Belize's Cabinet: A Small Team With A Big Impact

Belize is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy led by a prime minister and their cabinet. The cabinet is the primary executive organ of the Belizean government and is made up of members of the majority political party in Parliament. These members usually hold elected seats in the National Assembly concurrently with their cabinet positions, though cabinet members can also be drawn from the Senate. The current prime minister of Belize is Johnny Briceño, who has held the position since 12 November 2020. The cabinet includes the deputy prime minister, Hon. Cordel Hyde, and 14 other ministers with various portfolios.

Who is the Prime Minister of Belize?

The current Prime Minister of Belize is the Honourable John Briceño of the People's United Party (PUP). Briceño was born on July 17, 1960, and is the fifth Belizean politician to serve as Prime Minister. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1998 to 2007 and as Leader of the Opposition twice, from 2008 to 2011 and again from 2016. He was elected to the National Assembly in 1993 as the representative for the Orange Walk Central division. In 1994, he was elected Co-Chairman of the PUP and, two years later, became Deputy Party Leader—the youngest Belizean to hold this position. During his tenure as Deputy Party Leader, the PUP won national elections in 1998 and 2003. Briceño served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment for a decade. He also assisted the Prime Minister with international obligations.

In addition to his role as Prime Minister, Briceño holds several other ministerial positions, including Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation and Immigration. The Deputy Prime Minister of Belize is the Honourable Cordel Hyde, who is also the Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining.

Who are the current cabinet ministers?

The current cabinet ministers of Belize are as follows:

• Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation and Immigration: The Hon. Johnny Briceño (also referred to as John Briceño)
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum & Mining: The Hon. Cordel Hyde
• Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, & Enterprise: The Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai
• Minister of Youth, Sports and Transport: The Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
• Minister of Infrastructure Development & Housing: The Hon. Julius Espat
• Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology: The Hon. Francis Fonseca
• Minister of National Defence & Border Security: The Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.
• Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour & Local Government: The Hon. Oscar Requena
• Minister of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People's Affairs: The Hon. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
• Minister of Health and Wellness: The Hon. Kevin-Bernard
• Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries: The Hon. Kareem Musa
• Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management: The Hon. Orlando Habet
• Minister of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics & E-Governance: The Hon. Michel Chebat
• Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations: The Hon. Anthony Mahler
• Minister of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation: The Hon. Andre Perez
• Minister of Public Service, Constitutional & Political Reform: The Hon. Henry Charles Usher
• Attorney General: The Hon. Magali Marin Young, SC
• Minister of State in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics: The Hon. Gilroy Usher Sr.
• Minister of State in the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management: The Hon. Ramon "Monchi" Cervantes
• Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science & Technology: Dr. Hon. Louis Zabaneh
• Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government: The Hon. Ramiro Ramirez
• Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation and Immigration: The Hon. Jorge "Milin" Espat
• Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise: The Hon. Alex Balona
• Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing: The Hon. Marconi Leal
• Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families & Indigenous Peoples' Affairs: The Hon. Elvia Vega-Samos

The National Assembly of Belize is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the party that holds the majority of seats in the House of Representatives forming the Government, which is headed by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. Cabinet ministers are members of the majority political party in Parliament and usually hold elected seats in the National Assembly concurrently with their Cabinet positions. Cabinet members can also be drawn from the Senate, who are appointed by the Governor-General.

Who are the current ministers of state?

The current ministers of state in Belize are as follows:

Ministry of Transport, Youth & Sport

The Hon. Gilroy Usher Sr. is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, Youth & Sport.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade & Immigration

The Hon. Ramon "Monchi" Cervantes is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade & Immigration.

Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, E-Governance & Technology

The Hon. Dr. Louis Zabaneh is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, E-Governance & Technology.

Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour & Local Government

The Hon. Ramiro Ramirez is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour & Local Government.

Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment

The Hon. Michael Espat is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment.

Ministry of National Defence & Border Security

There is a Minister of State in the Ministry of National Defence & Border Security, but their name is not listed.

Ministry of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People's Affairs

The Hon. Elvia Vega-Samos is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People's Affairs.

Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment

The Hon. Christopher Coye is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment.

The Belizean Government, also referred to as His Majesty's Government in Belize, is the democratic administrative authority of Belize. It is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster model. The current Prime Minister of Belize is Johnny Briceño, who has held this position since 12 November 2020. The Governor-General of Belize is Froyla Tzalam, and the King of Belize is King Charles III.

How are cabinet members appointed?

Belize is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. It gained sovereignty from the United Kingdom in 1981 and has been an independent nation since 21 September 1981. The Belizean Government, also referred to as His Majesty's Government in Belize, is the democratic administrative authority of Belize.

The National Assembly, which is the Legislature of Belize, consists of three bodies: the Governor-General, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The Governor-General must be Belizean and is appointed by the King of Belize, who is currently Charles III. The Governor-General appoints the Prime Minister, who is currently Johnny Briceño. The Prime Minister advises the Governor-General on the appointment of cabinet ministers and ministers of state. Cabinet members are members of the majority political party in Parliament and usually hold elected seats in the National Assembly concurrently with their cabinet positions. Cabinet members can also be drawn from the Senate.

The House of Representatives comprises 31 members, directly elected at intervals of no longer than five years on the basis of universal adult suffrage. The Senate has 12 members (plus the president of the senate): six are appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each by the Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee. The President of the Senate is then selected by the 12 Senators, either from amongst themselves or from the general populace.

How many members are in the House of Representatives?

The National Assembly of Belize is the Legislature or Parliament of Belize. It consists of two Houses: the Senate (Upper House) and the House of Representatives (Lower House). The number of members in the House of Representatives has been expanded several times since its creation in 1954 with nine elected members. The body was expanded to 18 in 1961, 28 in 1984, 29 in 1993, and finally to 31 in 2008.

The 31 members of the House of Representatives are elected in a general election under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act. They are commonly called "Area Representatives" and are elected by winning a majority of votes in their respective constituencies under the first-past-the-post system. The leader of the majority party in the Belize House typically becomes the Prime Minister of Belize.

The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in creating laws for the National Assembly. Once a bill has been passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is sent to the Governor-General's Office for assent. The bill then becomes an Act, forming part of the Laws of Belize.

The House of Representatives also has several mechanisms to hold the government accountable. During a Sitting of the House, there is a designated question time for Backbenchers and Opposition Members to ask questions of Ministers. Additionally, there is a provision for general and urgent debates, and a Select Committee of Members can be formed to investigate government matters.

The current members of the House of Representatives, as of 2024, include representatives from various districts such as Caribbean Shores, Freetown, Pickstock, Fort George, Lake Independence, and Albert. The House of Representatives is an essential component of Belize's democratic administrative authority, ensuring peace, order, and good governance through its legislative functions.

Frequently asked questions