Carrie Emerald Wong K, the charming, having decided to relinquish her throne and lay down the crown and scepter of the bay."
Carrie Crowing Shanine Ottley
Of course, that wasn't the end of the day - after that, the citizens parade was held with the participation of the PUP in an official capacity, the first time that has happened in many years. Due to time constraints we'll have that for you in tomorrow night's news when we'll also show you the phenomenal resurgence of the Tenth jump up.
