The United Black Association for Development (UBAD), which ignited the black consciousness revolution that made significant contributions to Belize’s early nationalism, celebrated its 45th anniversary with a live television broadcast on KREM TV, from its Partridge Street compound on Saturday. The purpose of the one-hour program was to publicly dedicate the UBAD Education Foundation Library to the memory of the late Dr. Leroy Taegar, one of its founders.

From its origin of black power in the streets, the UBAD entity over the years has evolved into Kremandala, a multifaceted media organization (Amandala newspaper, KREM Radio and KREM Television) dedicated to providing information, education and entertainment, as well as job opportunities. But the cultural and social work of the original UBAD ideal continues today, through the functions of the UBAD Education Foundation (UEF), with the services and programs it offers the community.

Three of UBAD’s former officials – former president Evan X Hyde (Kremandala chairman), Ismael Omar Shabazz and Galento X. Neal, spoke at the ceremony, as well as members of the Taegar family.

Shabazz was the first to speak, offering television viewers a glimpse into a critical juncture of the UBAD experience, on the night when he and Evan X Hyde were acquitted of seditious conspiracy, in the Supreme Court of Belize.

The seditious conspiracy arrest and subsequent charge came about after UBAD’s news organ, the Amandala, (now Belize’s leading newspaper) published an article written by Evan X Hyde entitled: “The games old people play.” This short satirical piece mocked the judicial system, and was deemed seditious.

Shabazz said that after he was acquitted and was free to go, he would not leave from his seat in the courtroom. Justice Ross, the presiding judge in the case, told him he was free to go. But Shabazz replied that he was waiting for the verdict in the case against Evan X Hyde.

While the seditious conspiracy case was reaching its conclusion inside the courtroom, outside the voice of UBAD protesters could be heard inside the courtroom chanting, “Let my people go,” Shabazz remembers.

He said that after the not guilty verdicts were read and they went outside, UBAD staged one of the biggest demonstrations from the Supreme Court into the streets of Belize City.

Shabazz, who was also UBAD’s treasurer at the height of the organization’s power, also explained how they had to move from different addresses, until they eventually settled on Partridge Street.

Galento X Neal recalled that he began his black consciousness and political education through his father. Neal said that the examples that his father had provided for him left him with the question: Who am I?

Neal, who has lived in the United States for around four decades, said that he knew he had to be somebody.

“I am an African, “he declared.

Armed with an early knowledge of his self, Neal said that when UBAD came about, he could easily identify with the message that the brothers were teaching.

Neal said he credits brothers Hyde and Shabazz with helping him to understand what his father was trying to explain to him.

“Because they enlightened me to many things – that I was backed away in a corner and I didn’t have no explanation of what my father said – I was seeing and was angry about,” Neal recalls.

But since his return to Belize, Neal is adjusting to the realities of Belize, and he is concerned about the future of the youth of Belize.

He said, “The most important thing that we have to fight for is our youth. If we don’t teach and pass on what we have to our youth, we are at a loss as a nation of Belize.”

Kremandala chairman Evan X Hyde said that the work of UBAD continues through the UEF.

Hyde said the women have taken over the UEF, and based upon the annual general report, they are doing a lot of work. He had high praise for Ya Ya Marin Coleman and Virgina Echols, who are spearheading the work of UEF.

“All black youth, from Yabra to the airstrip, from Baron Bliss to Pound Yard, all black youth da mi UBAD; there was no division into gangs and so. But the political parties which control the mature folks were in place,” he said.

He stated, “UBAD had gone from a religious vibes to cultural vibes.”

“And later on we got forced into politics, because the man dem try lock we up,” Hyde explained, “following the politics, which ended up dividing us between PUP and UDP, we went into business. That is what we do here, the creation of jobs.”

Hyde went on to add, “I would say, what UEF represents is from business to education…because the ladies are doing a lot of work with the youth.”

“The first guru of the UEF was Leroy Taegar. He was the brother who had the vision for the library and for many years he did the teaching upstairs on the third floor,” Hyde revealed.

After the chairman’s presentation, UEF’s Virginia Echols introduced the Taegar family, headed by his wife, Dr. Andrea Taegar, son Shawn Taegar and his daughter Tracy-Taegar Panton. Echols said that that night was the climax of what Dr. Taegar wanted for the Belizean youth. The Library of African and Indian Studies was his baby.

“Literacy was one of the most important things to him,” Echols remarked.

When Echols had finished with her introduction, Dr. Andrea Taegar cut the ribbon that was wrapped around an enlarged, framed portrait of her husband, whose vision for the continued work of UBAD on the educational level was seminal in its conception. The newly dedicated Dr. Leroy Taegar Institute of Learning is another milestone in the saga of UBAD, as was the African and Indian Studies Library Dr. Leroy Taegar’s selfless love of teaching helped to pioneer 13 years ago.

Shawn Taegar, the writer and poet, who is also an active member of the UEF, spoke on behalf of the Taegar family.

Shawn thanked the UEF for naming the Dr. Leroy Taegar Institute of Learning in his father’s honor, a sentiment shared by his older brother Dr. Sydney Taegar and his sister Rommy Taegar-Saunders, who both reside overseas, but who expressed their appreciation by sending their sentiments in writing.

“I can think of no other way to honor my father than the naming of an institute of learning in his name,” said Dr. Sydney.

He added that his father believed that education is the way that we can build a just society.

Rommy said that her father served the community he loved so much by healing bodies and fiercely protecting minds. His love of knowledge fueled his passion for teaching and he used every opportunity to challenge others to think critically, pay attention to nuances and examine the simplest of truths, she said.

“We are humbled that those who participate in the programs of learning at the Dr. Leroy Institute of Learning will share his legacy,” Rommy said.

“The spirit I’m to share with you today is that UBAD Education Foundation is the fulcrum of His New Jerusalem,” Shawn said.