BELIZE HISTORY - Key Persons
Cleopatra White by bzhistory The following is a biographical profile on Cleopatra
The following is a biographical profile on Cleopatra White (1898-1987), a Belize Pioneer:
Cleopatra White was born June 28th, 1898 to parents Joseph and Maria White.
DID YOU KNOW THAT CLEOPATRA WHITE…?
Was a member of the Methodist Church and the Black Cross Nurses Association (an auxiliary branch of the UNIA) that she was integral in shaping
Is now acknowledged as the pioneer of rural nursing well before formal training for nurses became available in the early 1940's
In addition to providing nurses services in Double Head Cabbage, Gales Point Manatee and Roaring Creek she also did so in Belize City, and Hattieville (most notably after the 1961 Hurricane)
Was the founder of the Ebenezer Choir and Women's League
Was instrumental in pushing for the construction of a town clock in the Gales Point Manatee, unfortunately the clock was set facing the sea which remained a source of amusement for the community until its destruction during Hurricane Hattie.
Wrote scripts and songs and organized entertainment for the small community of Gales Point Manatee. She was also an excellent story teller.
Many of her plays and songs have been entered in the National Festival of Arts.
Nurse White served as a kind of counsellor at times, when young girls were making the transition from childhood to adolescence
Ms. White was known for her love of dancing, and at social events would often pull the unsuspecting male in for a dance
Some suggest that the decision to implement and formalize village councils was as a result of Ms. White initiative in setting up village lead¬ership councils when she first arrived in these rural communities to which she was often dispatched
After Hurricane Hattie in 1961 Hattieville was established. Ms. White commuted back and forth to the community to care for those who had been affected by the hurricane
Was awarded with a Medal of the British Empire for her role in the development of community life.
Sadly, Cleopatra White died as a pauper at the Old Folks home in Belize City.
Clifford Emmanuel Betson by bzhistory The following is a biographic profile on Clifford
The following is a biographic profile on Clifford Emmanuel Betson (1891 - 1975)
Clifford Emmanuel Betson was born on 24 December, 1891 to parents Adele Betson and Joseph Betson.
Betson volunteered and served along with Samuel Haynes and more than 500 other Belizeans in Mesopotamia during World War I at which time they experienced discrimination and racism.
In 1935 Betson was the leader of a group known as the Progressive Party which agitated for increased representation for poorer citizens.
By 1939 he was a member of the British Honduras Tradesmen and Workers Union
He served as President of the General Workers Union (GWU) from 1944 to 1950. The GWU was the country's largest and most powerful union and comprised forestry and waterfront workers.
The following is a biographical profile on one of Belize's esteemed traditional healer, Don Elijio Panti (1893-1996):
Elijio Panti was born in San Andres, Peten, Guatemala, on July 15th, 1893.
Shortly after his birth, his parents brought him when they came to live in San Jose Succotz Village, Belize, 1893.
Elijio married Gomercinda Tzib in 1907 and moved to San Antonio, Cayo in 1912.
He worked as a chiclero in the jungles of Belize and Guatemala. It was during a chicle camp in 1930 that he apprenticed to Don Jeronimo Requena, a noted Garifuna bush doctor.
Elijio and Gomercinda had only one daughter, Emilia. Unfortunately, Emilia passed away in 1962 during the birth of her fifth child.
Don Elijio's wife passed away on New Year's Day, 1980. He never recuperated from the deep grief he felt at his wife's passing. He said, "Loving a woman was the best part of my life."
Elijio began his illustrious career as a traditional healer in San Antonio, Cayo in 1931. With knowledge and wisdom that grew over the years, he first began healing his own family, his villagers, then the nation, then Central Americans and finally gained world-wide recognition as the last living Maya H'men (he who knows) of Belize.
Using his simple, ancient healing methods with herbs, massage and prayers in his village clinic, Don Elijio cured untold thousands. He contributed more than five hundred plants to the National Cancer Institute's search for natural compounds that might have cancer fighting effects.
There are many throughout the world who owe their lives to this great and simple man.
Dr. Panti received many awards throughout his life, among them were: Distinguished Citizen Award, University College of Belize
Felipe Santiago Ricalde by bzhistory The following is a biographical profile on a man of the
The following is a biographical profile on a man of the people, Felipe Santiago Ricalde (1920-1975)
Born on May 1st, 1920 San worked as a chiclero, farmer and later as a migrant worker on the Panama Canal. This experience of hard work instilled in him strong values of dignity, honesty, responsibility and perseverance.
Upon his return from Panama, San took up work at the Pembroke Hall sugar factory and became a member of the General Workers Union and a supporter of the People's United Party.
In 1955 he was elected as Corozal's first mayor and later elected as area representative for the Corozal North constituency and thereby served in the Legislative Assembly.
Florencio Mes by bzhistory The following is a biographical profile on one of
The following is a biographical profile on one of Belize's traditional musician, Florencio Mes (1938 - ):
Florencio Mes Born on February 23, 1938 in Toledo
During most of his childhood he grew up under care of his elder brother in San Pedro Columbia, where he currently resides.
During his youth, young Florencio enjoyed the village fiestas. He recalls seeing Mr. Fernando Ash, fingers moving a traditional harp as a festive crowd danced to its reverberating sounds.
This was his newly-found ambition. Mr. Ash's words were: "Florencio, come and learn, but be serious. It is for your own good." And so at the age of sixteen, he began taking lessons on the weekends.
It took six years of apprenticeship for Florencio to acquire the skills of the revered harp musician.
He would chop beans plots to fund his training sessions. He remarked: "I took kerosene for the lamp, about half pound flour, coffee and sugar. I also took a small bottle of rum for my teacher every time."
He first learnt the bass, then the guitar, thereafter the violin and finally the harp itself.
Florencio founded his first group with Martin Coc on violin, Valentino Teul on bass, the late Francisco Sam on guitar and Florencio himself on harp.
Florencio is now the undisputed musician for the village fiestas.
His unique aura of constructing, playing and dancing the harp has made Florencio locally and internationally recognized. He has become an icon and master of Maya harp music, captivating a large audience at the local, national, and international level.
He traveled to Mexico for a show at the Centro Communal-Districto Federal in 1992.
He has played at several CARIFESTA events in the Caribbean. He has also played in Port of Spain, Miami, Rome and Malaysia.
He has recorded an album "Maya K'ekchi' Strings" produced by Stone Tree Records.
He was recently featured as one of "The Three Kings of Belize" in a documentary by Katia Paradis (2007)
Mr. Florencio Mes is a Belizean Benefactor of traditional Maya music.
Job Titles:
- the Following Is a Biographical Profile on Community
The following is a Biographical Profile on Community Builder, Gwendolyn Margaret Lizarraga (1901-1975)
Jesus Ken by bzhistory The following is a biographical profile on Jesus Ken
The following is a biographical profile on Jesus Ken (1932), Belizean unionist and political activist:
Jesus Ken was born on February 29, 1932 to parents Domingo Ken and Anastacia Ken in Xaibe, "Punto de Convergencia".
He attended primary school in Xaibe until the class of Standard 4 after which he transferred to St. Francis Xavier in Corozal Town to complete his primary education.
At just the age of 17, Ken's thirst for adventure lead him to labor in Zohlagula, State of Campeche, Mexico, where he worked at a lumber mill. Upon his return to Belize, he worked as a cane cutter.
Around the 1950's he worked in several plantations in both the north and south of Belize.
He made his first appearance in public life in 1957 on the occasion of the Governor Colin Thornley's speech in Libertad, Corozal. There he led a group of demonstrators who perceived the large sugar company, Plantations Limited as a threat to all small farmers at a time when the sugar industry was experiencing growth.
His predictions became a reality when in 1959 a law was passed which authorized Plantations Limited to deliver up to one third of the cane for production.
The Cane Farmers Association (CFA) was created in order to negotiate on behalf of the farmers, organize cane deliveries and make loans to members. However, not long after it became characterized by internal conflict and was divided into 3 main factions, one of which was led by Jesus Ken
In the late 1950's he formed the Northern Cane Workers Union (NCWU) which was registered in 1961. His objective was to make the peasants, whether milperos (subsistence farmers) and caneros (cane cutters), owners of land and independent producers of cane.
In 1961 he formally entered the political arena as a candidate for the People's United Party (PUP) and won a seat in the Legislative Assembly.
He continued his work with the Northern Cane Workers Union and in February of 1962, after a strike that lasted 9 days, the Union gained a substantial wage increase for cane cutters from Plantations Limited and several other large producers.
During 1963 and early 1964 he voiced complaints to the Minister of Natural Resources concerning social injustices surrounding the sugar industry. Primary among his complaints was the "outrageous abuse to which small farmers are being subjected due to the continuous refusal of the Cane Farmer's Association to grant them membership to the Association".
He was appointed a Senator in 1965 where he continued to agitate for land redistribution, using the slogans "Neither man without land nor land without man" and "The land should belong to he who works it".
In 1967, he issued a "ManiGesto Canero" demanding that "the production of cane pass into the hands of small cane farmers" and that all quotas for such farmers be raised to no less than 400 tons.
Jesus Ken has served the Belizean people both as a Senator and Clerk of the National Assembly under both the UDP and PUP governments.
Julian Armando Cho by bzhistory The following is a biographical profile on Julian
The following is a biographical profile on Julian Armando Cho (1962 -1998), Belize indigenous rights advocate:
Julian Armando Cho was born on April 6th, 1962 in the village of San Jose in the Toledo District of Belize.
He served as an English teacher at St. John's College (1990- 1991), Sacred Heart College (1991-1994), and the Toledo Community College (1994- 1998).
He was a great story teller and his creative style of teaching incorporating local elements to ensure that every student was reached.
Julian joined the Toledo Maya Cultural Council (TMCC), a group working for the indigenous people of the Toledo District and was a force for indigenous rights.
Julian also mobilized his people into functional groups, inspiring the formation of the Toledo Alcalde Association (TAA), and the Toledo Maya Women's Council.
On December 3rd 1995, he led a peaceful demonstration march to voice the indigenous people concerns over the granting of logging concessions on indigenous lands.
He was able to mobilize and influence communities and develop strong affiliation with the Indian Law Resource Center (ILRC) which enabled him to effectively present the indigenous agenda to Belize and initiated the production of a Maya Atlas.
On November 25th 1998, the government of Belize signed a Memorandum of Understanding to negotiate a solution to the Maya land rights struggle.
Cho's untimely death in December, 1998 was a huge loss to the Maya people and to the environment of southern Belize. He was posthumously awarded the James A. Waight Conservation Award for his tireless efforts.
Gwen Liz was bom in Maskall Village and was educated at Mr. Datsun Primary School, St. Mary's Primary School and St. Catherine's Academy.
She was a mother, a business woman, a successful chicle and mahogany contractor in northern Belize.
Unlike the typical woman, she wore pants, carried a gun, publicly smoked cigarettes and even drove a land rover.
Before her political career she formed the United Women's Group to assist women in unfortunate conditions, and help the sick and the poor.
Madam Liz was the co-founder of United Women's Credit Union and even if a woman could only afford to save 25 cents per week she was encouraged to save. During that time a domestic earned roughly $1.50 per week to wash/iron and about $8.00 a week full time.
Job Titles:
- Representative of the Institute for Social
The following is a biographical profile on Nicholas
The following is a biographical profile on Samuel A. Haynes (1898-1971), Belize social activist
Samuel Haynes was born on February 28, 1898 to parents Samuel Edward Haynes and Ellen Trapp.
Haynes was a student at Wesley High School, now Wesley College on a competitive scholarship.
In 1916 at the age of 18 Haynes joined other Belizeans to serve in World War I as a member of the 2nd Contingent (stationed in Mesopotamia modern day Iraq).
During his time he was very observant of seemingly discrimi¬natory practices of the British soldiers against coloureds. As such, he became a key witness to the commission in the inquiry into the Ex-Servicemen's Riot of 1919.
In 1921 Haynes was recruited by Marcus Garvey, the Presi¬dent of the United Negro Improvement Association (to return with him to the U.S.). Garvey met Haynes in Belize and became impressed with his eloquence as well as his commitment to pro¬moting black advancement in society.
Haynes emerged as one of the four-member Committee of Presidents of the United Negro Improvement Association when Garvey was arrested in the United States.
In June 1966 Haynes formed the Freedom Committee at a public meeting in Harlem after learning of events that had transpired in London in respect to the Webster Proposals and also as reported by Phillip Goldson
He wrote extensively and contributed to many United States based papers, including the Negro World, Philadelphia Tribune.
He is best known in Belize for having written the words of the poem "Oh Land of the Gods", the words of which is now Belize's National Anthem.
The following is a biographical profile on Sir Isaiah Morter (1860-1924):
Sir Isaiah Morter was born in Freetown District of Belize and was known as the Man of the Soil
His Godfather one ‘Old Sowden' a member of the thrifty, industrial and relatively wealthy community of the African descent provided young Isaiah Morter with a dory and a piece of land on which to grow bananas where he became very successful.
With the hard work and diligence he placed into the Banana Industry, Mr. Morter's plantation became very successful. Thereafter, he had acquired another piece of land which was the offshore island of Caye Chapel where he cultivated coconuts on a large scale.
After Mr. Morter's grandfather ‘Old Sowden' saw how potential and successful he was, he decided to leave him his fortune in cash which he used to purchase a more extensive property in the Capital.
Mr. Morter had retired in Belize City where he became more familiar with the Belizeans who referred to him as "Guinea Sigar" because he always had a cigar clenched between his teeth.
Sir Isaiah Morter became a stalwart member and supporter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (U.N. I. A.) founded by Marcus Garvey.
He was fully supportive of Mr. Garvey's endeavors which included improving the abundance of the Negro population and encourage them to return to Africa.
After this was met, Mr. Garvey had given Mr. Morter an award that distinguished the U.N.I.A. honor which was the Knight Commander of Distinguish Order of Ethiopia, and a trip to New York to secure his medical condition.
By 1922, Mr. Morter's illness had become severely worse so Mr. Garvey had provided him with a Trinidadian nurse by the name of Ms. Lawrence who took care of him until he died in 1924.
In Mr. Morter's will, he had left a sum of $100,000 in property to the U.N.I.A. in New York for the fund of African salvation.
The following is a biographical profile on, Thomas Vincent Ramos (1887-1955):
Thomas Vincent Ramos was born on September 17, 1887 in Tulian, Puerto Cortez in the Republic of Honduras.
In 1914, at age 26 became married to Eliza Marian Fuentes and together had twelve children.
In 1923, at age 36 he migrated to Dangriga and was a farmer, a businessman, a candy maker, a boxing manager as well as a song composer and writer.
In 1924 he formed the Carib Development Society, which was successful in obtaining 800 acres of land at Sarawee Village which was later designated as a Carib Reserve.
In 1926, he became an active member of the Carib International Burial Fund Society; he later went on to establish the Colonial Instruction Association and the Independent Manhood and Exodus Uplift Society.
These organizations were all geared towards the advancement of the Garinagu. They provided sick and death benefits and executed an educational program.
He was a member of the Stann Creek District Board from 1927-1929.
He originated the observance of the first Carib Settlement Day in Dangriga in 1941. In 1942 this observance spread to Hopkins, Seine Beight, Punta Gorda and Barranco.
In 1943, he along Pantaleon Hernandez and Domingo Ventura went to the Governor requesting that Carib Settlement Day be a public holiday in the Garifuna Communities. The same year this was achieved for the Stann Creek District and for the Toledo District in 1944.
In the late 1940's he was the Stann Creek Correspondent for "The Belize Independent, a newspaper which was published weekly during the 1940's.
Today November 19th is recognized as Garifuna Settlement Day throughout the country and is celebrated as a National Holiday.
In 1954, he became naturalized as a British subject.
He died on November 13th, 1955 at age 68. In 1965, a monument was erected in his honour at the Princess Royal Children's Playground in Dangriga. On November 13th, 1990, a bust was erected at the Garden of Gethsemane, Dangriga.