"Today I want to start off by thanking Galen University, Dr Zabaneh, its board of Directors, the faculty and staff for extending this invitation to honor and recognize my Father the late Joseph Andrews, by way of offering 5 different scholarship in his name.
Please allow me first to recognize some of our family in attendance here today....When I first talked to my Mom about these scholarship, she insisted I tell the board here at Galen to consider first the most financially needy students as recipients of any scholarship given in my dads name. You see, my father carried a burden for the poor and needy. He worked hard to ensure equal opportunities for all Belizeans. Many knew him to be an individual who would take the shirt off his back to give to someone in need.
He, himself came from humble beginnings, but he had a big heart. Even today people stop me on the street to tell me stories of his kindness and generosity. My father identified with the grass root people because He had a sincere love for people. This sincere love, fueled and motivated my dad to be a voice for the voiceless. This sincere love gave him the energy he needed to work night and day for the people of this country. My father was not concerned about personal advancement, but used all his energy and resources for national development. My father loved his family, He loved all Belizeans.
My father was born on 13th November, 1944, in San Ignacio, Cayo District (Happy Birthday dad). He was born to my Grandfather Albert Andrews and Grandmother Antonia Cruz Andrews. He attended primary school at Sacred Heart in San Ignacio and later attended St. John’s College, in Belize City where he excelled in his academic studies. After graduating, he attended Teachers College. He spent some years teaching at Sacred Heart College, and was dedicated both in the classroom and after school, to tutoring and helping students.
In the late 1960’s he became active in local politics. In 1971 he and his team won the Town Board elections for San Ignacio under the banner of the National Independence Party, the major opposition party at the time. In 1973 he became Mayor of San Ignacio.
Orlando Habet, a good PUP wrote:
"I recall when we got our water system donated by the United Kingdom. After a flood, we were without water. It was Joseph Andrews who dived down in that dirty water to get the water pump by the river to get it repaired and working. These legends won the people’s heart and consequently won the elections, one behind the other."
In 1973 He also rose to national attention when he and his followers in Cayo joined the United Democratic Party, which had been recently formed to unite all opposition forces.
In 1974 as a member of the United Democratic Party, My Dad was elected as Member for Cayo North. He was very vocal in the House of Representative and became prominent as a national figure by championing the cause of the 18 year old vote.
His motto was “For God and Country.” He died on December 29, 1981, but his legacy lives on. These 5 scholarships offered today are one way, but also we his Son and Daughters have now embraced his motto, For God and Country!"
