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George Cadle Price
Leader of Belize (1961–1984, 1989–1993) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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George Cadle Price (15 January 1919 – 19 September 2011) was a Belizean statesman who served as the head of government of Belize from 1961 to 1984 and 1989 to 1993. He was the first minister and premier under British rule until independence in 1981 and was the nation's first prime minister after independence that year. He is considered one of the principal architects of Belizean independence. Today he is referred to by many as the "Father of the Nation". Price effectively dominated Belizean politics from the early 1960s until his 1996 retirement from party leadership, having been the nation's head of government under various titles for most of that period.
He entered politics in 1947 with his election to the Belize City Council. In 1949, with the devaluation of the British Honduran dollar he, together with a group of citizens, formed the People's Committee. It was the start of the "peaceful, constructive Belizean revolution". On 29 September 1950, he co-founded the People's United Party, which he led for four decades and which was devoted to the political and economic independence of the British colony, then known as British Honduras.[2]
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Early life and education
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George Price was born in Belize City in what was then British Honduras, to William and Irene Secilia (née Escalante) Price.[3] His father was an auctioneer and the family could trace their roots back to Scotland and also to the indigenous Maya peoples.[4] He was the third eldest child and had eight sisters and two brothers in total.[5]
Price received his early education at Holy Redeemer Primary School and St. John's College High School (SJC). He survived the hurricane of 1931 which destroyed SJC at Loyola Park, swimming away from the wreckage. Under the Jesuits, he was exposed to the teachings of Catholic social justice, in particular the encyclical Rerum novarum.[6] Upon graduation, the young Price felt a call to the priesthood, so he went to study abroad, first attending Saint Augustine's Minor Seminary in Mississippi, United States, and later the Mayor Seminario Conciliar in Guatemala City. Throughout his life Price remained a devout Roman Catholic and attended Mass daily.[7]
The war in Europe prevented him from completing his studies in Rome and, instead, George Price returned to Belize. He was hired by local businessman Robert Sidney Turton as his private secretary. Price also contributed to the Belize Billboard, then run by Philip Goldson.[citation needed]
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Political career
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After receiving encouragement from Turton, Price ran for election to the Belize City Council in 1944 and 1947, being successful in 1947.[8] Upon the formation of the People's Committee (PC) in 1950, Price was named its Assistant Secretary, and in a famous speech later that year claimed that "National Unity" propelled the PC's actions. With the formation of the PUP, Price's stature rose and he ascended through the party ranks until he became Party Leader following a leadership dispute in 1956.[citation needed]
Elected to the colony's newly created Legislative Assembly in 1954,[9] he also served as mayor of Belize City from 1956 to 1962. In 1956, Price became party leader of the PUP. As First Minister, a post he held since 1961, he led the team which began negotiations over independence with the United Kingdom. He maintained that post as Premier in 1964.
In 1981 Belize gained its independence, and Price served as the country's first prime minister and foreign minister until 1984. The PUP was defeated in the elections by the United Democratic Party under Manuel Esquivel, with Price unexpectedly losing his own House of Representatives seat to Derek Aikman, a political newcomer and the youngest candidate in the election.[10][11] Price continued to lead the PUP from outside the National Assembly while Florencio Marin became the Leader of the Opposition.[12] Price resumed the post of prime minister after successfully returning to the House in the 1989 election, serving until 1993, when he was again succeeded by Esquivel.[citation needed] In October 1996 he announced his resignation as party leader, and on 10 November 1996 was formally succeeded by Said Musa. Price remained a member of the Belize House until the 2003 election.
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Honours
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In September 2000, Price became the first person to receive Belize's highest honour, the Order of the National Hero, for the prominent role he played in leading his country to independence.[13] In 2000 he also received the Order of the Caribbean Community.[14] In 2005 he was awarded Cuba's highest honour, the Order of José Martí by Cuban President Fidel Castro.[13] He also received honours from Honduras, Mexico and Venezuela.[15]
In 1982, he was made a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.[2] In 2003 a street in Belmopan was named George Price Boulevard[16] and in 2012 the Western Highway was renamed the George Price Highway.[17][18] The George Price Centre for Peace and Development is named after Price. The Centre was officially inaugurated in September 2002 and opened to the public in January 2004.[19]
Since June 2025 an image of Price is featured on every $5, $20, and $100 Belize dollar banknote.[20][21] In 2006 to celebrate 25 years since independence the Belize Postal Service released a commemorative stamp featuring Price.[22]
In Belize, since 2021, the 15th of January is celebrated as a public holiday known as George Price Day.[23][24][25] National Service Day is celebrated every 19th of September to commemorate the anniversary of Price's death.[26][27]
In 2024 a 16-foot bronze statue of Price was unveiled in Battlefield Park in Belize City.[28][29][30][31]
Death and funeral
On the 14 September 2011 Price fell at his home hitting his head on the floor which caused a blood clot on his brain. He was taken to hospital for emergency surgery and put into an induced coma.[32] Price died a few days later on the morning of 19 September 2011, at the age of 92.[33][16][13][34][35] Seven days of mourning was ordered[36] and on 26 September 2011, a state funeral was held.[15][37] Price was laid to rest at the Lord's Ridge Cemetery in Belize City.[38][39]
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See also
References
External links
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