7 News Belize

Goldson, A Hero’s Home
posted (September 29, 2015)
Last night, we gave you a brief look into the ceremonial opening of the Goldson House, to chronicle the life and Legacy of National Hero Phillip Goldson. That event was held yesterday evening in Belmopan, and our news team arrived back in Belize City after the news was finished.

So, tonight, we take you back to the Goldson house, to show you just how it looks. Daniel Ortiz has that story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Orange Street, Belmopan, was taken over for the evening. A tent was erected, and where vehicles would have normally passed, chairs were laid out for all the guests who showed up for this very important ceremony.

Prominent amongst the other attendants were the Head of State, the Head of Government, the Tourism and Culture Minister, the NICH representatives, and the family and friends of the late Philip Goldson.

They were there to officially open the National Hero's Belmopan Home, the place where he resided late in his life, which had been transformed into a museum in his honor.

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. - Minister of Tourism and Culture
"It has been the greatest honor to have my ministry through our National Institute of Culture and History leads the efforts in transforming the Goldson residence here in Orange Street Belmopan to a historic a landmark that highlights the exemplary contributions alive of our national hero. Welcome all of you to this momentous event as we celebrate the Defender of Our Democracy, our Belizean national hero Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson."

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"When this dedication was first planned and earlier date has been fixed and then as it turned out, we were obliged to have a house of representatives meeting on that day and so Diane Haylock agreed to postponed the ceremony. She asked me what date in September would be convenient and I told her the 28th September. She didn't know then, but of course I knew full well that this was going to be the day on which I would announce the holding of Belize's next general elections and I thought that it would be absolutely fitting if I could do that on a day that would also be set aside for the honoring of our national hero Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson."

So, what exactly is in this now national monument set aside to his life and legacy?

Diane Haylock - President, NICH
"The house has 6 spaces in which we have installed with the technical assistance of McNab Designs, a semi-permanent exhibition. Space one features a chronology of the life of Mr. Goldson and it attempts to place his life and experiences in its proper historical content. In space 2 we have given emphasis to Mr. Goldson's contribution as a writer and a journalist and we especially feature his contribution to the anti-colonial movement and to freedom of speech through the recollection of his imprisonment. In the 3rd space, we personalized Mr. Goldson and feature him in photos including his family. It also contains an important narrative about his philosophical and faith-based approached to life and work. In the 4th space, we have setup an audio visual room which will feature a variety of interviews, recording done by his family, friends and close associates regarding his life and work. It also features memorabilia, each of which provides us with a glimpse of who he was. Space 5 highlights the origin and span of Mr. Goldson political life and is built around the theme of his contribution to pioneering and defending Belize's democracy and its political institutions and the last space is where we focus on a few of his many contributions generally to Belize."

And what of his political ideals of service to country above all?

Daniel Ortiz
"Are the younger generation of politicians somewhat betraying that memory or going away from that memory when they tow the line of political parties?"

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Let me just say that there is only one Philip Goldson and so the fact that latter day politicians do not replicate his example is not strange. While modern day politicians would do well to emulate him as much as possible, it should not surprise any of us that contemporary politicians will fall short. It's simply impossible to measure up to Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson."

The Goldson House is located at #20 Orange Street, Belmopan City. The majority of the architectural features it had when Goldson was living there has been preserved as part of this museum.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize