September Celebrations Committee Launches Activities for this Year's Celebrations

Wednesday, August 20th

September is a festive time of the year in Belize when we celebrate our history, our culture, and our sovereignty. As a small and independent country of 8,867 square miles and approximately 300,000 people, Belize has much to be proud of as we celebrate our 210th Anniversary of the Battle of St. George's Caye and the 27th Anniversary of Belize's Independence.

The September Celebrations Steering Committee, Chaired by the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Manuel Heredia, Jr., and the members of the Committee are proud to be a part of this year's activities confirming August 29th through September 22nd as the official period for the September Celebrations.

Today, the Committee is proud to launch the official Calendar and Playbill, which includes all events that have been organized countrywide.

The Committee held a competition to select this year's theme for the celebrations, and was opened to all Belizeans, whether they are living at home or abroad. To ensure public involvement in the process, Belizeans had opportunity to submit ideas for locally coordinated events for inclusion on the Official Calendar. This morning, we are pleased to announce this year's theme for the September Celebrations, which was selected from amongst 147 submissions countrywide - "Belizeans! Learning our Past, Impacting our Present, Embracing our Future" submitted by Mr. Boisrand Panton, Jr. of Belize City. The Committee also coordinated the Patriotic Song Competition, which had 13 submissions, and the Carnival Song Competition, with 11 submissions from local artists. Winners will be selected at the Patriotic Song Competition Finals, which will be held at the House of Culture on August 22nd at 7:00 p.m along with the selection of the top three Carnival Songs. The general public is invited to attend this event.

The Belize Tourism Board, serves as the Secretariat for this year's celebrations with committee representatives form Belize City Council, the Director of Tourism, Mrs. Tracy Panton, the Ministry of Tourism, the National Institute of Culture and History, the St. George's Caye Day Society, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Belize City Council, Association of Belizean Artists First, Council of Churches, Belize Police Department, Tourism Police Unit, National Fire Service, the Belize Defense Force, Belize Business Bureau, Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Queen of the Bay Committee, Belize Carnival Association, Belize Red Cross Society, Belize Mayors Association, Belize Tourism Industry Association, National Sports Council, Belize Press Office, BNTUCB, National Awards Committee, and representatives of the United Democratic Party and the People's United Party.

For further information on the September Celebrations Committee and the activities being coordinated for this year's celebrations, please feel free to contact the Secretariat at 227-2485 or visit the website Septembercelebrations.com the official site for all September celebrations activities and information.