Welcome/BIENVENIDOS LABUGA LIVINGSTON

BELIZEANS IN NEY YORK CITY PAY THEIR LAST RESPECT TO ONE OF THEIR FOUNDING FATHERS LEIGH RICHARDSON

By: Wellington C. Ramos

                On Friday the 31^st of October 2008 many Belizeans packed St Joseph Anglican Church in Brooklyn New York City to pay their last respect to one of the founding fathers of their country Leigh Isiah Allison Richardson. Mr. Richardson was born on April the 26^th 1924 in Puerto Castillo Republic of Honduras to Leigh and Egzine Richardson and at the age of five his parents took him back to their native country Belize. He later got  married to Eva Young and from that union he had the following children who are; Yvonne, Anthony, Michael, Evamarie, Ann, Brian, Stephen and Glenn. Leigh as he was commonly called by most people, was a; politician, teacher, journalist, father, brother, son, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, father-in-law and a well loved individual. Along with Phillip Goldson, George Price, John Smith, Herbert Fuller, Herman Jex and other Nationalist Belizeans they formed the People’s Committee which later became what is now the People’s United Party in 1950.

              In 1951they refused to hang up the picture of King George the V1 and the Union Jack in the Belize City Council’s Office and started to advocate for independence against the British Government in the party’s newspaper called the Billboard. John Smith urged the party to hang up the Union Jack the British flag and the party refused. He later left the country and Phillip Goldson and Leigh Richardson were both arrested, charged, convicted and sent to prison for their involvement. In 1953 Leigh Richardson became the leader of the PUP and In 1954 he was one of the first eight Belizeans that were elected to the Belize Legislative Assembly. In 1956 there was a dispute among the leaders of the party over some issues such as; the Devaluation of the Belize’s Dollar, the Guatemalan connection and to join the West Indian Federation. Leigh Richardson, Herbert Fuller and Phillip Goldson then decided to leave the People’s United Party.

              Herbert Fuller formed the Honduran Independent Party and Leigh Richardson formed the National Independence Party where he was elected as Party Leader. George Cadle Price then became leader of the People’s United Party up until about 1992 and he was replaced by a new leader Said Musa. George Price and the People’s United Party governed Belize up to 1984 when they were defeated by the UDP in a landslide victory 21 to 7. Gorge Price himself was defeated by a young politician by the name of Derrick Aikeman. Manuel Esquivel became the first leader of any opposition party to become Prime Minister of Belize.

            The Honduran Independent Party later merged into one party under the name National Independence Party (N.I.P.). Along with other Belizean Activist, they started the first independence movement in Belize to demand Belize’s independence from Great Britain. In 1958 Leigh Richardson left Belize and handed the party over to Phillip Goldson and went to live in Trinidad. While there, he attended the University of the West Indies where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Studies. He also taught Mathematics, English, Economics and other subjects at St. Anthony’s College and Progressive High School. In the year 1973 the Liberal Party, People’s Democratic Party (P.D.M.) and the National Independence Party (N.I.P.) merged together while Phillip Goldson was studying in England and formed the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) under the leadership of Dean Lindo. This is now the party that is governing Belize and recently defeated the People’s United Party by a landslide in the election that was held this year on February the 7^th by a margin of 25 to 6. 
 

              Before the service, a viewing of the body was held from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. The service was officiated by Reverend Braithwaite and attended by Mrs. Genene Fischer Charge De Affairs at the Belize Mission to the United Nations , Beade Pitts President of the Belize Exservicemen League and members, President of Belize Chemotherapy Organization of New York Inc. Mrs. Mary A. Usher-Swales and members, Officers and members of Friends Of U.D.P. New York State Chapter which included; Wellington Ramos Chairman, Gene Guild Treasurer, Peter Caliz Director of Media and Communications Affairs, Michael Ellis Director of Recreation, Sports and Youth Affairs, Robert Melendez Director of Security Affairs, George Gabourel Advisor and various other organizations. He was eulogized by one of his son’s Michael Richardson. Doctor Robert Bennett who is Mr Richardson’s brother-in-law and his daughter also spoke about their experiences with their family member Leigh when he was alive. Dexter Thompson a family friend added his fun experiences with him also. Mr Normon Fairweather was the Media Technologist who was responsible for transmitting live reporting and communication with Belize.

          After the service a reception was held in the Reception Hall where a live message was received via satellite from Belize’s Prime Minister the Right Honorable Dean Oliver Barrow. In his message he sympathized with Mr. Richardson’s family and commended him for the instrumental and vital role he played in the political development of our country Belize. Recently during the Independence of Belize held on September the 21^st one of Belize’s highest honor “THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION” was bestowed on Mr. Richardson by the Prime Minister and the Government of Belize. Due to his illness he was unable to attend and the award was received by his beloved Sister-In-Law Mrs. Kitty Richardson whom he lived with for most of these years in New York City. Mr Leigh Richardson along with his fellow Belizean comrades have left us with a legacy that we should always cherish and love. It is now our responsibility as Belizeans citizens to protect, defend our country and make Belize one of the most prosperous nation on this planet earth.

GARIFUNA CELEBRATION MASS HELD YESTERDAY IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK CITY

By: Wellington C. Ramos

            On Sunday the 9^th of November 2008 Garifunas from all over the New York City Metropolitan Area packed Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn to participate in their annual Garifuna Celebration Mass officiated by Father Lawrence Nicasio a relative, classmate, friend and Pastor of Saint Ignacious Church in Belize City Belize. He was assisted by our two local Deacons namely Deacon Harold Sampson and Deacon Osborne Miranda. This mass was organized by a Garifuna Activist in the New York community Mrs. Rosita Alavarez-Aranda in conjunction with Dorina Mendez-Castillo, Mrs Manuela Sabio famous Garifuna musicians and artists Ms Paula Castillo, Mr James Lovell and their organizations. Mr Martin Bermudez and Simon Castillo were both responsible for the videotaping and photography.

           Before the mass started the Priest, Deacons, Drummers, Choir Group along with all the participants assembled at the back of the church and paraded through the isle of the church singing Garifuna songs and beating the drums. After they arrived at the alter everybody dispersed and went to their respective seats. Several participants were called up to read selected verses from the Bible in the Garifuna Language. Father Nicasio’s sermon was based on this year’s theme in encouraging our Garifuna Youths to get involved in the various aspects of our Garifuna Culture to appreciate, cherish, love and do something to further enhance and preserve the culture for future generations to come. He also stressed that we are all Garinagus despite the fact that we come from Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. He urged the Belizean Garifunas to stop the prejudice among themselves based on the fact that they are from Barranco, Punta Gorda, Seine Beight, Georgetown, Hopkins and Dangriga their traditional communities in the country of Belize.

           During the mass the choir group along with the congregation song many beautiful songs in the Garifuna Language and James Lovell later song a Garifuna translation of the song “By The River Of Babylon”. During the singing of this song one could have felt the spirit and the mood of the audience inside the church. Everybody was joyous and reaching out holding the hands of their fellow Garifuna brothers and sisters. After the mass was completed, Mr Jerry Castro an aspiring Garifuna Politician from the Bronx seeking a Senatorial Seat was introduced to the audience to give a talk about his quest to become the first Garifuna Senator in the State Senate of New York. Father Nicasio then ended the mass and a procession was held from the alter to the main door of the church where the crowd dispersed and gathered in the Reception Hall downstairs.

         The reception was hosted by drummer Vincent Servio singer Ricky Martinez, DJ Robert Mejia, Paula Castillo, James Lovell, Mrs Castro’s dance and drummers group and several others who got into the Garifuna Spirit to dance and sing. This year will commemorate one hundred and seventy-six years since the Garifunas left the shores of Honduras in large numbers to settle in the town of Dangriga Belize. Throughout all the Garifuna Communities in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the United States, there will be several cultural activities held leading up to the Belizean National Holiday on the 19^th of November every year. Many Garifunas will be leaving the United States and the other neighboring Republics to go to Belize for this year’s celebration like they have been doing for more than a century. I can still remember when my relatives use to come from Livingston on a boat called “Ilda” that docked at the pier in Dangriga Town. During that time their were several excursions held by the late George Pastor back and forth to Guatemala and Honduras to re-unite the Garifuna People with their relatives. People use to be at the pier in large numbers awaiting their love ones. All Garifunas in Belize have relatives in the neighboring countries who they communicate with from time to time.

          This year’s celebration will conclude with a dance to be held by the Ilagulei Dance Company on Saturday November the 15^th, 2008 at Eastwood Manor 3371 Eastchester Road in the Bronx. The donation is $70.00 per person which will cover the cost of food and drinks. For further information feel free to contact the following individuals; Mrs Dorina Castillo 917-714-9225, Mrs Cordelia Cayetano 718-589-6455, Ms Catherine Ramos 347-571-3101 and Ms Elida Palacio 917-842-6974. Music will be provided by DJ Rob and he will be backed up by “Live Drumming” all night.

        The Garifuna Celebrations Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate all those individuals who have contributed to the success of this year’s 19^th of November Celebrations. Without your wholehearted support nothing would have been possible. Caribbean Net News would like to inform the general Belizean audience that Belize Caribbean Net News will be launched soon for all your Belize news, announcements and advertisements. For further details fell free to contact Wellington C. Ramos at 347-312-2563 or Email me at: we.ramos@hotmail.com. Kindly pass on this information to all your friends and relatives. Thanks for supporting the most reliable and dependable news source in the entire Caribbean region Caribbean Net News.