Move Tenth parade to Monday, say churches

Published by BBNTEAM at August 31, 2023

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Posted: Thursday, August 31, 2023. 5:15 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Sunday in Christian tradition is set aside as a day of worship and communion with God. But on Sunday, September 10, the Citizen’s Parade will take over the streets of downtown Belize City for at least an hour in observance of the Battle of St George’s Caye – though not if the churches have anything to say about it.

In a statement issued today, the Council of Churches cites past convention that the parade and official ceremony which it follows, when falling on a Sunday, are held on the following Monday (which is also given as a public and bank holiday), and says it prefers to do that this time around too.

The Council says, “Not only is Sunday a recognised day of worship for the churches, but the very proposed time and route of the parade will seriously disrupt the well-established and long-standing worship services of several churches.”

Moving the parade will allow both churches along the route – such as Holy Redeemer Cathedral and Wesley Methodist – and those elsewhere in the country to hold services in peace and without disruption.

The Council’s statement also separately repeats its condemnation of the decision to allow alcohol sales on religious holidays Good Friday and Christmas, which were previously banned.

Decisions like these betray “disdain,” “impertinence” and “disregard” for the importance of the Church and the Son of Man on whose behalf it ministers.

Control of such decisions normally rests with the municipal councils with input from the National Celebrations Commission.

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