by Sista YaYa Marin Coleman
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 26, 2023
April 2021
The United Black Association for Development Educational Foundation (UEF)’s home base, our Library of Afrikan and Indigenous Studies at 3304 Amandala Drive in Southside Belize City, remained closed since March 2020 for face-to-face community gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2022
The United Black Association for Development Educational Foundation (UEF) collaborated with Kate Wilson/Saint Lucia National Focal Point for the Escazu Agreement to make this flyer for a side event at the Conference of the Parties in Santiago, Chile, which was held April 20-22, 2022. The UBAD Educational Foundation (UEF) chairperson YaYa Marin Coleman participated in this regional panel discussion on “UEF’s role in advocating for the Government of Belize to ratify the Escazu Agreement so this regional environmental and human rights treaty may be used as a tool for catalyzing change towards a more resilient, just, inclusive, and gender-responsive society.” The voices and stories of villagers from Monkey River Village, an Afrikan Heritage Community in the Toledo District of Belize, was central in YaYa’s presentation about the loss of their homes, the washing away of family members’ graves, streets, and a football field to consistent beach erosion.
April 2023
The United Black Association for Development Educational Foundation (UEF) sent a letter to Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries (Minister responsible for holidays):
RE: The names, email addresses, and phone numbers of the individuals you said are on the Holiday Committee who decided that Monday July 31, 2023 will be the day that Belizeans will observe as the Public and Bank Holiday in lieu of Tuesday August 1, 2023/Afrikan Emancipation Day. To date, Monday, April 24, 2023 Minister Kareem Musa has not responded to UEF’s letter. UEF also reminded Minister Kareem Musa that he did not respond to another letter sent October 25, 2022, Re: The Press Release Public and Bank Holidays 2023/Tuesday August 1, 2023 date was not recognized as Emancipation Day and the Public and Bank Holiday. The date of August 1, has been recognized as Afrikan Emancipation Day globally in many former British enslavement territories, no matter what day of the week that date is! On August 1, 1838 our human trafficked Afrikan Ancestors were fully emancipated from legal chattel enslavement by the British enslavers in this land now known as Belize!