7 News Belize

Gov’t Of Belize Declares One-Time Holiday To Observe Queen’s Funeral
posted (September 13, 2022)
It may be the middle of the celebrations month - but - as we've reported - Belize is in an official period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II - until her funeral on September 19th.

And even as Belize continues mourning period, still many were surprised to hear that the Cabinet has declared September 19th, the day of Her Majesty's funeral, a one-time public and national bank holiday.

And so, that gives time to those who wish to mourn Belize's former head of state during her state funeral which will happen at 11:00 am London time - which means 5:00 am in Belize.

To bring you up to speed with that event, tonight, Elizabeth II has returned home to Buckingham Palace.

And earlier today in London crowds standing around the Queen Victoria Memorial erupted in Ovation as the cortege carrying the Queen's coffin finally completed this stage of its journey.

Tomorrow, the late monarch's coffin, adorned with the Imperial State Crown, will be transported on a gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, and make its way from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall to lie in state for a further 4 days.

And while this may seem remote to some, we found quite a lot of Belizeans who are very tuned in to the events in Britain as they mourn their monarch.

Cherisse Halsall hit the streets on the 10th of September and here's what they told us about what has largely been a lifetime of connection to the monarch:

Meredith Morris, Retired Factory Worker
"Well it was hard because I was a Girl Scout and I had a personal letter from the Queen of England when I was 17 for saving someone's life and then I got a the I got a bar and a medal and with the Girl Scouts when she was queen we all got a piece of cake this big from her it really hit us, you know."

Steven Duncan, Managing Director, Heritage Bank
"I remember as a young, as a boy in primary school we used to celebrate her birthday for instance so you remember certain things that I was here for her visits and that type of thing so you know you remember those things and you reflect on it but I don't know when you say what you mean it's not a loved one who died it's not a sister, a sibling or so so it's still different."

"There was a measure of introspection and reflection on, in terms of what it meant for our country and probably in terms of looking forward as to where we go from here. I think my emotions were drawn primarily from watching the family members on TV and being conscious that for them it is real and it has to hurt. I've had loved ones who died before so I know how it feels but I didn't feel it in the sense of a loved one dying for meat's different."

Anna Young, Customer Service Rep
"Can I be honest? It didn't really move me because I mean she really hasn't done anything for me and I don't really know her so it's just well the queen died and that was it for me I didn't really cry or anything it wasn't that emotional for me but I guess we will feel it because she's dead now but that's it."

"I think we should just let it go and leave the queen on our money but I also don't believe that we should move away from England on a whole you know, I don't think we need to become independent because I really don't want our bread to be $175 dollars like Jamaica's one so I really think we should just leave the Queen's face on our money."

Edwin Shepard, Unemployed
"I feel really down you know what I'm saying because then she's been the Queen for so many years, you know what's saying, so all I can do is just mourn right now and keep my thoughts with me."

"Because she's been the queen before I was even born, you know what's saying and that was 46 years ago, you know what I mean. So, I'm already used to her as the Queen, you know what I'm saying so I'm being honest about it. The queen is gone but the king is coming so it's gonna be alright."

Wilbert Zelaya, Retired Postal Comptroller
"She had lived a long life and it's painful for anyone to lose anyone so as the queen as we grew up in my early age only knowing her as the Queen I feel a bit sad that someone has passed."

"It's a death, any death means you feel sadness knowing the queen, her family and basically reading about her in stories, in pictures, in books, I mean if you actually don't see that person in person and you read, visualize and see, and the person dies the as a human being you should feel compassionate. A part of my life, as part of history, and a part of this country."

"I guess for now we should embrace the new king and then see how it goes and then maybe in the next year or two we can move forward to be a republic."

Pedro Alvarez, Fisherman
"We were kind of saddened because we have always been under the mandate from England, from creation days and I mean that is from I was young and was born here and I feel kind of sad."

"Well I have travelled to all parts of the world already and I went I think as close as England and France, you know all those places I've been to before because we sell seafood you know and it's kind of…I knew many people from England so we had a connection with people from England so I think we will miss her surely. She has always been the Queen of Belize."

Roslyn Bevans, Retired Welder
"Very sad, very sad. Grace, beauty, what else could I say? Overall, she's the best for me."

"We are from old school you know I am not with the young generation you understand Give her respect, you know, that is our queen regardless of what, and talking about changing the Queen's face on the money I don't think that is necessary for what reason, really?"

"You have a lot of dead presidents and their faces are still there but my sympathy goes to the family."

Elijah Cadle, Tik-Toker
"You definitely feel it because she is the head of state and she does play a role in us being Belize and all of that but I think that there is a little bit of discourse about it because some people do feel upset about the whole monarchy and the colonialization and what that means for Belize so I think that there is validity in both being upset but also in having your opinion about her death in that way as well too."

Bernard Pickwood, Accountant
"When anybody dies it will make you feel sad because everybody is a human being. There is a connection because she is on our money. She is the sovereign head of our country so yes there is a connection."

Phills Staine, Entreprenur
"I am mourning because at the end of the day it's death and everyone will be mourning but the reality about that is like alright, we aren't really familiar with her like that as if she frequents Belize to say ok well it's someone who was always here. Yes, we know how England must feel because she is for them but apart from that all we know is that the Queen is dead and she is on our money that's basically what we know about her."

September 19th also coincides with National Service Day.

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

7 News Belize