ORGANIZACION NEGRA CENTRO AMERICANA  (ONECA)  (CENTRAL AMERICAN BLACK ORGANIZATION (CABO)

The Annual General Assemble for ONECA was held in Nicaragua in December 2013.  Belize was represented by four organizations: the NKC, the National Garifuna Council, UBAD Educational Foundation and Emergent Corp.  Ms. Myrna Manzanares represented the NKC.  The main highlight of the Assemble was the revision of the constitution and election of a new executive.  However neither of the above were fully resolved due to irregularities in the voting process.

CABO 15^th, GENERAL ASSEMBLY

University of Belize Campus

Dec. 3rd - 5th, 2009

Myrna Manzanares' Impression of the CABO 2009 conference

Totally exhausted, body barely moving , -Satisfied

Because God sent the rain to signal his  blessings on the deliberations and the resolutions that  were made on this occasion

What a week one would say

What an awesome , challenging week

Awesome - to see the coming together

Of our afro brothers and Sisters from Central America in Belize

Awesome to see the dedication to a strong cause.

Awesome to be able to communicate through whan can be seen as a Language divide

Spanish, Garifuna English Kriol

Awesome, because despite all the adversities

The mission was accomplished.

Challenging - because of all the uncertainties From beginning to end.

Challenging - because of the clash of personalities

Challenging because of not being mindful 

Of the choice  of communication style

Which can often create conflicts

And challenging because of seeming disrespect for  others

And  negotiations agreed upon.

This was indeed an exhausting, awesome and challenging experience.

Irreparable ?  No! Lessions learned?  Many

So now is the time to really get to work

To analyze what could have been a regional calamity

With international implication

For the advancement of our people

What could have been a severing of ties

Causing irreparable damages to our image

And given credence to the perception

That indeed black people will forever

Be in mental slavery, even amoung their own

Yes this is a good time

This is the  right time

The time is now to get back to the drawing board

To re-assess ourselves as Afro-descendants

To plan a multi-prong strategy

That will not leave anything to chance

The time is now to build our economic base

So that every group can share in the

Financing  of  their participation in the various  activities

And let the business of CABO be to  fill in the gaps

And to tend to the international fundraising and relationships

So that we can all benefit from the educational, social, cultural

Environmental , health and other programs negotiated for us.

AWESOME,     CHALLENGING,      EXAUSTING,  SATISFYING

This Fifteenth General Assembly in Belize

One to be remembered and cherished

As the catalyst for truly moving forward – United for progress.

Myrna Manzanares  ( December 5^th. 2009)