It's odd but true: perhaps nowhere has Belize's multicultural identity been more amply demonstrated than in squatting communities: we've met Spanish speaking naturalized Belizeans, who emigrated from Central American countries decades ago who are squatting on land owned by Chinese investors, within the administrative purview of one of the oldest Creole villages in the country, More Tomorrow.
And today the University of Belize celebrated that Multiculturalism with a fair held this afternoon at the faculty of Education and Arts. 7news was there and got a glimpse of culture at its best.
Fair Participant
"This is an initiative by the faculty of Education of Arts in celebration of "FEA week" as we have dubbed it and its a week of activity. This is one of the highlights, the Multicultural Fair, it happened also on the Belmopan Campus and in PG. So it's happening at three different places."
Monica Bodden
"Tell us a little about the Fair."
Participant
"The fair is dynamic. It's about cultural celebration, diversity. It is recognizing that to be a Belizean means that you share culturally with Belizeans from various ethnic groups. We know that in Belize we are blessed to have been given the home of the Indigenous Maya. We have other beautiful cultures including, Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, East Indian, Chinese, Taiwanese, Mennonites, and I can go on and on. There are so many different groups and all of the groups have their own uniqueness. They all add something great to what is Belize. We know that we share in food, language, music, dance, and many other things. These are a part from knowing that we are one of the most biologically diverse places in the world with different plant and animal species. We are also blessed with humans in the terms of the capacity for various different cultural groups who share and are able to live and work together adding something significantly to what is "Belizean". So I Think that is a beautiful thing. 'Titiman', the Cultural Ambassador, just performed, and we have drummers from Gales Point. There are Creole Drummers and Garifuna Drummers; we even have the Mexican Students from the Regional Language Center. They are doing Mexican dance presentation, and each of the cultures that are being presented today, all have a presentation to give with a variety of talents. You are going to see until 5:30, when it officially ends, that there's going to be a full presentation covering many of the cultural elements."
The fair wrapped up at 5:30 this evening.
Present was Belize's cultural ambassador - Titiman Flores.
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