The nation is readying itself for the September Celebrations, three weeks of bashment, ceremony and good times overall.
And this year, it is so full that the two biggest events, the Belize Expo Marketplace and the Carnival Road March, are sharing the same date, September 14.
Usually, the carnival is held on the first Saturday in September – but this year, it's being held on the second Saturday, which is the date set for the Expo since last year October. Now, it's a major schedule clash because the carnival draws thousands into the street to watch, and the Expo draws tens of thousands of visitors annually.
So why was such a scheduling decision made? We asked the Communications Officer from NICH to explain it. According to her, it's because this year's September only has 2 free weekends before the 21st:
Shari Williams - Communications Officer, NICH
"This year 2013, we have exactly two weekends in September before our Independence Day celebrations and so whenever this phenomena happens when we only have two weekends to schedule everything - there's a problem because we have about four or five big events that people look forward to during the celebrations. So this year we had to really sit down and try to see how best to schedule everything in a comprehensive manner where everybody will be happy and what is of utmost importance in the National Celebrations Commission is the safety of our citizens. So we take the advice of the Police Department on what they are able to manage very seriously, so their advice play a major role in what get's schedule and when they get scheduled. This year we had a sit down with representatives from the National Celebrations Commission, Bowen and Bowen Group of Companies, as well as representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and they came up to an amicable decision. The police department told us that they would be better able to manage both the Carnival and Expo on the 14th of September and the Bowen and Bowen representatives graciously decided to have their Sir Barry's Belikin Bash on 5th, 6th and 7th of September. So these were some of the events were somewhat clashing so we all came up to a very wonderful and amicable decision. The 14th of September will be both Carnival Road March through the principal streets of Belize City as well as on that date we will have the Expo - we don't see any problems with these dates."
Daniel Ortiz
"So the police will be able to facilitate both?"
Shari Williams
"Yes, the police are comfortable that they will be able to facilitate the expo because it is being held at a private location and they are very confident that they will also be able to safeguard the carnival road march."
Daniel Ortiz
"I know that both of these events are publicly supported by the Belizean people - do you forsee that one or the other will suffer because two of them are on the same date and people will be torn trying to decide."
Shari Williams
"On the other hand, I always look at the glass half and so I see it as a positive thing with so many people coming into the city for the Carnival road march - I can see those people also making their way after carnival to the expo - so it's a win - win situation for both parties."
According to Williams, the September Celebration's Committee has the blessing of the Police Department, for both the Expo and the Carnival Road March to happen on the same date.
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