Belize Government Profile 2009

Overview of the Former British Colony's Political Structure

Apr 1, 2009 Carmen Sofia Grant

Belize, once referred to as British Honduras, is a parliamentary democracy. The former colony was once the site of several Mayan states before it was conquered.

The British and Spanish fought over the region during the 17th and 18th centuries and control was finally taken by the British. In 1854 it officially became British Honduras and became Belize in 1973. Britain released power of Belize in 1981 after a battle with Guatemala, though Belize was not recognized as a state by Guatemala until 1992. The nation borders Mexico to the north and part of the west. It also borders Guatemala to the west. While the official language of Belize is English, only about four percent of the population speaks it. Spanish is the most spoken language at forty-six percent and Creole comes in second at thirty-three percent. Belize has a population of just over 300,000 inhabitants that are free to vote at the age of eighteen.

Belize has six districts.

• Belize
• Cayo
• Corozal
• Orange Walk
• Stann Creek
• Toledo

Belizean Executive Branch

Queen Elizabeth II is the chief of state. Belize's Governor General is Sir Colville Young Sr. and he has held this office since November 17th 1993. Belize holds elections for a Prime Minister, currently Dean Barrow, he chooses his deputy minister, currently Gaspar Vega. The two have held office since February 12th 2008.

Belizean Legislative Branch

Belize has a bicameral National Assembly with consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. There are twelve senate seats and members are appointed by the governor general. The governor general bases six seats on the advice of the prime minister, three seats on the opposition leader's advice, and one seat each from the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and Civil Society Steering Committee. The Senators each serve five-year terms.

The House of representatives holds thirty-one seats. Members are elected by direct popular vote and serve five-year terms. The last elections were held on February 6th, 2008 and the next are to be held in 2013.

Belizean Judicial Branch

Belize adheres to English law and has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction. The country has three Judicial branches.

The Supreme Court has unlimited original jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil or criminal proceedings under any law.There are three Supreme Court Judges. These are the Chief Justice and 2 other judges, known as Puisne Judges. They are appointed by the governor general with the guidance of the prime minister. The Court of Appeal hears appeals in civil and criminal cases.

The Privy Council sits in the United Kingdom and hears appeals from the Court of Appeals. The Privy Council is comprised of members from the United Kingdom's House of Lords.

Political Parties in Belize

National Alliance for Belizean Rights (NABR), National Reform Party (NRP), People's National party (PNP), People's United Party (PUP), United Democratic Party (UDP), Vision Inspired by the People (VIP), We the People Reform Movement (WTP).

References:

CIA World Factbook: Belize

Government of Belize

The copyright of the article Belize Government Profile 2009 in Latin Am/Caribbean Affairs is owned by Carmen Sofia Grant. Permission to republish Belize Government Profile 2009 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Belizean Flag

Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow