On October 21, 2026, Antonio “Tony” Zabaneh, a towering figure whose career and community contributions shaped the socioeconomic fabric of southern Belize for more than half a century, passed away, prompting an outpouring of national tributes from public officials, industry peers and ordinary residents across the small Central American nation. Zabaneh’s professional footprint spanned some of southern Belize’s most critical economic pillars: he was a foundational leader in the regional banana industry, and played a core role in developing the Port of Big Creek, a key trade and logistics hub that drives cross-border commerce and agricultural exports for the entire southern district. Far beyond his commercial achievements, Zabaneh dedicated decades of his personal time, financial resources and leadership acumen to grassroots community uplift. A lifelong passionate sports advocate, he funded local youth teams across cycling, football and boxing, launching the careers of dozens of celebrated local athletes who would go on to represent Belize at regional and international competitions. He was also a longstanding, respected figure within the People’s United Party, working closely with Belize’s Father of Independence George Price to advance equitable development for marginalized southern communities. Minister Henry Charles Usher, Zabaneh’s nephew, spoke publicly about his uncle’s legacy in a recent evening television newscast, recalling the man he affectionately called “Tio Tony” as a “giant of the south” and “man for all seasons”. Usher shared that Zabaneh had been a steady mentor throughout his own political career, offering consistent guidance to prioritize public service above personal gain. Usher noted that he had visited Zabaneh at a Belize City hospital shortly before his passing, where the elder statesman encouraged him to continue serving his constituents diligently. “I always told Tio Tony he was the father of Independence Village,” Usher added, referencing the countless local initiatives Zabaneh spearheaded to lift up underserved neighborhoods long before formal government development programs reached remote parts of southern Belize. The full unedited transcript of the broadcast, which preserves the original Kriol speech of contributors using a standardized spelling system for accessibility, is available for viewers to access in full online.