About a week ago, shock waves were sent throughout the nation’s populace as the news broke that a former prime minister and longstanding area representative had formally announced his retirement from electoral politics. This retirement from electoral politics came at a time when the upcoming general elections are drawing nigh.

While his party is in the process of selecting a viable candidate to fill the shoes left behind by this giant in the political arena, it’s important to note that in addition to his departure, this year will also see the departure of three other stalwart political figures who no doubt have made an indelible mark on Belize’s political history.

Clearly, whether you’re political or not, this is a monumental time in Belize’s political history. We are talking four politicians who in their own way shaped our political arena and, by and large, are responsible for where it is today. So, given their collective departures, one must ask: is it the end of an era?

Clearly, without a shadow of a doubt, this is the end of an era. If we want to be honest with ourselves, and ignore the noise in the market, we have achieved very little in the time since our independence on September 21, 1981. While admittedly, the country has developed since independence, we have little to show for it in comparison to what we owe and where we are.

We are billions of dollars in debt, and our country is battling indigence and destitution. Marked development and significant improvement to our country is little, to none.

We have an ailing healthcare system with just one national referral hospital that is in dire need of an overhaul. We have people who are struggling to make ends meet, and an even larger unemployment rate. We have struggled as a country to achieve a steady improvement in our GDP, and instead have seen steady contractions with each passing quarter.

Our agricultural sector has significantly diminished, and production has screeched to an all-time low. Farmers are struggling to survive and produce, and consumers are forced to grapple with high prices and, in many instances, less than acceptable produce. As this era comes to a close, we are more impoverished than ever, and the shimmer of the sea is losing its glitter.

Also, let it be known that the end of this era leaves us with an excessive wage bill that our children will spend many years to repay. The end of this era leaves us in an economic downturn (brought on by COVID-19) from which one wonders if we will ever be able to rebound.

So what’s next for us as this era comes to a close?

Truth be told, it’s anyone’s guess. Much like the boledo, any number can play. We have our bets, and our numbers held firmly, and we are hoping and praying that the winning ticket is one that can turn things around for the country.

We are hoping that this new era beckons change; not the change that politicians preach so loosely about — real change, a change that will lead with humanity and love, a change that will put an end to corruption and nepotism and the fleecing of the country’s resources; a change that will put the poor and indigent first and raise them up to enjoy the privileges that our forefathers have bestowed upon us that are often enjoyed only by a mere few.

We are hoping that the new era beckons toward a robust country where agriculture is plentiful and bountiful, where businesses spring up and thrive, where healthcare is nationally available and education is a priority, and where our economy can be viable and stable, and where our security and stability will be intact.

Let us beckon the new era with hope for the future and love for one another. Because we are a part of it, and ultimately, we get to determine what the next era will be and will look like.

God Bless Belize!