The Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean Barrow, honoured twenty-five distinguished Belizeans at the Tribute to Belizean Patriots ceremony on Thursday, September 16. The ceremony was held at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts and it was supposed to be a festive occasion, but recent tragedies casted a blanket of sadness over the event.
As the Prime Minister graced the stage, he expressed his condolences to the family of young Eyannie Nunez. Nunez was killed when gunmen approached her home and opened fire. She was in her bed when bullets penetrated her room and caused the fatal injury. Belizeans for Justice and other members of the community organized a business shutdown to express their outrage at the senseless murder. The PM stated that he is in solidarity with the mourning community and that great effort continues to be directed at getting crime and violence under control.
The PM said that the men and women being honoured represent the true spirit of Belize. Two individuals were honoured with the Order of Belize. Those individuals are Dr. Lennox A. Pike, for his contributions to Belize’s Consular Service, Medicine and the Belizean Community in Detroit, Michigan, and Hon. Curl Osmond Thompson who was honoured posthumously with the Order of Belize for his contributions to Public Service and Industrial Relations.
Four individuals received Order of Distinction honours. Hon. Faith Babb was honoured for her contributions to Public Service. Mr. Nestor A. Vasquez was honoured for his contributions to Telecommunications. Mrs. Floss Cassasola was honoured posthumously for her contributions to Education and Music and Mr. Terence Leo Keating was honoured posthumously for his contributions to Scouting and Uniformed Services.
Nineteen men and women received Meritorious Service Awards. Those individuals are Mr. Edison Staine, for contributions to Music; Mr. Delhart L. Courtney Sr., for contributions to Sports; Mr. Theodore Burrowes, for contributions to Music; Mr. Owen “Sonny” Meighan, for his contributions to Sports; Mr. Bonifacio Moh, for contributions to Industry and the Credit Union Movement; Mrs. Alberta Cano, for contributions to Education and Community Service; Mrs. Barbara Harris for contributions to Community Development; Ms. Myrna Manzanares for contributions to Culture and Arts; Mrs. Sonia Lenares, for contributions to Social Services and Community Development; Mrs. Andrea Gabriel for contributions to Culture; Ms. Olga Myers, for contributions to Public Service and Community Service; Ms. Rose Armstrong, for contributions to Social Services and Community Development and Mrs. Velda M. Aguet, MBE, JP, for contributions to Voluntary and Community Services. Mr. Bartolome Rodriguez Sr., Mr. Evert Coe, Mr. Bedford Richie, Mr. Walter Panting, Mr. Salvador “Jorge” Iglesias and Ms. Melba Nora Bodden were honoured for contributions to Community Service.
The individuals honoured this year were politicians, doctors, educators, athletes and community organizers. The national Honours and Awards Act was passed on August 16, 1991. It says that each year honours and awards may be conferred to individuals, living or dead, who may have rendered outstanding and meritorious service to Belize.
