The Nation of Belize is saddened with the passing of the First Prime Minister and National Hero, Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price. The 92-year-old Price passed away at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, September 19.
On Thursday, September 15, the former Prime Minister fell from his Pickstock Street home where he suffered an injury to his head. Price was rushed to the Belize Healthcare Partners where he underwent surgery and had pulled through without any complications.
Hon. Price’s health had been deteriorating and succumbed to his head injury at 6:30a.m. on Monday, September 19. Ambergris Today joins with the Nation and mourns the passing of the Father of the Nation, Rt. Hon. George Price. May He Rest in Peace!
Biography of George Price:
The Right Honourable George Cadle Price, the eldest of 10 children, was born on January 15, 1919 in Belize City, Belize. Receiving his primary education at Holy Redeemer School, he attended St. John’s College High School from 1931-1935, after which he spent the next nine years at St. Augustine’s Minor Seminary in Mississippi, U.S.A., and Mayor Seminario Conciliar in Guatemala City.
Political career: Returning home in 1944, Price worked for local businessman/millionaire Robert Turton; while contesting municipal elections in 1944 and being elected to the local Town Board in 1947. He served as Mayor from 1958 to 1962.
At the national level he was elected to the Legislative Council in 1954. Upon the formation of the People’s Committee in 1950, he was named Assistant Secretary, and after co-founding the People’s United Party (PUP) on September 29, 1950, Price ascended through the party ranks until he became leader following a dispute in 1956.
Becoming First Minister in 1961, which title was changed to Premier in 1964 after Belize achieved internal self-government, Price became the country’s first Prime Minister at independence on September 21, 1981. Although his PUP suffered defeats in 1984 and again in 1993, Price led the PUP for fully four decades, until he resigned in November 1996 and was named Leader Emeritus.
Awards: 1982: Member of the Privy Council.
The Order of the Caribbean Community.
2000: The Order of National Hero, the first to receive this award in Belize.
