Posted: Saturday, April 30, 2016. 3:18 p.m. CST
By Aaron Humes: The Belize City Council is scheduled to unveil a bust of former Prime Minister of Belize Right Honourable George Cadle Price at the entrance to the highway now named after him on Tuesday.
The bust is sculpted by Stephen Okeke, who had previously done one of Price and has produced works of Philip Goldson (now located at the entrance of the Philip Goldson Highway) and Antonio Soberanis (which graces Battlefield Park in the downtown).
Price, born in the former Belize Town in January of 1919, initially sought to be a Roman Catholic priest but found his true calling in politics.
Taking a job with magnate Robert Sydney Turton, Price was introduced to his political career in the 1940’s, with a seat on the Belize Town Board, later City Council.
He would become Mayor of Belize City in the mid-1950’s, serving two terms, before moving on to become Chief Minister, Premier and ultimately first and two-term Prime Minister of Belize.
Price lived all his life on Pickstock Street in Belize City; even after retiring from the leadership of the People’s United Party in 1996 and from politics entirely in 2003, he could be seen moving around the Old Capital.
He died in September of 2011 of complications from a fall at his home. He was buried at Lords’ Ridge Cemetery with the thanks of a grateful nation and twice per year, the PUP lays wreaths in his honor at the grave, with a third laid on National Heroes and Benefactors’ Day.
Price was named the country’s first National Hero in 2001.
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