Even Prime Minister Dean Barrow calls George Price the father of the
nation – and indeed, the PUP’s Leader Emeritus has outlived political
labeling: he is now largely seen as a figure that transcends politics. Yes,
he still plays a cagey role in the old guard/new guard politics of his own party,
price is mostly retired from politics, but not public life. And so today, his
90th birthday was observed with public fanfare and ceremony at the George Price
Center in Belmopan. The center put together an exhibit of photographs and a
documentary to celebrate Price’s lifetime of accomplishments and document
his humble beginnings. Of course, there have been books, exhibits and documentaries
before – but this one hopes to be definitive, as the elder statesman is
in the autumn of his years. Still, I visited and found Mr. Price taking it all
in stride.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
George Price once told a reporter from the Miami Herald and I quote “I
would like to be known as a good Belizean, one who went through life on a pilgrimage
and left the world a better place than I found it.” And what a journey
it has been for this political icon who led the way for Belize attaining her
independence on September twenty first, 1981. Today George Cadle Price turned
ninety years old. The occasion was celebrated in Belmopan at the George Price
Centre for Peace and Development.
Elsie Alpuche, Curator - George Price Centre
“We want to show people the man behind the politician. We have some
chronological and historical background but what we want really to achieve is
for people to get to know Mr. Price better; what he believed in, what his values
were, what he wanted in life for him and for Belize.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Today he celebrates his 90th birthday?
Hector Silva, Friend/Former Gov’t Minister
“His 90th birthday but he is looking so good for 90 having been through
so much troubles, hardships, sometimes he didn’t use to eat, at times
he said to let’s go and do our job first and then we eat. He is great,
a great man.”
George Cadle Price was born on January fifteenth, 1919. Twenty five years later
he embarked on his political career. But those who are close to him strongly
believe that what had also made him a great leader started first at home.
Hector Silva,
“Let us begin with home. Very good home training, his dad was a disciplinarian,
having been in the military, as a major in West Indian Regiment. His mommy was
a loving lady that took care of her children. Then from there George got the
background of the Jesuits which in those days was very solid and then of course
his stint with religion. But I think that George began to mold himself as a
leader when he entered politics in 1944 which he called as the university of
the people.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Throughout his travels in Belize, he took hundreds of hundreds of notes of every
little thing he saw that may have been needed in that place he visited.
Hector Silva,
“That’s right, he was a great communicator and the method he
used to communicate was to hear from the people, especially those in need, and
to pass it on as a medium to where it should be solved and we used to be bombarded
with his letters on any little subject, even if it was a light bulb in Corozal
that is out, he will come ‘Minister, see that that bulb is changed in
Corozal,’ or a little culvert in a village where water settled, ‘Minister
see that a culvert is placed in the entrance to Sartenja,’ and he had
such a tremendous memory which he still has I believe.”
George Price, Turns 90 years old
“When I was travelling the important people were the people themselves
and talking to them, seeing their homes, if they have enough to eat, if they
are well, all these things used to register. It was not just a social event.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
It looks like a lot of work and research went into getting together the material
needed for this exhibit. When did all of this started?
Elsie Alpuche,
“Well actually in 2007, late 2007, so the past year, 2008, I’ve
been doing research mostly at the Archives Department and we have researched
everything that is available on Mr. Price whether that was pictures, audio,
audio visual, everything we have now at the center and parts of it we used in
this exhibit.”
Hector Silva,
“You have three types of leaders: ones that are made, the products
of necessity, and you have the born leaders. He is one of those born leaders
and I hope those around him take good care of him, don’t strain him, don’t
overwork him, he has done his job. Let’s take care of that jewel that
we still have.”
Today George Cadle Price remains a humble man, who only has best wishes for
Belize and Belizeans. One of those wishes is that we can all work together for
the betterment of the country.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Happy birthday to you, you’re looking very good by the way.
George Price,
“Thank you very much. An occasion like this gives you courage and
puts on you the spirit to continue the fight.”
The exhibit will be a permanent feature at the George Price Center.
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