Two Roads to Belizean Independence
What George Price Means to Me
For most of my life, I heard one name more than any other when it came to Belize’s independence:
George Price.
He was “The Father of the Nation.” The man who walked us into freedom. The face on the billboards. The name on the highway. And now, in 2025, he’s one of the faces on our new currency.
But growing up in Belize, I also heard another name — one that felt quieter but just as strong:
Philip Goldson.
For a long time, his story wasn’t told as often.
But the more I learned, the more I realized:
You can’t tell Belize’s history without both of them.
🟪 Who Was Philip Goldson?
Philip Goldson was a journalist, an activist, a fighter — not with weapons, but with words and principles.
He believed in:
- Free speech, even when it was dangerous
- Education, even when he couldn’t afford it
- Justice, even when it cost him his freedom
In 1951, Goldson and Leigh Richardson were sentenced to a year in prison for sedition — simply because they published a bold editorial in the Belize Billboard that challenged colonial power.
But that didn’t stop him.
While in jail, he studied law by correspondence — and came out stronger.
After prison, he became:
- A Member of the Legislative Assembly
- A Minister of Social Services
- An early voice for the disabled, the poor, and the forgotten
He also formed the National Alliance for Belizean Rights (NABR) and was one of the few politicians who spoke out consistently on the Guatemala claim — warning that we must never take our sovereignty for granted.
Philip Goldson didn’t just want Belize to be free.
He wanted us to be informed, independent, and awake.
In 1989, Belize officially renamed the Belize International Airport to the Philip Goldson International Airport, honoring his lifelong commitment to national pride and global recognition.
🟫 What George Price Means to Me
George Price was the leader we all knew.
Not because he shouted, but because he stood firm.
He believed in:
- Quiet leadership
- Dignity in public service
- A Belize that was united, peaceful, and whole
He served as:
- The First Minister of British Honduras
- Premier of Belize
- And later, our first Prime Minister after independence in 1981
But beyond his titles, what I remember most about George Price was the way people talked about him — with reverence, with warmth, with respect.
He walked to work.
He listened more than he spoke.
And he believed that Belize belonged to all of us, not just to politicians or foreign powers.
To me, George Price represents a kind of leadership that feels rare today —
one built not on power, but on principle.
In 2012, the Western Highway — Belize’s major east-west road — was renamed the George Price Highway, connecting Belize City to Belmopan, San Ignacio, and the Guatemalan border.
Thousands drive that highway today.
Whether they know it or not, they’re following a path shaped by his vision.
🧭 Different Paths, Shared Purpose
Price and Goldson didn’t always agree.
In fact, their political journeys took them in different directions.
But both:
- Fought for Belize
- Paid a personal price
- Believed in something bigger than themselves
In many ways, they represent two halves of the Belizean spirit:
- Price: Unity, stability, peaceful transition
- Goldson: Truth, accountability, and fearless dissent
And now, they both appear on our new Belizean currency — not as rivals, but as reminders.
🪙 The Currency Carries Both
In 2025, Belize’s banknotes removed Queen Elizabeth and replaced her with these two patriots:
- George Price: on the $5, $20, and $100
- Philip Goldson: on the $2, $10, and $50
Price is the man on the highway (renamed in 2012).
Goldson is the name you see when you land at the airport (renamed in 1989).
And together, they represent the ground and the sky of Belize —
what we’ve walked through, and what we’re still reaching toward.
💬 Why This Post Matters
For too long, the focus was placed on just one man.
But Belize was never built by one person.
It was shaped by many — and Philip Goldson deserves his space in that story.
This post is my way of giving him that space,
and honoring both men,
in my voice,
from the Belize I know.
📎 Want More?
Queen Elizabeth and Belize
What Money Do They Use in Belize
Belize Dollar Fixed Exchange Rate
