by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 7, 2023
On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, the theme for the upcoming September celebrations was unveiled.
The event, which was organized by the National Celebrations Commission (NCC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, and the National Institute of Culture and History, was held at the House of Culture in Belize City.
Among those in attendance were the Minister of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology, Hon. Francis Fonseca; the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Her Excellency Lily Li-Wen Hsu; and the Mayor of Belize City, His Worship Bernard Wagner, as well as other key GoB officials such as Nicole Solano, CEO of Tourism and Diaspora Relations; and Dian Maheia, CEO of the Ministry of Education, among many others.
Directed by the Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. April Martinez, the ceremony began on a high note with musician Alex Evans’ instrumental performance of the national anthem on the steel pan, which was followed by Bishop Philip S. Wright’s invocation.
Opening remarks were delivered by Mayor Wagner, who stated, “As we embark on this journey of celebration, let us foster a sense of unity and amity among our citizens. Together, let us work hand in hand to build a Belize that embraces inclusivity, one that embraces equality, and one that promotes sustainable development.”
Shortly after, the veil covering the selected theme for the September 2023 celebrations was pulled back, revealing the words that will underscore the spirit of this year’s activities: “Hope Ignited, Hands United, Vision Renewed: Belize@42!”
Minister Fonseca, during his remarks at the ceremony, spoke about the significance of the new theme.
“I believe this theme accurately captures and reflects the mood of the Belizean people as we prepare to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of our nation’s independence. Our beautiful nation, of course, continues to face serious social and economic challenges, yet our people remain strong, resilient, and hopeful,” he said.
The theme was selected out of a total of about 230 submissions sent to the NCC, which were then vetted, screened, and narrowed down to the best two. This year’s winners included Ms. Dalila Moreno and Mr. Jose Avila.
Both winners were recognized at the ceremony and awarded $1,000.00 each by Minister Fonseca. Moreno expressed her gratitude and Avila presented a “Spoken Word” poem on the reality of Belizean communities.