MR ROGERS:
Mr Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
When we trimmed our sails last week at the commencement of this Conference, we agreed that our real objective was to emerge at the end with constitutional provisions for the new Nation of Belize, shortly to achieve its independence. we set out as the task before us. Looking now at our achievement, I believe, that it can be said, even at the risk of sounding immodest, that we have achieved our goal in large
measure.
That,
The ground rules which will govern and direct the affairs of the Belizean people have been firmly set at Marlborough House. We have been at pains to provide insurance for the rights of the individual; to protect and preserve human rights and fundamental freedoms; to ensure the foundations of democratic institutions; to mandate their impartiality; and to secure practical and workable devices which take account of the special needs of the Belizean society. I believe that what we have achieved will prove to be lasting, if not
permanent.
This we have been able to achieve, Mr Chairman, by your expert assistance and the guidance of the Deputy Chairman, Mr Hickman. It has not been an easy Conference, but it has prospered and borne fruit because of the spirit in which we have worked; the respect for differing points of view, the will to give and take, the wisdom to appreciate sound reasoning, and the determination to do what was right and best for the welfare of the Belizean people. I would be ungrateful if I failed to acknowledge the competent assistance assembled around this table, the wealth of experience, and the graciousness to so readily make it available for the common good. The staff of the Conference also performed with distinction,
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