by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Aug. 7, 2023
Amandala’s columnist and longtime associate, Clinton Luna was laid to rest in his hometown of Corozal Town on Friday, August 4.
An intimate group of family members, friends, and admirers convened at his brother’s residence on Santa Rita Road, celebrating the rich life of Luna, who had touched countless hearts during his 79 years. Representatives from Kremandala were among those who attended, honoring the immense contribution Luna had made to the newspaper.
The service, though short, painted the essence of who he was – a man of a simple lifestyle, yet incredibly meaningful.
Clinton, whose full name was Clinton Davis Luna, was born on January 18, 1944, to parents Rancymay Garcia Cadle, also known as Maria, and Juan Luna Soto.
He had 5 siblings from his father’s side, and 6 Riveroll siblings from his mother’s side, two of whom were present and hosted the service: Manuel Riveroll and Fernando Riveroll.
Luna had fathered around 22 children from various relationships. Among them were Alejandro Luna López, Clara Luna, Eliza Luna, David Luna, Adriana Luna, Brenda Luna, and Ariadna Luna, with only Alejandro and Ariadna present during the ceremony.
“My dad was a man who not only believed in what he thought, he wrote it, but he also lived his entire life how he thought and believed. He did not only carry the struggle with words; my father’s struggle was not only led in words as a message that he could have shared in a newspaper, in a media, all his life, but he also did it through his own life, living a revolution with his own life,” shared Alejandro, a Mexican congressman.
“No one is ever prepared to lose a loved one who is so close, never, and it is inevitable. Knowing that I won’t be able to call him one night to ask him for some advice, not being able to debate with him an idea, be it on politics or business, that he won’t be there for me as I would be for him,” he further said.
Ariadna, Clinton’s youngest and now orphaned child, noted that her fondest memory of her father was when they would have their weekly debates about his articles, sometimes proving each other wrong, but always a learning adventure for both.
“My father seemed like a serious person, but he was a sweetheart,” she told me. “He always helped others; even if it was his last, he would give it without a second thought and without expecting anything in return. I won’t say he was the most loving person, but he did love in his own way. He always taught me to be prepared for anything and expect the unexpected,” she said.
As the evening set in, Luna was laid to rest in Corozal’s Mount Calvary Cemetery, where close family, both present and online, joined in harmonious send-off hymns.
Numerous members of the Belizean community and regular Amandala readers mourn Luna’s loss. The Belize Yucatec Maya group, especially grateful for his efforts in preserving Mayan history, expressed their sorrow stating, “For years the Maya Yucatec communities of northern Belize were invisible. His [Luna] writings in the Amandala gave us a voice and presence. It inspired a younger generation of Maya leaders in northern Belize. Your words will always be remembered in our hearts, and you will live in our struggle of preserving our identity as Maya.” They closed by sending their condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Clinton Davis Luna.
Notably, the day marked 17 years of Luna’s mother’s passing. She too died at 79 on August 1. This also happened to be Alejandro’s birthday.
(AMANDALA Ed. Note: August 1 also happens to be Emancipation Day!)