Over the weekend social media was flooded with memes and posts involving the Philip Goldson Monument that was toppled by a drunk taxi driver before the annual Jouvert commenced. We sought out the creator of the statue Steven Okeke today for comment. Jomarie Lanza reports.
Amidst the partying and revelry that infiltrated the streets on Friday night, also came the downfall of the Phillip Goldson Bust which sat adjacent to the flag monument under the pedestrian overpass of the Phillip Goldson Highway. At 3:00 am, a taxi van slammed into the monument at full speed, throwing the glorified Goldson off his pedestal and into the middle of the street - the national hero did never lie so low.
And who's to blame for the destruction of the historical figure? ACP Hilberto Romero says it's a drunk driving cabbie:
ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division
"Okay on the 9th day of September 2023 there was a RTA by the flag monument. Information received is that one Mervin Domingo was driving a van and Eulogio Solís was driving a car when they were involved in an accident. Police responded and have since detained Mervin Domingo. The investigation revealed that he is at fault and had since been charged for drove motor vehicle without due care and attention and driving a motor vehicle above the prescribed limit. During the RTA the Phillip Goldson Monument received damages and also we are looking at that part of the investigation."
The decapitated monument lay there for several hours - the national hero never before brought so low - until what was left of the bust was simply propped back up onto the base. The creator of the estimated $80,000 piece Steven Okeke expressed his outrage via facebook in several posts. In one post he relayed his disinterest in repairing the structure, stating that "He is no longer interested in public arts. We reached out to him this afternoon to see how he's been holding up after having experienced an artist's worst nightmare.
Steven Okeke, Artist
"Some friends had told me about the sculpture falling down and sent me pictures and I did not want to discuss it because it brings up a lot of trauma, a lot of feelings and hurt, I don't want to deal with. From the onset of the sculptor to the completion was an investment of 12 years. It was a lot of upheaval as you have on record but eventually it was completed because I saw the use and benefit it had for Belize as a tourism economy so I persisted. And what you find there is a symbol of persistence and consistence in vision. But when I was told it was down it was okay but when I went out there yesterday and found that it was put up again with the head hanging as if it was lynched, hanging on the pole it was embarrassing it was shameful. It insulted our mutual intelligence. Does it mean that the city council or somebody at BTB or somebody from the government have No understanding of the significance of that symbolism? In the month of September to leave it there hanging?"
"This is a national Icon whether you call him your national hero or not he's a national icon and this is the month of September he represents something. He represents all of us."
CEO in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Victor Espat told us that he had asked the Chief Engineer to coordinate with the Belize City Council to make the necessary repairs to the monument. And as for Okeke, he believes that keeping up the mangled statue is an insult to Belizeans and their heritage and that it should be removed or covered until fixed.
Steven Okeke, Artist
"The hurt I suffered over the years over the 12 years I was doing that kind of dampens any hurt I would feel right now or the kind of embarrassment I would feel right now but the most embarrassment is that it was put up back there with the head hanging on the pole. My God is nobody thinking? Oh my Jesus Christ, what is the city council doing? I don't want to get other people involved but what are they doing?? Cover that thing man until you decide what to do. This is an insult to all of us. It insults our intelligence. It's like do Belizeans not know what to do? Oh my goodness. Hahahah."
Our records show that the Goldson bust was first unveiled in 2007, and installed on the Northern Highway - later the Goldson highway in 2012.
