Belize's Declaration of Independence - it was proclaimed in 1981 - and legend says that after that one of the copies, or THE copy was left lying around, and it was a cleaner who handed it to the Clerk of the National Assembly for safekeeping. Well, it's been kept in a safe for 40 plus years and was today handed over to the Belize Archives Record Service.
The critical document will now be properly preserved and professionally restored and digitized by archives personnel. The original document will then be safely tucked away into storage inside a fire proof case. President of the Senate Carolyn Trench Sandiford emphasized the historic importance:
Carolyn Trench Sandiford, President of the Senate
"This MOU intends to achieve 2 objectives; first, the preservation of Belize's instrument of Independence and, second, the establishment of a modern and proper records management system for identifying classifying digitizing and preserving parliamentary records. Today is one of many milestones in the journey of transforming the national assembly into one that is define by the principles and practice of an open, modern gender inclusive and climate resilient parliament, a trajectory we at the national assembly have set out to achieve. We recognize the utmost importance of the proper storage and preservation of the Instrument of Independence of Belize. This is our birth paper. It represents how we became an independent and sovereign nation called Belize. A birth paper which legitimizes us such that we were able to take our rightful place amongst the nation states on the world stage 42 years ago on September 21, 1981. It is therefore fitting that as we mark Belize's 42nd independence anniversary under the theme "Hope Ignited, Hands United, Vision Renewed, Belize@42!" we bring this sacrosanct document to the light for knowledge, recognition, visibility and accessibility and a must see for each Belizean. This MOU will facilitate this."
Kevin Montero, Director, Belize Archives
"The Instrument of Independence gives Belize the modern identity and is one of the most important documents that requires safe guarding, permanent preservation and access. With the transfer of the instrument, the department will conduct the necessary preservation assessment to determine its condition and conservation needs of the regional paper. These interventions will restore the document to a state that allows for access as well as for its digitization. The digital copy of the instrument will then be uploaded to the website of both the Belize Archives and record service and the national assembly of Belize and made freely accessible to all. The original document will then be stored in a fireproof safe in the store room of the Belize Archive and records service for its safeguarding, accessibility and for its permanent preservation."
In light of the upcoming September Celebrations, the document will be on display as part of the "Let Belize Live, Speeches of the premier traveling exhibition.
