Belize's Brightest: Shining A Light On The Nation's Famous Faces

Belize has produced several notable figures, including politicians, artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs. One of the most famous Belizeans is Moses Michael Levi Barrow, better known by his stage name Shyne, a rapper and politician. In addition to Shyne, other notable Belizeans in the entertainment industry include actors Arlen Escarpeta, Nigel Miguel, and Nadia Cattouse, as well as singer-songwriter Lisa Tucker. In politics, Said Wilbert Musa and Dean Barrow have served as Prime Ministers of Belize, while Elmira Minita Gordon became the country's first female Governor-General. Belize has also produced successful athletes such as footballers Deon McCaulay and Shane Moody-Orio, and entrepreneur Barry Bowen, who became the country's second-wealthiest citizen through his business ventures.

Actors from Belize

Belize has produced several notable actors, including:

Kareem Ferguson

Born in Belize, Kareem Ferguson is now a US-based actor for film, television, and theatre. He has also directed the short film 'The Touch' and produced two others, 'Three Takes' and 'Talking with the Taxman About Poetry'. Ferguson is classically trained, having received a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He has performed in regional theatres across the US and is a company member of the Actors Gang Theater and Ensemble Studio Theater. Ferguson was nominated for a 'Best Lead Actor' NAACP award in 2011 for his role in the play 'Free Man of Color'.

Arlen Alexander Escarpeta

Arlen Escarpeta is a Belize-born actor known for his roles in the horror films 'Friday the 13th' and 'Final Destination 5', as well as the thriller 'Brotherhood', and the disaster film 'Into the Storm' (2014).

Wani Arzu

Wani Arzu is a Belizean actor who has appeared in an American horror-thriller film directed by Belizean-American Dale Stellie, as well as another film by Stellie and the television series 'Double Cross'.

Kerret Paulino

Kerret Paulino is a Belizean actor known for his role as Randy Diego in the country's first dramatic television series, 'Noh Matta Wat'!.

Oladipupo Ogunjobi ('Dipo')

Ogunjobi is a Belizean actor who stars in his own self-produced 'Dipo Shorts' online videos. He also appeared in the horror-thriller film directed by Dale Stellie.

Nadia Cattouse

Nadia Cattouse is a Belizean actress, singer and songwriter.

Musicians from Belize

Belize has produced several notable musicians, including Andy Palacio, who is regarded as one of the country's most popular artists. Palacio was a leading activist for the Garifuna people and the creator of the "Garifuna Music Collective". He was also a Belizean Punta musician, and his music contributed to the development of the Punta Rock genre, which mixes traditional rhythms and dance steps from African melodies with modern lyrics, creating a style similar to reggae. Andy Palacio passed away in 2008 at the young age of 47.

Another famous Belizean musician is Paul Nabor, a Garifuna singer and musician from Punta Gorda, Belize. Nabor is known for popularising the Paranda style of Garifuna music and is considered one of the most talented musicians of the genre. He passed away at the age of 86 in 2014.

Pen Cayetano, born in 1954 in Dangriga, is also a renowned Belizean musician and painter. He is regarded by many as the "King" of Punta Rock music, which he created to revive and preserve Garifuna music among younger generations.

In addition to these iconic figures, Belize has produced other talented musicians such as Gerald "Lord" Rhaburn, a calypso, soca, reggae, and brukdown artist; Nadia Cattouse, an actress, singer, and songwriter; and Peter Flores, also known as Titiman, who is one of Belize's top Punta Rockers known for his unique voice and energetic performances.

Athletes from Belize

Belize has never been an international sporting powerhouse, but athletes from the country have achieved some international success. Sports in Belize are plagued by a lack of finance and sporting facilities, and sports are not seen as an integral part of national culture and pride. However, sports continue to unite Belizeans both on and off the field.

Football (soccer) is the main spectator sport in Belize and is widely covered by the news industry. The country's first semi-professional league, the Belize Semiprofessional Football League, was formed in 1991. It is now known as the Belize Premier Football League (BPFL). Despite some success at the regional and club level, Belize's international record in football is notoriously poor.

Some notable Belizean football players include:

• Deon McCaulay, who plays for Belmopan Bandits in the Premier League of Belize
• Shane Moody-Orio, a goalkeeper who plays for C.D. Marathón in the Honduras First Division
• Elroy Smith, a defender who plays for Deportes Savio in the Liga Nacional de Honduras
• Ashley Torres, a striker who plays for Placencia Assassins and the Belize national football team
• Ian Gaynair
• Luis Mendez, a defender who last played for Hankook Verdes in the Belize Premier Football League and the Belize national football team
• Trevor Lennan, a midfielder who plays for Police United and the Belize national football team
• Evan Mariano, a striker who plays for Police United and the Belize national football team
• Elroy Kuylen, a midfielder who plays for C.D. Platense and the Belize national football team
• Michael Salazar, who currently plays college soccer at UC Riverside in the United States and is also a member of the Belize national team

Basketball is another popular sport in Belize, with many children practising regularly. Belize has produced several basketball players who have played at the college and NBA level in the United States, including:

• Nigel Miguel
• Milt Palacio, who played for various NBA teams such as the Vancouver Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, and Utah Jazz
• Kenton Paulino, who led the University of Texas to the 2005 Elite Eight
• Charles Burgess, who played for Texas Tech

Belize has also had success in other sports, such as boxing. Verno Phillips is the only Belizean to have held a world title, winning both the IBF and WBO junior middleweight championships. Other notable boxers from Belize include Ludwig Lightburn, Fitzroy Guisseppi, Carlton Bowers, Samuel (Red Boy) Flowers, and Roy (Shorty) Clark.

In track and field, Kenneth Medwood is a notable Belizean athlete who specialises in the 400-metre hurdles. He competed in the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics and was his nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Writers from Belize

Belize is a melting pot of cultures, with Mayan descendants, Creoles, Garinagu, Mestizo, Chinese, and East Indians, among others, calling the country home. This mix of indigenous people has resulted in a vibrant literary culture that captures the essence of these diverse groups.

Belizean literature covers a wide range of subjects, including the country's history of Mayan influence, British occupation, independence, and the struggles of the Belizean people. It also explores themes of culture, occupation, survival, immigration, and emigration.

Zee Edgell

Zee Edgell is considered Belize's principal contemporary writer. Her first novel, "Beka Lamb," published in 1982, provided a detailed account of the early nationalist movement in British Honduras through the eyes of a teenage girl. Edgell's novels often deal with historical events, universal themes, and strong women protagonists. She has published other notable works such as "Festival of San Joaquin" and "Time and the River" (2007).

Glen Godfrey

Glen Godfrey is a talented Belizean author who writes about Belizean culture and arts. His novel, "The Sinner's Bossanova," tells the story of Eva, a Creole farm girl born out of wedlock who becomes pregnant and runs away from home.

Felicia Hernandez

Felicia Hernandez, a Belizean-born author who later migrated to California, began writing about her life experiences upon returning to Belize in 1997. Her work focuses on the empowerment of Belizean women and education for children. Her novels include "I Don't Know You but I Love You" and "Those Ridiculous Years – A Collection of Short Stories."

George Seymour Gabb

George Seymour Gabb was a playwright, poet, painter, and sculptor from Belize. His famous wood sculpture, "The Sleeping Giant," is featured on the $100 Belizean currency note. Gabb's literary works include "Yellowtail" (a play) and "The Naked Eye" (a collection of poems and proverbs).

James Sullivan Martinez

James Sullivan Martinez is a poet known for his simple yet powerful poetry. His collection of poems, "Caribbean Jingles," published in the 1920s, is still regarded as one of the finest works of Belizean poetry.

John Alexander Watler

John Alexander Watler, born in 1938, dedicated over four decades of his life to writing. He worked in newspapers and wrote poetry, short stories, and plays, often focusing on folklore. Some of his notable works include "Cry Among Rainclouds" and "Boss of Dangriga."

Leo Bradley

Leo Bradley is a poet and short story writer who became one of the most prolific writers in Belizean history. While he didn't seek fame or publicity, his works, including "Looking at Our Literature" and "Belizean Flavor," earned him widespread recognition.

Milton Arana

Milton Arana is a Belizean writer known for his contributions to literature, including "Belizean Breeze" and "Cry Wolf: The Story of Hurricane Hattie."

Nicholas Anthony Ignatius Pollard

Nicholas Anthony Ignatius Pollard was a trade union leader and politician who also made his mark in literature. He co-founded the PUP's Belize Times in 1956 and wrote several poems throughout his life.

Raymond Barrow

Raymond Barrow (1920-2006) was an attorney and poet whose poems have been published internationally. His famous poem, "Dawn is a Fisherman," solidified his place in Belizean literature.

Zoila Ellis-Browne

Zoila Ellis-Browne, born in Dangriga, Belize, in 1957, began writing poems and short stories at a very young age. She holds a law degree and a Master's in Development Studies. Her collection of short stories, "Heroes, Lizards and Passion," is well-known and showcases her literary talent.

Politicians from Belize

Belize is a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy with a two-party system. The country's politics are dominated by the centre-left People's United Party (PUP) and the centre-right United Democratic Party (UDP).

Sir Colville Norbert Young

Colville Young, born on 20 November 1932, is a Belizean politician who served as the country's second governor-general from 1993 to 1994, when he was knighted. His tenure of 28 years is the longest of any governor-general in the history of the Commonwealth.

John Antonio Briceño

John Antonio Briceño, born on 17 July 1960, is the fifth and current prime minister of Belize, a position he has held since 12 November 2020. He is also the leader of the PUP and served as the deputy prime minister under Prime Minister Said Musa from 1998 to 2007. He was Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2011 and again from 2016 to 2020.

Said Wilbert Musa

Said Musa, born on 19 March 1944, is a Belizean lawyer and politician who served as the country's third prime minister from 28 August 1998 to 8 February 2008.

Dame Elmira Minita Gordon

Dame Elmira Minita Gordon, born on 30 December 1930, was a Belizean educator, psychologist and politician. She served as the country's first governor-general from its independence in 1981 until 1993. She was the first Belizean to receive a doctorate in psychology and one of the few "double dames", having received damehoods in two separate orders: the Order of St Michael and St George and the Royal Victorian Order. She was also the first woman to serve as governor-general in the history of the Commonwealth.

Sir Manuel Amadeo Esquivel

Sir Manuel Amadeo Esquivel, born on 2 May 1940, was a Belizean politician who served as the country's second prime minister from 1984 to 1989 and then again from 1993 to 1998. His party's victory in 1984 was the first time an opposition party had won a general election in Belize.

George Cadle Price

George Cadle Price, born on 15 January 1919, was a Belizean statesman who served as the head of government of Belize from 1961 to 1984 and 1989 to 1993. He was the first minister and premier under British rule until Belize gained independence in 1981, after which he became the nation's first prime minister. He is considered one of the principal architects of Belizean independence and is often referred to as the "Father of the Nation". He effectively dominated Belizean politics from the early 1960s until his retirement from party leadership in 1996, having been the nation's head of government under various titles for most of that period.

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