by Emerson Guild

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

I would like to remind all the Central American Black Organization members, not limited to the two main Black African descendant organizations – the National Kriol Council and National Garifuna Council, but inclusive of the Belize UNIA-ACL Division 230, UBAD Educational Foundation—Belize Diaspora groups locally and internationally, grassroots Rasta, Maya, Creole/Kriol, etc. etc. to seize this moment, convene special conversations and forums to reflect on the Monuments and the Memories of a Movement that has brought us to this moment where we the people are preparing to participate in the permanent forum for people of African and Indigenous descent as a part of multilateral talks of a global system reform. As stated by the United Nations, colonialism must meet its speedy end on our watch.

Marcus Garvey’s whirlwind is blowing stronger and stronger as Africans, African Descendants and Indigenous people in Belize, the region and the world begin to understand and embrace continental Pan-African events that are leading the charge to redeem Africa, African descendants and Indigenous people globally. 

Belize and the Central American region must now host its own forums to ventilate the effects of colonialism on our cultures, education and pan-African identity. Please share the information that came out of the East Africa regional preparatory conference which took place online on July 6, 2024. It was organized by the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Togo.

This conference was co-chaired by Ambassador MBAROUK Nasor Mbarouk, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation representing His Excellency Janvier Yusuf MAKAMBA, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional integration and Togolese abroad, H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY, whose country, Togo, chairs the High Committee responsible for the Agenda of the Decade of African Roots and Diasporas. The conference was held within the framework preparations for the 9th Pan-African Congress, which will be held from October 29 to November 2, 2024 in Lomé, under the theme “Renewal of Pan-Africanism and the role of Africa in the Reform of Multilateral Institutions: Mobilizing resources and reinventing ourselves to act”.

There is work to be done in Belize and the region. We must sit at the table, being able to see and understand the result of these conferences attended by high ranking ministers and some of our most eminent voices for change: The Vice-Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, and senior African officials presented at five of the six preparatory conferences decided by the High Committee responsible for the agenda for the 2021-2031 Decade of African Roots and African Diasporas, in response to the United Nations Decade of African Descendants and the now Permanent Forum For People of African and Indigenous Descent. 

Are African Descendants and Indigenous people in Belize and the region listening? 

Are we engaged in bringing COLONIALISM TO ITS SPEEDY END AS MANDATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS?? 

Are we following or have adopted the program of the 2 August 2021, UN General Assembly resolution 75/314, LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY operationalizing the methods of the Permanent Forum?? 

Is Belize and the region creating the national and regional program to prepare people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders to use the platform for the improvement of the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African and Indigenous descent?? 

Are we preparing and contributing OUR national and regional methodologies to the advisory body of the UN Human Rights Council?? 

Are these methodologies in line with the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent in close coordination with existing mechanisms decided in its resolution 69/16 of 18 November 2014 entitled “Programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent”?

The first session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent was held from 5th to 8th December 2022, in Geneva; the 2nd Session from 30th May 2023 to 2nd Jun 2023; the 3rd Session from 16th Apr. 2024 to 19th Apr 2024; and the 4th Session is to be held 14th Apr 2025 to 17th Apr 2025. Has Belize prepared its African and Indigenous populations nationally to engage in these forums???

On the African continent and in our hemisphere there have been preparations made: … December 4 and 5, 2023 there was a forum in South Africa; March 14 and 15, 2024 in Bamako in Mali; on April 18, 2024 there was an online forum hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco; on May 24, 2024 an online forum hosted by the Republic of Congo, respectively on the themes “Pan-Africanism, science, knowledge and technologies”, “Diasporas, Afro-descendants and development”, “Pan-Africanism and migrations” and “Economic Pan-Africanism and African emergence”.

Whether face to face or online, meetings were marked with great leadership by Ambassador MBAROUK Nasor Mbarouk, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation; and H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY, of Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad. We in Belize and in the region must be prepared to do the same

Professor DUSSEY thanked Minister January Yusuf MAKAMBA for agreeing to organize the East Africa regional pre-congress. He noted that the theme of the pre-congress awakened our conscience to formulate strategic and operational recommendations to lay the foundations of an uninhibited Africa which, while remaining open to the diversity of the world, assumes responsibility, it being understood that culture and education are the basis of real development projects.

Belize and the Central American Region must be able to engage its people nationally and regionally, disseminating information that encourages them to participate. We must learn from and share information on what is happening globally, and prepare to contribute to this global Pan-African movement.

L. Emerson Guild
Marcus Garvey disciple
One God One Aim One Destiny!!!