And while the Mayor covered the festivities, what about the official events? The ceremony marking the 21st. September will be held on Sunday and the secondary schools parade will be held the following day. But after the carnival grenade and the Princess Margaret Drive shooting, many parents are reluctant to have their children marching on that day. In response, the National Association of Principals for Secondary Schools decided that each secondary school will be represented by no more than one hundred and fifty students. This morning however following the rally for primary school children, the Minister of Education Patrick Faber told 7NEWS that as of Thursday he was told that most of the high schools have reconsidered. He explained why we should expect to see a full complement of high school students on Monday.
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“The recent word that I have received as late as yesterday evening is that the schools are now considering to come out in full force. Most schools are doing so and I believe it is because the schools are realizing, and I wasn’t in the Tenth parade but I am understanding the security was very tight, it wad convincing enough for Belizeans. Security again at the Expo was very convincing to Belizeans so I think Belizeans feel a sense of security and also a sense of patriotism.
I have expressed to the schools through a memorandum that I believe it is very very important for us to come out. You heard me again in the presentation here today again making this appeal because we cannot allow evil perpetrators to get the best of us. We need to fight that and the way to fight that is to get out there and demonstrate our patriotism and the love for our country. So I believe that is what has caused the schools to reconsider and I am hoping that those schools which have still not reconsider will hear this message that I am sending and would certainly make their best effort to get students out to the parade on Monday.”
However the new route for the parade remains in place. From the Memorial Park it goes up North Front Street over the Bel-China Bridge into Magazine Road left unto Cemetery Road and Orange Street. The parade then makes a right turn into Albert Street and ends at the Yarborough Green. If you can’t make it out to the sidewalk, you can see it live here on Channel 7.
