As Belize celebrates 43 years of independence, who would have thought the country I have ended up calling home, is actually a few years younger than I am.
We came to Belize 25 years ago and have lived in the village of Hopkins for the last 17 years. If you spend time in Hopkins you’ll know that this once sleepy, fishing village, has become a ‘must experience’ destination on the Belize mainland.
In the years that I have lived here, the growth and progress in all aspects of Belize and its attractions have been enormous. And the speed of change and development has sometimes been nothing short of breathtaking. Even when I talk to Belize nationals who haven’t visited Hopkins during the last few years, some of them express their inquisitive delight at the fact that you can drive from the Southern Highway junction into Hopkins within 10 minutes instead of 20 minutes. And once you enter Hopkins the main roads are paved the length of the village both north and south. Not only that, but you can now drive all the way to the resort hotels area on a paved road.
When we came Ito live in Hopkins there were a handful of basic restaurants open. Now their number is such that there are too many to list here in my post today. And you can also enjoy a choice of fine dining along with the more casual options.
In those days we would drive to Dangriga if we needed to get hold of our cash, but these days we can pop along to the ATM that is at the junction in the centre of the village.
Garifuna Settlement Day and Hopkins has long been celebrated in Hopkins but now we also have our annual Mangofest event catering for the whole of Belize. I remember how we used to walk along the dusty main road saying hello as we passed other pedestrians while avoiding the few cyclists, the odd motorcycle and cars. These days you’ll find that motorcycles and modern cars and trucks often outnumber pedestrian traffic. With all of this progress there have been other direct and indirect benefits to our community here. The water supply system has been completely upgraded and even though privately operated, we now have access to an ambulance and fire service locally.
As we celebrate 43 years of Belize being independent here in Hopkins, it’s to be noted that the village still has an authentic charm as local cultures and visitors to Belize blend into this unique mix of people and cultures co-existing in this micro-paradise by the beautiful Caribbean Sea.
And if you know Hopkins well, or have visited recently, here are some memories from how we used to be — Happy Independence Day!
Rob
