The National Celebrations Commission (NCC) hosted the Belize@41 Awards Ceremony on 1 September 2022, featuring seven outstanding and deserving Belizeans.

The awards and respective awardees are:

1. Beverley Smith Lopez Award for Acting in Theatre and Film to Ray Gongora
2. George Gabb Award for Visual Arts to Pen Cayetano
3. Rosita Baltazar Award for Dance to Dawn Adderley
4. Zee Edgell Award for Literary Arts to Lawrence Vernon
5. Don Elijo Panti Award for Protection and Development of Traditional Knowledge to Susano Blanco
6. Andy Palacio Award for Original Belizean Music to Bredda David Obi
7. Leela Vernon Award for Creative Community Action and Safeguarding Cultural Heritage to Brad Pattico

Hon. Cordel Hyde, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining, delivered the keynote remarks at today’s ceremony. He highlighted the many achievements of the awardees and encouraged all Belizeans to build on their cultural and creative contributions.

For more information on how the awardees contribute to safeguarding Belize’s living heritage, we invite you to refer to the biographies of the awardees:

Press release and photographs courtesy Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology. Broadcast recording by the Government of Belize Press Office available here.