ベリーズの国民的英雄ジョージ・プライス初代首相が他界されました。
今朝ほど、入院先の病院で亡くなられたそうです。92歳だそうです。
今月14日に行われたベリーズの歴代首相フォーラムで、ひょっとしたら、一目でもお目に
かかれるかと思っていましたが、健康上の理由から、ビデオで紹介されていました。
その時のジョージ・プライス初代首相の紹介文です。
写真は、ベルモパンにあるGeorge Price記念館で写したものです。
The Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price
National Hero
First Prime Minister
(1981-1984 and 1989-1993)
The Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price was born on January 15th, 1919 in Belize City as the third
of eleven children to William Cadle Price and Irene Cecilia Price (nee Escalante).
Mr. Price attended Holy Redeemer Primary School and St. John`s College in Belize City and
then studied theology at St. Augustine Minor Seminary in Mississippi, USA and then the
Seminario Conciliar in Guatemala.
After returning home in 1942 he began working for Mr. Robert Sydney Turton.
It was with Mr. Turton that Price received his introduction to politics. By 1944,
Mr. Price entered municipal politics having entered within three days of voting day and
lost that first election. By 1947 he won his first election and served as Mayor of Belize
City from 1958 to 1962.
On December 31st, 1949 the British Honduras dollar was devalued by the Governor who used
his reserve powers. As a result of this catalyst, the People`s Committee was formed and
comprised of members John Smith, Leigh Richardson, Philip Goldson, with Mr. Price as its
Secretary. By September 29th, 1950 the People`s Committee became the People`s United Party
and the Party`s first major victory was the achievement of Adult Suffrage in 1954.
Mr. Price became party leader of the PUP in 1956, and remained as the leader until 1996.
In 1964, Mr. Price led Belize into Self-Government and became its first Premier. He was
elected as a member of the House of Representatives in consecutive elections from 1965 to
1984 and again from 1989 to 2003.
In the 1970`s Mr. Price and his team organized a movement for the internationalization of
the Belizean call for Independence. On Monday, September 21st, 1981 Belize achieved its
Independence from Britain and was admitted into the United Nations. The Hon. George Price
became Belize`s First Prime Minister. In September 2000 Mr. Price was awarded with Belize`s
highest honour: Order of National Hero.
謹んでご冥福をお祈り申し上げます。
