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Myrtle Palacio Launches Books On Diverse Topics
posted (June 22, 2011)
The culture of politics and the politics of culture are the central themes that define the latest two books written by local author and educator, Myrtle Palacio. The books released today at an official launching ceremony held at the Image Factory explore Electoral politics in Belize and Garifuna spiritualism. In the Naked Truth, Palacio presents an overview of the country's system of governance, while in Adugurahani, she investigates the misunderstood phenomenon of Garifuna spiritualism. She told us more today:

Myrtle Palacio - Educator, Author
"Belize is virgin territory for research, and many outside scholars are aware of this, and are making use of Belize as their canvas. Both offerings are well-researched, triangulated, and presented in scholarly manner. The book on electoral politics is my second major offering, the first being my 1993 publication entitled "Who and What in Belizean Election, 1954 to 1993". I have also shared with the public, several manuscripts and brochures as an endeavor in voter education during my tenure as Chief Election Officer. Since then my public has been demanding information on Municipal Elections. In my analysis, I have tried to highlight the data, and what the data said, nothing less, nothing more. In terms of the book, "Adugurahani", it is partly the lived experience of Bouye John Mariano. He had always advocated that traditional knowledge - all ways of life - be documented as way of sharing the information. He said to me before he passed away - even weeks before he passed away - 'You have to bring it out it; it is time to put it in writing.' He is very political - Bouye John - not party politics, but in terms of dealing with his culture. It is a detailed description of the Dugu, and all its nine rituals. The book pro-offers the following as a definition of Dugu, consisting of nine highly structured rituals, Dugu is a sacrosanct ceremony, which is the authority system in the spiritual health of Garifuna people. It is a lot of food for thought that is in both books, and I deliberately made it provocative. The 'Adugurahani' book raises the issue of anomalies of using the songs, and the intellectual property. I am not making decisions; I'm just bringing awareness to these things, similarly with what is happening in our electoral system."

The books are on sale at the Image Factory store, the Angelus Press, Brodies and other establishments where books are sold.






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