The Legacy Of Simon Lamb And The Beginnings Of St. George’s Caye Day

December 30, 2022
by roshesgodfrey@gmail.com +

The Battle of St. George’s Caye was a monumental turning point in the history of Belize. Occurring in 1798 between the 3rd and 10th of September, it marked the final attempt of the Spanish to remove the British colonists and their logging operations from the territory. They were not successful, which resulted in Belize becoming a British colony and setting it on the path to be the nation that it is today. Simon Lamb would be instrumental in recognizing this day as an important national holiday.

Simon Lamb was born on October 14, 1833, in Belize, which was then known as British Honduras, to very humble beginnings. His parents had only recently been liberated from the bondage of slavery and he worked as a tradesman in Belize City for most of his life. He was a humble, unassuming person who was small in stature but had a serious mind and was a vigilant public figure.

In 1888 he organized the first parade to celebrate 50 years since the end of slavery in Belize on August 1. He and others attempted to establish a People’s Hall to be a center of education, but unfortunately, it never came to pass because a storm destroyed the building as it neared completion. He organized the People’s Committee in 1891, which had the goal of “furthering the political interest of the people of British Honduras.” He also led and believed in a rich spiritual life for his people as an active member of the Methodist Church and Superintendent of the Ebenezer Sunday School.

In 1898, for the hundred-year anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye, a group of citizens organized a tribute, turning it into a public and bank holiday at the time. Simon Lamb is sometimes incorrectly stated as being the organizer behind this event, but he was not.

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Sadly, celebrations on this holiday began to dwindle over the next ten years and it was then that Simon Lamb came forward to preserve this integral piece of Belizean history. He began organizing the annual festivities personally until the end of his life, ensuring that the 10th of September would be celebrated by all of Belize up to this very day.

Lamb had a vision that extended well beyond his lifetime. He wanted to ensure that all future Belizeans would remember the importance of and be able to celebrate this holiday. It is because of his efforts that the holiday enjoys such a prestigious place in Belizean society today. Even his original parade celebrating the end of slavery was revived by the UBAD Educational Foundation, where it goes to the Lords’ Ridge Cemetery to lay wreaths at his grave.

Simon Lamb passed away in 1914, but his contributions to the creation of St. George’s Caye Day should not be forgotten and he should be remembered as one of the most patriotic Belizeans in history. People continue to visit his gravesite to this day, ensuring that his legacy and his memory will live on.