In other news…. 19 Belizean Patriots were honored last night for their contributions within their areas of work and practice, 4 of them posthumously. 17 of the Patriots received meritorious service awards while 2 received an order of distinction one of them being for his contributions to broadcasting and culture. Here's what we gathered from the Tribute to Belziean Patriots last night.
ANTHONY MAHLER, BELIZEAN PATRIOTS 2025 (ELDEN 'STONE JAM' HYDE)
"For Over close to 50 years Stone Jam as he is called has been entertaining Belize on a whole, Belize City all across the country, music doing concerts he has done a lot in terms of building culture and building what is authentic in Belize in terms of our music and entertainment he is one of the first DJ's that you can say had a following so when you heard stone jam is playing people would follow. If you ask any of his peers they would tell you he is the senior states man as a dj he has been a trend setter and he has provided a level of guidance and support for them in terms of building their own businesses he has been a forefront for many man years."
MATTHEW DOUGLAS, BELIZEAN PATRIOTS 2025 (JAMIE LEE USHER)
"I like to look at Ms Jaimie Usher as a pioneer she is a brilliant woman, she is bold and I won't say fierce but she is bold and courageous and she is leading in these STEM activities she is trying to show us the way forward in those steps to take and that is usually very comforting so me I really think she has the right attitude and approach and knows the way forward especially for our stem and Steam is concerned."
CECILIA RAMIREZ SMITH, BELIZEAN PATRIOTS 2025 (DR. CYNTHIA GILLETT THOMPSON)
"I am really honored to have been asked for this lady who I believe is a giant of a woman she has been a mentor for me my entire life and she has introduced me to the teacher educator sector and she has been there at some critical milestones in my professional journey and she has also been apart of the core team that helped to establish the university of Belize. The teachers college evolved into the faculty of education and arts at the university and she was the first dean and so naturally she was very instrumental in laying the groundwork and the foundation for the faculty of education and what we know it to be today."
RENE VILLANUEVA SR., BELIZEAN PATRIOTS 2025 (EDISON SEFERINO COLEMAN)
"Edison Seferino Coleman has a unique character there cannot be 2 Edison Seferino Coleman, one and I don't think he has been equal since his passing because he was unique and he was tailor made for the era he broad casted in I know that he touched the lives of every Belizean in the era because there was only one radio station in Belize if you wanted to listen to what was happening in Belize you had to listen to Radio Belize. He had a weekly show on Wednesday evenings right and everybody would wait, he would introduce himself and when Seferino was on he the whole of Belize listening so his comedian way of presenting things, his unique style outside of the comedy as well just his unique personality contributed a whole lot to creating the Belizean identity."
Presenter:
"accepting the award of distinction on behalf of his late dad is Mr Gerard Denton Coleman."
The event was held at St John;s Cathedral.
