THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF BELIZE- THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE

Confrontation in Corozal Town, Belize

The year before Belize got its independence was one of turmoil between the two political parties of the country. The People's United Party, under the leadership of the Right Honourable George Cadle Price (the then Premier of Belize), was going full force to attaining independence from Britain. Meanwhile, the Opposition in the United Democratic Party was crying for a referendum and for talks on the Heads of Agreement.

The Honourable Florencio Marin of the South of Corozal District organized a march into the town of Corozal in support of Independence. His followers who come from the rural areas were mostly farmers.

They approached the entrance of Corozal Town, Belize and organized how they would march down Fourth Avenue. Then the march began. As they turned the curve to enter Fourth Avenue they were obstructed by a huge cane loader. It was the property of Mr. Roque Marin who lived on that street. Needless to say, Mr. Roque Marin was a strong supporter of the United Democratic Party.

It was noticeable that there were quite a number of oppositionists on the roof tops of some buildings on Fourth Avenue. I was at home at the corner of Fourth Avenue so I can tell you what I saw from that vantage point. Many of the marchers who had left their trucks parked at the entrance where they had organized the beginning of the march, ran back to their trucks. They returned with shotguns and machetes. I remember feeling a wave of fear run over me. There was definately going to be trouble.

To remove the cane loader from blocking the road, a number of men heaved it out of the way and the march continued. I sensed that the best place for me was my house so I never left it. I could eventually hear the sound of shots being fired and recieved a phone call a little while later.
My fears were confirmed. There was a confrontation once more on Fourth Avenue.

On top of a building at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Third Street South were some young men armed with malivolt coctails. They threw them at the marchers and in return the marchers replied with their shotguns. I know for a fact the a fellow nicknamed "Piney" got some shotgun pellets in his head.

This situation increased with the opposition revolting and on Fifth Avenue at Young's Drugstore the UDP turned over Mr. Young's car. I had an aunt and two cousins visiting from California at the time and they were in the house next door to the drug store. She called in a hysterical voice to tell us that they were leaving for Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico (our neighbours in the North) because she feared for her children and herself. Things looked really bad.

Be the end of the confrontation one Mr. Riveroll (a UDP supporter) was dead and the belief to this day is that he was killed by his very own brother who was a PUP.

To this day Hon. Florencio Marin is one of the most charismatic leaders of the PUP and his people in the South of Corozal still strongly support him. He sits in the House of Representative as an elected member of government and is Minister of Lands.

Years after this event, when the UDP attained power they constructed a town clock in the Central Park in honour of the fallen Mr. Riveroll.

I hope you enjoyed this short chapter on the untold history of Belize

Yours truly,
Brenda Ysaguirre