AGENDA
4-5 April 2011
Jaguar Auditorium
University of Belize
Belmopan, Belize
Mexico-Belize Seminar III
Date: 4 & 5th April
Seminar Theme: Social and Cultural Dynamics across Borders
Venue: University of Belize, Belmopan
Background:
That Belize and the wider Yucatan peninsula share, economic, historical and cultural links is widely
recognized. The Mayan archaeological sites found in the region and the evidence of trade among them
offers evidence of the early links. In the not so distant past at the beginning of the 20th Century the
south of the Yucatan Peninsula had more economic, cultural and migratory relationships with Belize
than with the rest of Mexico. The flow of Belizean shoppers and visitors to the city of Chetumal and
that of Mexicans to the Free Zone are evidence of the contemporary relationship. The extent, nature
and effects of these links, however are perhaps poorly understood. It is with the aforementioned in
mind that the Mexico-Belize Seminar has been conceptualized; to generate a better understanding of
the social, economic, cultural and environmental reality of each society and to deepen that
understanding by going beyond borders; seeking to understand the links and engaging in dialogue and
reflection regarding the current social dynamics across borders.
Over the last year two seminars have been organized and held in Quintana Roo, Mexico. For the first
time the Seminar will be hosted in Belize by the University of Belize. The theme for this seminar is:
“Social and cultural dynamics across borders”. It will feature four subthemes: Art and Development,
Population and Society, Publishing and Development, and Language and Culture. The seminar will also
involve the participation of students and young people as presenters and participants.
Goals:
 To provide a forum for sharing on-going research and scholarly work on the social and cultural
dynamics in Belize and Southern Mexico (Quintana Roo) and foster dialogue and reflection that
will deepen understanding of both Belizean and Mexican society.
 To stimulate collaboration between Mexican and Belizean researchers and scholars.
 To stimulate the scholarly and research work among scholars in the participating institutions.
 To contribute towards building a culture that fosters intellectual curiosity in the participating
universities
 To foster intellectual curiosity and research capacity among young people in the region
 To build a friendly relationship between the people of Belize and Mexico.
Mexico-Belize Seminar III
“Social and Cultural Dynamics across Borders”
Belize, April 4 & 5
University of Belize, Belmopan
Day 1 (Monday, April 4, 2011)
8:00 Registration
8.30
Official Opening
Master of Ceremonies – Amado Chan (University of Belize)
Welcome - Dr. Corinth Lewis, President (University of Belize)
Opening Address - Hon. Wilfred Elrington
Remarks- George Thompson, Acting Director of Institute of Archaeology (NICH)
Head Table
Dr. José Luis Pech Várguez, Rector (University of Quintana Roo)
Dr. Ismael Hoare, Provost (University of Belize)
Dr. Vincent Palacio, Dean (Faculty of Management and Social Science)
Adriana Velázquez Morlet (Delegada del INAH en Quintana Roo)
Domingo Rodriguez, Head, Cultural, Educational and Cooperation (Mexican Embassy)
9:30
Keynote Address
Introduction: Filiberto Penados (UB)
Address: David Ruiz, Belizean Author
“Stone Soup: A creative move out of mediocrity”
10:30 Break
10:45 Session 1: Art and Development
Moderator:
Introduction: Yasser Musa (Image Factory), Panel Coordinator
Presentation 1: Art and Development - Claudia Orantes (Caracol, YCD)
Presentation 2: Music and Development - Ivan Duran (Stonetree Records)
Presentation 3: Reggae in Chetumal and Quintana Roo: a Caribbean brotherhood
- Arturo Enriquez (University of Quintana Roo)
Presentation 4: Contemporary Art in the Caribbean and Central America - Yasser Musa (Image
Factory)
Question and Answer
Summary:
Coordinator
1:00
Lunch
2:00
Session 2: Population and Society
Moderator:
Introduction: Filiberto Penados, Panel Coordinator
Presentation 1: The impact of migration patterns in the process of identity building in the Belize
nation-state - Nigel Encalada (NICH)
Presentation 2: Coming back home: Return Migration between Mexico-Belize in the first three
decades of the 20th Century - Allan Ortega (Centro INAH Quintana Roo)
Presentation 3: Poblamiento, migración y nación en la frontera: Miradas cruzadas desde México
y Belice – Lili Salazar (CIESAS)
Presentation 4: Valley of Peace: Redefining our (your) identity in refuge - Marisol Torres
(UNAM)
Presentation 5: Creole Culture: One but diverse - Maria de la Paz & Harry J. Dominguez
(University of Quintana Roo)
Presentation 6: The empowerment of an indigenous community in cultural tourism - Cesar Ross
(University of Belize)
Presentation 7: Towards a post-colonial education: Reflections on improving education for
indigenous children - Filiberto Penados (University of Belize)
Question and Answer
Summary:
Coordinator
4:45
Break
5:00
Keynote Address
Introduction: Dr. Angel Cal (UB)
Address: Professor Jesus Serna (UNAM)
“Hacia un enfoque Latinoamericanista de los estudios afroamericanos/Towards a
Latinamerican focus for Afro-American studies”
Day 2 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)
8:00
9:00
Keynote Address:
Introduction: Elisabeth Cunin (IRD)
Address: Professor Myriam Cottias, Research Director (CNRS CIRESC-EHESS)
"Slave trade and slavery in French Atlantic Space (17th-21st centuries)"
Break
9:15
Session 3: Publishing and Development
Moderator:
Introduction: Montserrat Casademunt, Panel Coordinator
Presentation 1: Publishing in Belize - Montserrat Casademunt (Cubola Books)
Presentation 2: The need for Belizean literature in our curriculum - Emil Pulido (BCHS)
Presentation 3: The book industry as a contributor to economic growth – Crucita Ken (UQROO)
Presentation 4: Publishing in the Caribbean - Shirley Carby (Carlong Publishers)
Presentation 5: De centros de información y publicaciones en el estado de quintana roo: un
acercamiento - Lorena Careaga (Universidad del Caribe, Antonio Higuera
(UQROO) & Ivan Interian (UQROO).
Presentation 6: Publishing, Piracy and Access: Balancing the needs of creators and users - Carol
Newman (JAMCOPY)
Question and Answer
Summary:
Coordinator
12:00 Lunch
1:30
Session 4: Language & Culture
Moderator
Introduction: Jhon Flórez, Panel Coordinator (UB)
Session 1 – Indigenous Languages
 Análisis de un indicador de la vitalidad de la lengua maya en quintana roo: Las actitudes de
los maya hablantes - María Helena Sánchez (University of Quintana Roo)
 The Garifuna language in Belize - Elma Arzu (University of Belize)
 Nahualismos en la frontera - Raúl Pérez Arístides (University of Quintana Roo)
Session 2 – English Language
 The use of some morphological constructions in the Belizean context of writing - Heidi
Moguel & Dorine Vanzie (UB Students)
 How first language (Spanish) interference affects morphosyntax in written expression of
second language acquisition (English) for students in the Belizean classroom - Elizabeth
Andrus & Noemi Zaiden (UB Students)
 UB-QROO student exchange program: Some considerations - Sonia Sansores & Jose Luis
Borges (University of Quintana Roo)
Session 3 – Spanish Language
 Spanish teacher training in the primary school: The case of Belmopan - Myrna Rivero-Teck
(UB Student) & Jhon Flórez (University of Belize)
 Notes on Spanish teaching in the high school in Belize - Orlando García & Sergio Martínez
(UB Students)
Question and Answer
Summary - Coordinator
4:30
Closing Ceremony
Master of Ceremonies: Amado Chan (UB)
Cultural Presentation: Ritamae Hyde
Closing Remarks: Dr. Ismael Hoare, Provost (UB)
Closing Remarks: Dr. José Luis Pech Várguez, Rector (University of Quintana Roo)
Vote of Thanks: Filiberto Penados, Research Director (University of Belize)