Email

Print

But back in 2018, he rose to notoriety for a completely different reason: he made himself into a human billboard for a defiant message of patriotism in the face of Guatemala. That image - with a graphic term included - was immortalised in paint by artist Alex Sanker. Cherisse Halsall viewed it today and gained an insight into Romero's passionate political life.

Belize has had three COVID-19 deaths. Many of which have been reduced to mere statistics. And on Saturday when Luis Romero died in intensive care he became death number 3.

But Today on Albert street Romero was alive again, not as a patient but as a patriot. Yesterday his daughter reminisced about his many passionate political stances

Shumari Romero, Daughter
"He was a very kind and loving man. Everyone knew him as that. He was patriotic, he was in the 2005 riots and we were trying so hard to find the pictures of him where he was throwing a rock at the assembly building, as well as he was very vocal about the Guatemala/Belize dispute and then he loved his Belizean artists. He loved music and every party, everything he would be just happy with playing music. He was our DJ in terms of selecting the songs. I just want everyone not to remember him as a statistic, but just remember that this is our movement for change. We want the change for everyone and it's a betterment for Belize."

Romero's message was one that resonated with Alex Sanker, an artist who often exhibits in downtown Belize City

Alex Sanker, Artist
"The first time I saw this picture when he did it for the September Celebration. When I saw this picture I called him personally and he asked me one key question, he said Mr. Sanker, why do you want to turn this into a painting? I said boss I don't know if you know about my reputation. I am very patriotic. I don't think there's a scratch in my soul that says I'm not patriotic and what you did there took a lot of guts but at the same time it had a little humor."

"Everything about that picture is so powerful, please authorize me. He said you know what that's a good reason why you want to do it, go ahead. In my eyes personally he's a national hero you don't have to get the national hero's funeral or the recognition."

But this painting in its own way grants Romero some recognition

Alex Sanker, Artist
"I'm recording what's going on in this country the good and the bad through my paintings for future generations. I don't paint for the present, I paint for the future."

Now, Sanker plans to donate the painting to the family.

Alex Sanker, Artist
"His sister got in contact with me and when I realized it was his sister I told her this painting is not for sale but we're going to make everything possible for you to own the original so I discussed it with her and it's gonna go to the family and I think there's no other better place for Mr. Romero to rest in peace than with his sister. So I was honored that I had the privilege that it will be in his home."