Independent and Thriving
They say that ‘independence’ is freedom. Independence is liberty and the right to self-determination. As individuals, our path to becoming independent starts with learning to walk, talk, write, and read, and by the time we learn to drive, we get our first whiff of real freedom. Then, we learn about our democracy, and our participation in choosing our elected leaders. Belizeans have individual freedoms, and we live in a sovereign Democratic country, but is that the extent of it? Are there levels and limitations to our personal independence? Is the right to vote the threshold of our civic freedom? If we had to learn to become independent and if our country had to win its sovereignty, who were we, and what was Belize before that? In one of his addresses, the Honourable George Price said, “We are not stagnant. We are moving, we are dynamic, and we are all now going to Independence.” He compared the tools for getting our independence to the tools of a farmer because “just as the farmer needs tools to produce food, so we need tools to produce a new nation.” The tools he listed for our nation building were a flag, the name of a country, and the national anthem. Perhaps being an independent man, woman, or nation is about how we keep moving and building. Stagnancy may be the antithesis of independence. This year Belize will be 43 years old. Like the Belizean farmer, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has often used its resources to cultivate things and to help keep people and communities moving towards better self-reliance and more independence.
A community is more independent when they have the right infrastructure, support, and information to serve its people. Like a person, a community that is less independent is a community that is more likely to stagnate within its development. Communities must be provided with the right tools to grow and improve. On the 12th of this month, five communities across Belize were handed new garbage compactor trucks that will help them to enhance their waste management, reduce their environmental impact, and contribute to an overall cleaner environment. The leaders and elected representatives of Belmopan, Hopkins, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Placencia can feel freer in how they choose to apply their waste management ethos. Earlier this month, the BTB also supported the Cycling Federation in hosting the Annual September Criterion. The event featured bike races across five categories, where the winners were awarded trophies, medals, and other prizes. This may only be a bicycle race to some, but to children and young athletes, competing in a race and collecting a medal could feel like a reward for being self-sufficient and independent. Last week, at the Fort George Tourism Zone, vendors, hair braiders, artisans, tour operators, and tour guides gathered for a focus group discussion that was led by the BTB. The conversation explored key areas for improvement and solutions to enhance operations for the upcoming cruise ship high season. On the surface that could be seen as just another meeting, but for the small business owner it may be empowering- after all, information is power, and the BTB provides lots of information. If it is a truck, a criterion, or a discussion about planning ahead, it all helps to keep communities and the tourism industry engaged and moving.
The BTB has continued to plant its seeds to cultivate more dynamism within tourism destinations. Helping to provide resources that empower communities to help themselves is an important part of that cultivation. The BTB works to empower stakeholders through training, conferences, seminars, community projects, marketing, and strategic partnerships. Independence is freedom. We are not stagnant and we are moving. We are going all now to celebrate our 43rd year of Independence and a thriving tourism industry.
Chat again later.
Jasmine Anderson
For the Belize Tourism Board