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THE BELIZE TIMES
THINK ABOUT IT WILL AND SHARPER 30 years of being an independent nation, nothing is said or heard of Will and Sharper. Not a street or alley, boulevard or building carries their names. Chances are you who read this column have no idea who or what I am writing about. Don’t feel too bad. Our colleges, sixth forms nor university teach anything about them. One reason, very, very little is known. But they represent an important part of our history. A matter to be disappointed and angry about is that the official opening of the September Celebrations were done on St. George’s Caye on Sunday, 28 August. There is no need to berate or say harsh things of the modern day Baymen and Bourgeoisie who organized this ceremony and who continue to propagate ignorance in our society. Let it be said that opening the ceremonies in the month of August is really sad. As if the programme for September is not already too much for a tiny impoverished country. We have to start September in August. August has a huge place to play in honoring our history. It is the month in which slaves in Belize were legally set free in 1834. The emancipation of Belize slaves came about as a result of several factors –including moral, economical and the changing times regarding plantation and woodcutting labour. And also because of the constant revolts and uprising of the slaves who refused to accept their chains and degradation. Belize had its slaves uprising and revolts. These are part of our history. We should honour these events also. Those slaves who fought for their freedom are some of the real heroes and heroines of Belize. The Archives in Belize has readily available information on our great grandparents who were the slaves in this country. The time has come, after 30 years of ignorance, to publish the Archives of our country’s history for the early periods. This information should also be online. Perhaps in association with Cubola, Angelus Press and other printers/publishers, volumes of documents can be made available. Here is some information you may find interesting. In 1745 there were 120 slaves in Belize. Their numbers accounted for almost three quarters of the population of the tiny settlement at that time. Also recorded in 1745 was an appeal by the settlers writing to Jamaica asking for military assistance as they were receiving threats from the Spanish and were worried that the slaves would cause trouble. In 1779 there were 3,000 slaves in Belize. Between 1790 and 1832 (Except 1803 and 1809) each year the count recorded over 2,000 slaves. Mostly there were far more male slaves than female slaves. Most years it was almost three times the number of males to females. This may help explain why we Creoles seem to accept that a woman can have several children for several different men.
The record also shows there were regular runaways and escapes, especially as the Spanish authorities in Mexico offered Belizean slaves protection and freedom. In 1823, within a two months period some 39 slaves escaped and went to Peten in Guatemala where quite a number had already gone and were living there in a “Town of Black people” and who were said to be “enjoying the privileges of citizens” having “emigrated” from your (Baymen) establishment”. In 1816 runaways slaves were found to be living in a community “near the Sheboon (Sibun) River, very difficult to discover and guarded by poisonous s snakes.” In 1817 the Superintendent of Belize reported that “a considerable body of runaways slaves are formed in the interior.” There was general fear on the part of the Baymen that they were “entirely at the mercy of the slave population”. Part of the problem was the fear that “a very small gang of desperate runaway slaves, who could join and lead these Indians (the Maya), must instantly over-power us and the destruction of every British subject would be inevitable.” In 1820 it was reported that there were “two Slaves Town, which it appears have long been formed in the Blue Mountains to the northward of Sibun”. Now you know why an area of the Sibun River is named Runaway Creek, even to this day. In 1765 a slave rebellion is reported, involving over a dozen slaves. In 1768 another rebellion is reported involving over two dozen slaves. In 1773 more than 50 armed slaves rebelled. They killed six Baymen and attacked five timber works. This was one of the biggest slave rebellions in Belize. It lasted over five months and could only be brought under control when troops were sent from Jamaica. In 1820 the record shows another slave rebellion on the Belize River and the Sibun River. The Baymen were “earnestly praying for immediate protection because “a considerable number of slaves had formed themselves into a body in the Belize River and being well armed and having already committed various depredations the most serious consequences were to be apprehended.” The Superintendent was forced to declare martial law. This revolt had started around the 23 April 1820 and ended 22 May. A reward was put out for the Captain and the Leaders of the rebels, referred to as two black slaves named WILL and SHARPER. WILL and SHARPER were never caught. They and other so-called rebels by putting their lives at risk did their part by bringing slavery to an end. When we become more like Jamaica and other countries where there is real nationalism and patriotism grounded in a knowledge of our history and the contributions of our ancestors the men and women who fought for their freedom will be remembered in our songs, our poetry
and our literature . POLICE MINISTER TO RESIGN In every functioning democracy, there is respect for the Rule of Law, respect for the rights of the citizen and accountability for those who abuse their authority. What happened on George Street on Friday 26th August and on Mayflower Street the same evening is a dark and dirty stain on the UDP government and on the nation of Belize. Where on earth can Police officers dress like Guatemalan soldiers put on mask and go into a neighborhood using baseball bats, pepper spray, tear gas, M16 rifles, tasers, and brute force against citizens? The civilians include minors, females, a Justice of the Peace and young males. They were all systematically beaten. It was planned and it was premeditated. The young men were forced to the ground. They were kicked, whapped and beaten. In a methodical and systematic manner. It is an outrage. The Police are sworn to uphold the law and to obey the law. They are paid to protect and defend the citizens. In their fight against crime they are required to investigate and where necessary to detain, arrest and charge suspected wrong-doers. They can ONLY use force where they are defending themselves or preventing escape. The Amandala newspaper opened it front page report on the issue as follows: “Residents of George Street are boiling mad at the brutal, cruel, vicious, senseless and vindictive operation carried out on Friday evening by members of the Government’s goon squad…” “The (Gang Suppression) Unit has earned a reputation for brutality and a callous disregard for the basic human rights of Belizean citizens. Many citizens blame the actions of GSU on Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow and Minister of Police Doug Singh, who despite taking over from Carlos Perdomo, has been singularly ineffective in curbing the violent propensities of the Unit, which appears to operate with impunity, seemingly having the blessing and protection off both men.” These are strong words. They come from a newspaper which can be considered an ally of the government. They are words not to be taken likely. Such reporting coupled with the sickening images on Channel 7 are never to be ignored. Yet the Police Ministry put out an equally outrageous Press Release on the worst case of systematic Police brutality. The release supported what the GSU did. It attempted to play on fear by claiming rival gangs have grenades and have “intention to use them during the September celebration.” As if that somehow justifies the wanton and unlawful actions of the GSU. Something has gone terribly wrong inside the UDP government. Their abject failure to come up with any meaningful solutions to crime and the root causes of crime is on full display for all to see. What was seen on television was ugly and revolting and can never be acceptable in a democracy. Restore Belize is a bitter joke – Belize was NEVER like this. Not even
Sunday, September 4, 2011 the hated colonial masters lined up our people on the ground and premeditatedly beat and abuse them. Youth For the Future and CYDP are cynical petty programs for show case. They are not solutions. The Crime Control Council is a farce. It has never held a meeting for more than a year despite the frightening increase in murder and mayhem. Perhaps now, the Royal Creole Bourgeoisie Chairman will rouse himself and summon an early meeting in which the first order of business will be the suspension investigation and the bringing of charges against the perpetrators of police violence and illegality. The monies needed for upliftment – for sports, culture, jobs, safety and decent neighbourhoods have never been made available. The Police Department is under staffed, under equipped, badly managed and terribly demoralized. Had the government passed the Preventative Detention law all the dozens of brutalized Belizeans on George Street and Mayflower Street would have been hustled off to Prison for months, incommunicado and without medical treatment. In Guatemala this GSU type behavior is what the army did to the Maya people. In racist South Africa they lined up and beat black people like dogs until apartheid crumbled. In the occupied territories the Israelis systematically break the hands of Palestinians who stone the war tanks of the oppressors. Look at what Belize has come to. ALBERTA PEREZ Magistrate Alberta Perez, a graduate of the University of the West Indies and a trained Attorney-at-Law, has been promoted to the Registrar of the Court of Appeal. Magistrate Perez is a career public officer and has previously worked at the Registry, and in other government departments including as a Prosecutor in the DPP’s office. She has spent the last several years as a Senior Magistrate at the Family Court. ELIZABETH HUMES Elizabeth Humes spent her last day as a public officer on Wednesday, 31st August after giving more than twenty years of service to her country. She left without ceremony. Without a word of thanks from Belmopan. Elizabeth has always been a strong, quiet and dignified public officer, always willing to help members of the public as well as officers of the Supreme Court and attorneys in need of information. GEORGE PRICE George Price - the real nationalist, the original. As Belize prepares to celebrate thirty years of independence, a center piece of such celebrations has to be tributes to the living legend, the great George Price who carried the torch of political freedom and brought us Independence with all our territory intact. More next week.
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