The September Celebrations theme, we mouthed it almost as an afterthought: "Belize at 23: free, engaging and embracing". But what really are those values espoused in the theme, and is that truly what Belize is at 23? Those are the tough questions that the public administration class at the University of Belize has put to some of the government media and private sector leaders in Belize. They thrashed it out today at a forum where UB organizers told us the university must exist to challenge the system:
Arnaldo Villas – U.B. Student
"We as university students are expected to be agents for change. We can't sit there and just take things as they give it to us. We are there, people in society see us as agents for change, and if we cannot make changes out there then who will?"
Giesel Arnold – U.B. Student
"We don't want to accept things as they are because as you noticed the theme itself is a statement that: we are free, engaging and embracing and we don't want to accept that as is."
Melinna Martinez – U.B. Student
"It's very important for us to not come to this forum and say that: everything is wonderful, everything is going well. So what we are doing is making an attempt to show that things are not as wonderful as what the politicians are saying they are. And we are attempting to give it as real as we possibly can. We are definitely here to tell the truth. We are really attempting to do that. So we are not trying to cover up or window dress any issues."
John Gillett – U.B. Student
"I hope that the individual, the society, the government may begin to look at these issues and make recommendations to how they can be alleviated."
Kenny Morgan - Presenter
"The question is: are we as a country embracing, engaging and free? I don't think I have the answer people so whenever you find out tell me."
Arnaldo Villas
"We will not sit in inertia if we feel that we are being left out at any point in time. We must be engaged. Thank you."
The forum continued until well into the evening.