On Friday, we showed you the torch run into Belize City. It is part of the 16 day observance of Women's Week. But the torch has a life of its own and it is now winding its way across the country. Today it was in Belmopan and Executive Director of the Women's Issues Network Carolyn Reynolds told us that the torch run will raise awareness of HIV and Aids, and violence against women.
Carolyn Reynolds, WIN Belize
"When we sent out invitations to the schools and to different organizations, we gave them the objectives of what the torch run means to us and how we would like them to support. And so by getting their support, we feel that that has also raised the awareness with them and also sensitize them to become more involved.
We started the torch run last Tuesday, the 21st of November, and we started in Corozal District and we had the opening ceremonies there. Then we went to Orange Walk on Wednesday the 22nd and we had a good turnout in Orange Walk. We had students who also went from Corozal to Orange Walk to take part again. We also had a forum with the young people in Orange Walk. So it wasn't just the torch run in Orange Walk. And then we went on to Caye Caulker on the 23rd in the morning and from there we went to San Pedro. And then on Friday we were in Belize City where we came from the International Airport. The torch was first passed on to Superintendent Yolanda Murray and then the police along with the BDF brought the torch into town along with students. Today again we were in Belmopan and we had full support in Belmopan as well. We had students from the 4-H, we had the CEO from the Ministry of Health Margaret Ventura."
The torch trots out to Cayo on Thursday, to Dangriga on Friday, and ends in Punta Gorda on Saturday.
