Belize

The National Assembly of Belize consists of the House Representatives and the Senate. The 31 Members of the House of Representatives are elected to a maximum five-year term.

The Senate currently consists of 12 Senators and the President of the Senate. The Senators are appointed by the Governor-General as follow:  six on the advice of the Prime Minister; three on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; one Member on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of Churches; one on the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau;  and one on the advice of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee. The President of the Senate is nominated by the 12 Senators, either from amongst themselves or from the general populace.

The parliamentary system is within the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement and association

Seat of Parliament: Belmopan

Independence: 21 September, 1981
Population: 340, 792 (June 2012, est.)
Constitution: Constitutional Monarchy
CPA Branch formed: 1950
Date of First Parliament: 1 January, 1954
Voting Age: 18 years

Political Party Distribution

United Democratic Party: 17 Seats
Peoples United Party: 14 Seats
Date of Last Election: 7 March, 2012

Officers of the Branch

Hon. Marco Pech
CPA Office: Branch Joint President
Parliamentary Office: President of the Senate

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte
CPA Office: Branch Joint President
Parliamentary Office: Speaker of the House of Representatives

Hon. Dean Oliver Barrow, MHR
CPA Office: Branch Joint Vice President
Parliamentary Office: Prime Minister

Hon. Francis Fonseca, MHR
CPA Office: Branch Joint Vice President
Parliamentary Office: Leader of the Opposition

Mr. Eddie Webster
CPA Office: Branch Secretary
Parliamentary Office: Clerk of the National Assembly

List of Parliamentarians

Government

• Hon. Dean O. Barrow
• Hon. Gaspar Vega
• Hon. Erwin Contreras
• Hon. Patrick Faber
• Hon. Michael Finnegan
• Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr.
• Hon. Anthony Martinez
• Hon. John Saldivar
• Hon. Wilfred Elrington
• Hon. Elvin Penner
• Hon. Pablo Marin
• Hon. Rene Montero
• Hon. Edmond Castro
• Hon. Hugo Patt
• Hon. Santino Castillo
• Hon. Herman Longsworth
• Hon. Mark King

Opposition

• Hon. Francis Fonseca
• Rt. Hon. Said Musa
• Hon. John Briceño
• Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.
• Hon. Michael Espat
• Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia
• Hon. Rodwell Ferguson Hon. Julius Espat
• Hon. Oscar Requena
• Hon. Ivan Ramos
• Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai
• Hon. Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez
• Hon. Joseph Mahmud
• Hon. Ramiro Ramirez

Senators

Government

• Senator Godwin Hulse
• Senator Juliet Thimbriel
• Senator Joy Grant
• Senator Charles Gibson
• Senator Lisel Alamilla
• Senator Gerardo Sosa

Opposition

• Senator Lisa Shoma
• Senator Karen Bodden
• Senator Collet Montejo

Independent

• Senator Markhelm Lizarraga (Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry & Belize Business Bureau)
• Senator Reverend Father Noel Leslie (Belize Council of Churches & the Evangelical Association of Churches)
• Senator Ray Davis (National Trade Union Congress & Civil Society Steering Committee)