7 News Belize

Heroes and Benefactors Day at the House of Culture
posted (March 9, 2010)

The holiday was observed on Monday, but today is the ninth of March – what most of us know as Baron Bliss Day. But, the day no longer bears the name of that benefactor, it is now officially National Heroes and Benefactors Day a day set aside to honor all those men who have contributed to the building Belize. In conjunction with this, NICH has mounted an exhibition at the House of Culture. Jim McFadzean visited today.

Jim McFadzean Reporting,
It’s a small but very important step towards recognizing our own home grown heroes and benefactors, that’s why, the Belize National Institute of Culture launched today’s exhibit with some very key people in mind. The attendance of Standard Six students from Holy Redeemer Primary, and 2nd Form students from the Anglican Cathedral College was no coincidence, says Nigel Encalada, the Director of the Institute of Social and Cultural Research.

Nigel Encalada, Director - Institute of Social & Cultural Research
“For a country to develop, a country needs to first recognize its history and it goes without saying. It is a cliché but its absolutely important – you have to know who the people were that made contributions to your country, what they did, and what you can do, based on that what we can do as individuals to move our country ahead. And why we target young people is because they are the ones whose minds are ripe for opportunities, for ideas, they want change and most of us can’t define what that is yet but every generation somehow among the generations emerge these leaders and if we do play our small part in educating our young people in this way then I feel that our country can move forward in the comfort that we will have people to serve who will make sacrifice.”

As a young nation Belize has only named two of its citizens as heroes so far: The Rt. Honourable George Cadle Price and Honourable Phillip Wilberforce Goldson. Cleopatra White and Samuel Haynes are recognized as unsung heroes.

Nigel Encalada,
“They are recognized to have made significant contributions to Belize. There are many books and articles that have been written. So we scan them and we chose these individuals to be represented in the exhibit for the fact that they represent different periods in history.”

Today’s exhibit unlike most took on an interesting style of presentation with the use of stage props and young actors and was the work of Choreographer Joseph Stamp Romero.

Joseph Stamp Romero, Choreographer - NICH
“It brings to life these very important people. It uses a medium that is very impressive to young people, a medium that gets to them every time, you can’t lose when you go to the arts, especially when it comes to young people, so it says a lot for who they are, it jumps out at you rather than just reading in a book so when kids come and they experience these people in real life and they could experience their words in real life it does a lot for young people of today.”

It’s expected that Belize’s only recognized benefactor, Lord Baron Bliss will have company real soon as The National Institute of Culture is expected to recommend that the late Barry Bowen be named one. Reporting for Seven News, I’m Jim McFadzean.

The exhibit will run throughout the month of March.

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