BELIZE CITY, Fri. Sept. 1, 2023

Here in Belize City, the flag was raised at the flag monument near Pallotti High School on Friday.

At 6:00 a.m. on Friday, September 1, 2023, the Belize City mayor, ministers of government, city councilors, students and more converged at the Flag Monument on the roundabout at the entrance of Belize City for a symbolic gesture of patriotism to mark the start of the September Celebrations.

The annual Flag Raising Ceremony, a long-standing tradition, provided an opportunity for citizens of all ages to come together to honor Belize’s flag and the values it represents. Mayor Bernard Wagner, along with Councillors Kaya Cattouse and Edmund Kwan delivered positive and patriotic messages highlighting the resilience of the Belizean people, how far we have come and our hope for a promising future.

Mayor Wagner’s keynote address encouraged citizens to look ahead with determination and make the most of the present opportunities for individual and national growth. “In September 2023 and beyond, let us look to the future with drive and determination – while also taking advantage of the now! There are plenty of opportunities before us and within us! Opportunities to be a good citizen, opportunities to be a good family member, friend, or neighbor. Opportunities to use our God-given skills for our own advancement and the betterment of our nation. Opportunities to learn, to earn, and to contribute,” said Mayor Wagner.

The Scout Association of Belize Steel Band performed the resonant tones of the National Anthem. In a display of unity, members from the Scout Association of Belize and the Girl Guides Association of Belize came together to assist in raising the Belizean flag. The ceremony also saw the presence of guests such as Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology; and Hon. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform, and Religious Affairs.

The Flag Raising Ceremony traditionally serves as the official commencement of the September Celebrations, a month filled with cultural events, parades, and festivities that will commemorate forty-two years of Belize’s independence this year.

(AMANDALA Ed. Note: In keeping with the now established tradition, flag raising ceremonies were held in every municipality throughout the country on the morning of September 1st to signal the commencement of this year’s national September celebrations. In the capital city of Belmopan, the flag raising ceremony was held at the entrance of the city on the George Price Highway in front of the Guanacaste National Park.)