National Kriol Council

Flowers Bank-May  28 & 29, 2011

ADDRESS FOR FLOWERS BANK FESTIVAL OPENING by Myrna Manzanares

Good morning special guests, friends and villagers. It is a distinct pleasure for the national kriol council to be a part of the third annual festival.  I am particularly glad because this is an opportunity to once again highlight the significant role our ancestors played in the course of our history.

Today more than ever, as we see so many of our youth falling needlessly we need ask ourselves, what went wrong.

• What happened to our strong family values
• Our strong community values
• Our cultural environment

Although our people were separated from Africa they still maintained their strong community commitment which helped in the survival of our culture, but today the cultural bases in our communities are rapidly deteriorating because of neglect, and lack of knowledge. Don’t let this happen in Flowers bank. Build on the legacy that has been left for you. Be proud of the part your village played in the course of our history.

To all our people, reverse the downward trend we seem to be heading Take the opportunity to study and use our cultural survival patterns and values. For example our use of folktales, which were used as a means of teaching community values; childbirth techniques; natural healing practices; encouraging youth participation in all community activities – such as storytelling, traditional games, and so many more areas, that kept families and communities together  You will be taking part in some of these activities today. These built respect for o elders and built and maintained effective nurturing systems for our children.

The National Kriol Council has not given up on our people and in spite all the odds we are reaching out and educating our young people, so that they can take responsibility for themselves and make a positive rather than negative journey through life. We encourage the elders to be a part of the process. We will continue to give our efforts promoting our culture. We encourage you to learn to read and write the kriol language  (unu don no ho fi taak it) the language brings the culture alive. That does not negate the English language. This is our official language so you must learn to read, write and speak it, as well as you need to learn to read and write Spanish. But never think that there is something wrong with your kriol language. If you learn to read and write it then you will understand the differences between English and Kriol and do better in English.

This is our land, this is our country, and Kriol is a part of the living culture of Belize never forget that- be proud our who you are and don’t let anyone convince you that you are less than them. When we hurt each other, we are telling others that we are worth nothing therefore others will continue use us.

Help us mobilize so we can continue to educate you more about your cultural heritage and history, and how important you are Belize. Let us work together in unity and rescue our people before they are totally lost in identity confusion.

The National Kriol council is here to work along with you. Remember  wan wan okro ful basket. Enjoy your day

Di Reel Hischri a Bileez

                                                                                                                     Di Flowaz Bank Stoari

Dis weh unu wahn reed da how Bileez  mi reeli geh fi bee ya az wahn Konchri. Da chroo dat di Batl a Sin Jaaziz Kee mi did tek plays, bot dat da oanli paat a di stoari.

                                Dehn mi ga dis man weh mi nayhn Adam Flowaz. Hihn da mi ansesta fi di Flowaz famili da Flowaz bank. Dat deh op Bileez Riva. Hihn mi kohn fahn wahn set a slayv weh pipl mi noa az “Flowaz Neegro Dehn”. Wahn Inglish man weh mi nayhn Wilyam Flowaz weh mi kohn fahn Bristal doz oan dehn. Eena di semteen fiftiz hihn bring ih slayv dehn da wichpaa dehn doz kaal di Maskito shoa.

                   Wel ih soh hapm dat eena 1756 di Inglish man Wilyam Flowaz disaid fi goh bak da Inglan. Ih free aala ih slayv dehn. Dehn doz werk haad haad, ahn noabadi doz bada dehn.

                   Eena 1786 Wilyam Flowaz ded. Wel wahn laaya hihn da Inglan tek it pahn fi hihn self fi disaid seh dat di slayv dehn neva reeli free fi chroo, an ih mi waahn sel dehn. Di slayv dehn neva mi wahn tek dat ataal. Dehn brok eena pipl hows  ahn teef gon, ahn food, ahn kloaz, den dehn ron weh eena bush.

                   Now dehn mi ga dis man weh mi nayhn Jaymz Pit Laari. Hihn da mi di soopa-intendent deha taim deh. Hihn ahn di Kongsl disaid fi paadn di slayv dehn, kaa dehn seh dat dehn mi free fi di laas 30 yaaz. Afta dat dehn kohn bak da Bileez wid dis Jaymz Laari. Dehn taim deh dehn doz kaal Bileez “Di Setlment”.

                   Ih soh hapm dat werd mi-di goh rong dat di Spanyad dehn mi-di chretn fi atak Bileez. Di majischrayt dehn kaal wahn meetn da di sayhn lokayshan weh Citi Haal deh now. Dehn mi waahn di pipl dehn weh mi setl da Bileez fi moov out ahn lef di plays. Dis meetn da mi pahn di semteent a Aktoaba, 1796. Aal kain a bak-ahn-foat ahn kwaaril mi-di goh aan da da meetn. Wel Misa Adam Flowaz fahn Flowaz Bank get op ahn seh dat hihn neva gwen no way. Hihn ahn fi hihn faamli dehn mi-di mek wahn nais livin wichpaa dehn mi liv pahn di riva, ahn dehn mi free. Ih seh, “If da fait wi hafu fait, den wi wahn fait ahn difen fi wee lan!”

                   Dehn mi ga moa meetn afta dat. Pahn di fos a Joon, 1797, dehn disaid fi voat az tu weda dehn fi stay ahn fait fi dehn lan er ron goh lef it. Wel di voat mi tai-tai. Wen dehn sen tel Misa Adam Flowaz dat di voat mi tai, ahn fi mek ih rong op man fi kohn voat, hihn ahn ilebm moa man dehn padl dong way fahn Flowaz bank fi kohn kohn voat. Wen dehn reech, dehn ahn  too wait man dehn voat in fayva a stay ahn difen di plays.

                   Wen Jaymz Laari yehr dat di voat fi lef di setlment geh ton oava, ih seh dat ih shuda mi kil di slayv dehn insteda paadn dehn.

                   Da neva til di neks yaa, di tent a Septemba, 1798, wen di akchual fait  wid di Spanyad dehn mi tek plays.

                   Soh unu si, da sayka weh dehn foateen man dehn brok di tai a di voat mek wee deh ya tudey day.