Photo: Clerk of the National Assembly, Eddie Webster retrieves the instrument of Independence from a metal chest inside the National Assembly building
in Belmopan

“We continue our work, not only to build Belize to yet greater levels of economic growth and social progress, but to remove causes of conflict and to cooperate in the economic development of the region with all our neighbors in friendship, harmony and peace.” Father of Independence, the Rt. Hon. George Price

by Orlando Pulido

BELMOPAN, Tues. Aug. 15, 2023

The National Assembly of Belize and the Belize Archives and Records Service (BARS) signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday for the preservation of Belize’s Declaration of Independence document. The Honorable Carolyn Trench Sandiford, President of the Senate, and the Honorable Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House of Representatives, jointly signed the memo that will safeguard Belize’s instrument of Independence.

Prince Michael of Kent had handed Belize’s Declaration of Independence to the Honorable George Price on Independence Day.

The instrument had been in safekeeping for the last 42 years, but Marvin Pook, Conservator at the Archives Department, recognized the importance of revealing the valuable document.

In her welcoming remarks, Hon. Carolyn Sandiford stated that the Declaration of Independence will be digitized for public access.

“We at the National Assembly recognize the need for a proper management system to authoritative information in the business of parliament,” she also said.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Valerie Woods also recognized the National Assembly for holding precious documents.

“Some of these documents are so fragile that if you lift them, they will disintegrate,” said Woods. (Pieces of legislation at the National Assembly of Belize date back to 1883.)

Kevin Montero, Director of BARS, told Amandala that the Declaration of Independence will first be examined for its solidity, then placed under a scanner to be digitized and uploaded to the website at BARS and the National Assembly. The special document will then be placed in a (fireproof) metal chest that has been donated by the National Assembly.

Belize has been independent from Britain since 1981. It became independent with Rt. Hon. George Price as prime minister.

Ambassador David Gibson from the Belize think tank, Centre for Strategic Studies, Policy Analysis & Research (CSSPAR), believes that the Belize Archives and Records Service “… has developed into an excellent custodial institution, meeting international standards.”

The Belize Archives and Records Service was founded in 1965 and is located at 26 Unity Boulevard in Belmopan. Its opening hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Cabinet reminds Belizeans of this year’s national celebrations theme, “Hope Ignited! Hands United; Vision Renewed: Belize @ 42”. Thus, BARS will be displaying the work of the Father of the Nation in September.