Governor-General of Belize facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor-General of Belize |
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Flag of the governor-general
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 Dame Froyla Tzalam since 27 May 2021 |
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| Style | Her Excellency |
| Residence | Government House, Belize (former) Belize House, Belmopan (since 1984) |
| Appointer | Monarch of Belize
on the advice of the prime minister
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| Term length | 7 years |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Belize |
| Formation | 21 September 1981 |
| First holder | Dame Elmira Minita Gordon |
| Salary | BZ$75,000 |
The governor-general of Belize is a very important person in Belize. They represent the King of Belize, who is currently King Charles III. The King chooses the governor-general based on who the prime minister of Belize suggests.
The governor-general has several key jobs. They help choose ministers, judges, and ambassadors. They also approve new laws passed by the National Assembly. Another important task is calling for elections.
Generally, the governor-general follows a system called the Westminster system. This means they stay neutral in politics and usually act on the advice of the prime minister. They also have a special role in ceremonies. They host events at their official home, Belize House, in the capital city, Belmopan. They also give out awards to people and groups who do great things for their communities. When the governor-general travels to other countries, they represent Belize and its King.
Governors-general usually serve for seven years. Since May 27, 2021, Dame Froyla Tzalam has been the governor-general.
The job of governor-general started on September 21, 1981. This was when Belize became an independent country from the United Kingdom. Since then, three people have held this important position.
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How is the Governor-General Chosen?
The King of Belize officially appoints the governor-general. When a new governor-general is needed, the current prime minister suggests a name to the King. The King usually agrees with this suggestion.
During a special ceremony, the new governor-general takes two important promises. These are the Oath of Allegiance (loyalty to the King and country) and the Oath of Office (to do their job well). The chief justice of Belize oversees these promises.
What Does the Governor-General Do?
The powers and duties of the governor-general come from the Constitution of Belize. Specifically, Part IV, sections 30 to 35, explain their responsibilities.
I intend to carry out the constitutional role of this office with the required diligence. It is also my hope that time will permit me to carry out more than my constitutional duties. This is an institution with its own culture, however, like all institutions, it is inhabited by people.
Constitutional Duties
The governor-general has several important duties related to the government and laws:
- They are responsible for ending a session of parliament and calling for new elections.
- After an election, they officially ask the leader of the winning political party to form a government.
- They formally appoint the prime minister and other ministers after the election.
- The prime minister must keep the governor-general updated on how the government is running. They also provide any information the governor-general asks for.
- On behalf of the King, the governor-general gives royal assent to new laws. This means they officially approve laws passed by the National Assembly of Belize.
- They also act on the advice of government ministers to create rules and announcements under existing laws.
- They appoint state judges, ambassadors to other countries, and other senior government officials.
- The governor-general can also start special investigations called Royal Commissions of Inquiry.
- They approve many other government decisions, like signing treaties with foreign countries.
Sometimes, the governor-general can make decisions without or even against the advice of ministers. These are called "reserve powers." They include:
- Choosing a prime minister if an election doesn't result in a clear winner (a 'hung parliament').
- Removing a prime minister who has lost the support of parliament.
- Removing any minister who is acting against the law.
- Refusing a prime minister's request to end the House of Representatives.
Ceremonial Duties
The governor-general also has many ceremonial duties:
- They open new sessions of parliament by giving a speech called the Speech from the Throne.
- They welcome leaders from other countries who visit Belize.
- They receive the official papers from foreign diplomats.
- They attend military parades and special events.
- They present flags and other symbols to units of the Belize Defence Force and the Police Force.
- They present awards to people who have done great service to the community or shown bravery.
Special Benefits of the Office
Salary
The law called the Governor-General (Conditions of Service) Act 1989 sets out the salary, pension, and other benefits for the governor-general. This law was updated in 2021. It set a fixed seven-year term for the job and increased the governor-general's salary to BZ$75,000. This was the first salary increase since 1989.
Symbols
The governor-general has their own special flag. It is blue and shows a lion standing on a royal crown. Below it, there is a scroll with "Belize" written on it. This flag is flown on buildings and other places in Belize when the governor-general is present.
When the governor-general arrives at or leaves most official events, a special song is played. It starts with the first part of "God Save the King" and then plays the chorus of Belize's National Anthem, "Land of the Free."
Official Homes
The governor-general used to live at Government House, Belize. This was true even after the capital city moved to Belmopan in 1970. In 1984, the governor-general moved to Belize House in Belmopan. This building used to be the home of the British High Commission.
Who Has Been Governor-General?
Here is a list of the people who have served as Governor-General of Belize since the country became independent in 1981.
Denotes Acting Governors-General
| No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Monarch (Reign) |
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| Started | Ended | Length of Time | ||||
| 1 |  |
Dame Elmira Minita Gordon (1930–2021) |
September 21 1981 |
November 17 1993 |
12 years, 57 days | .jpg) Elizabeth II (1981–2022) |
| 2 | .jpeg) |
Sir Colville Young (b. 1932) |
November 17 1993 |
April 30 2021 |
27 years, 164 days | |
| – |  |
Stuart Leslie (b. ?) Acting Governor-General |
April 30 2021 |
May 27 2021 |
27 days | |
| 3 | |
Dame Froyla Tzalam (b. ?) |
May 27 2021 |
Currently in office | 4 years, 15 days | |
.jpg) Charles III (2022–present) |
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See also
In Spanish: Gobernador general de Belice para niños
