George Price

Disclaimer: Views presented in this blog are those of Roger German.  They do not represent the views or opinions of the U.S. Peace Corps or the Government of the United States.

    I had the honor of attending the funeral of the Right Honorable GeorgeCadle Price last Monday, a man often called the Father of Belize and compared to George Washington.

    In the words of Aaron Humes, a Belizean writer, “(Rt. Hon. Mr. Price) took a small nation on the Caribbean coast of Central America, beholden to the behemoth – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland- with no discernible means of providing for itself apart from the flagging timber industry, and in a political career spanning more than five decades, made it a mostly self-sufficient nation with a distinct identity, uniting the hodgepodge of cultures that at times threatened to make Belize more like its Central American neighbors, which were drenched in war and blood.”  (used by permission, Amandala, September 2011, pg 1)

    Yet by all accounts the Rt. Hon. Mr. Price was a humble man.  Born the third of eleven children, his early life was shaped by his Catholic faith.  He considered joining the priesthood, and he studied theology at Saint Augustine Minor seminary in Mississippi and later at the Seminario Consiliar in Guatemala.  But the interruption of WWII and his father’s illness required that he worked to help support the family.  It was then that he acquired a taste for politics and became the driving force for a country free from foreign interference, all the while maintaining close ties with the people all over Belize.  His travels in an old blue and white Landrover are legendary, and he often would stop in villages where he was invited to sit down at the table.  And he did, eating whatever fare was available to the family.  His early interest in the priesthood and his Catholic upbringing informed the balance of his life, and he attended daily Mass until he died.

    He had no interest in material things. He never married.  He never wore fancy clothes.  His passion was freedom for Belize.  He built no fancy home, acquired no tracts of land, amassed no personal wealth though his career in politics spanned more than 60 years.  What is interesting is that the legends about Mr. Price grew while he was still alive, but since he is contemporary with these times, most of what has been said in tribute can be verified by people still living.

    For two years I have know a man who unbeknownst to me is Mr. Price’s nephew.  He’s a medical doctor, but he never mentioned the connection.  He was close to his uncle, but he said he wanted to make his own career, without that influence.  Another humble man, much like his uncle I think.  It only came out because I asked if he was at the funeral, and he said he was there, with the family.  We chatted for a bit about his uncle, and he said he rode with him the Landrover visiting villages.  He also remembered that Mr. Price had an amazing capacity to remember names, walking around Belize City, greeting everyone.

    And that desire to connect with others, however humble, was simply a genuine interest in others.  The current Prime Minister, the Hon. Dean Barrow, a member of the opposite political party, in his address at the funeral remembers accompanying Mr. Price to Guatemala when they were negotiating some difficult border disagreements.  What Mr. Barrow remembered however, is that at the hotel where they stayed, Mr. Price spent time talking with the bellboys, receptionists and maids, remembering their names, finding out about their families.  Mr. Barrow went on to point out that those people couldn’t even vote in Belize.

    Another friend here said that when Mr. Price walked to work (that would be Parliament), he carried a plastic bag with him so he could pick up trash.  And it is important to note that there was no media following behind recording for posterity and propaganda.  He just wanted the streets cleaner, and figured a man could help do that.

    I don’t know if George Washington would have picked up trash; I would like to think Abe Lincoln would have.  In my lifetime, I can think of only a few in public office who would stoop to such a menial task, unless there were cameras close by.

    My family and I have had lively discussions via email about politics in the US.  The current consensus seems to be to throw the whole bunch out and start over.   I then queried my brothers and sisters about whom among them would be willing to run?  Not one response, not even from myself.

    If good people don’t run, what we get is what we got.   

Comments

[Sandy Echternacht]

Teared up a bit. Thinking of Grampa German and Bob. Dad always said you can accomplish a lot if you don't care who gets the credit. I can envision Grampa German picking up trash on his daily walk to the grocery store. You (we) come from the same vein of thinking. We each, in our time and in our own way, have accomplishments that will not be measured in our lifetime.
Do the right thing - store up your treasure in heaven...not here on Earth.