Photo: Group photo of MAT members at the official launch
The new group, the brainchild of activist attorney Audrey Matura, brings together influential members of the community focused on “removing the shackles of the PUDP”
by Marco Lopez
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 30, 2022
A group of about one hundred Belizean citizens living both within the country and overseas have formed a pressure group named “Moving Ahead Together”, which was officially launched in Belize City on Saturday, November 26, at the first meeting held by the group. It is an initiative that was organized by firebrand attorney activist Audrey Matura. Matura stated during an interview before the opening ceremony of the group’s launch that she got the idea to form the group while personally reflecting on this year’s Emancipation Day, and when she put out a call for members in a Facebook post, over 100 persons reached out to express interest.
“It’s not people I’ve met, I’ve known; we are meeting here for the first time,” she said. The band of Belizeans from various sections of the community and diaspora have together outlined one objective of their organization: improving the quality of life of Belizean citizens, which, in their view, will require “removing the shackles” of the so-called PUDP.
“It’s about unity. I know there are enough Belizeans who are of like minds, and the other message would be to remove the shackles of the PUDP that you are used to, remove the shackles where your leaders control you. You actually have the power and you don’t know it,” Matura said.
The keynote speaker at the event was the president of the Belize National Teachers Union, Senator Elena Smith, who chronicled how her life of activism has resulted in victimization from the highest levels. She urged members to prepare themselves for the persecution that will come.
“If you’re not prepared for the pushback, then you are going to fall aside, and when we have these movements, we don’t want people who are going to be starting and stopping halfway because they get frightened, they get scared, you know. Somebody threatens them, somebody begins to bully them. You have to have that courage to understand that, listen, this is a part of this journey, and if I will take this journey seriously, I must understand that it comes with those things,” Senator Smith noted.
Four guest speakers delivered remarks during the meeting: Nigel Petillo, a well-known land activist; Cristina Coc of the Maya Leaders Alliance; Louis Wade, Jr.; and attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley.
Matura indicated that the MAT will serve as a support group for other movements with which they are aligned, and their next endeavor will be to recruit members from home and abroad. She said that every member is required to recruit two other persons and is also asked to fundraise on behalf of the movement.
She also said that members of the organization contributed $100 each, and additionally a small businessman made a contribution of $250 and the United States section of the group donated $800, which covered the remainder of the group’s initial expenses.
“We don’t want to take money from big donors. We want small people to donate and fundraisers,” Matura said.
Besides fundraising and recruiting, Matura expects to engage in a country tour with the help of the executive members located in the various districts. The goal is to visit all villages in the country by next year, to hear from the people in their communities.
“I know how to network and to align myself with groups that are already in existence so that I channel through them. I’m not inventing the wheel. I’m just taking the message, and I’m taking the message in English and in Spanish,” Matura said.
Matura added that eventually, she will travel abroad to meet with the diaspora.
“This is full movement,” she said, and when asked if the MAT may possibly evolve into a political party, she simply said, “if it is to be, it will be.”