Established in 1990, the Belize Mayors’ Association focuses on improving the quality of local governance and the quality of life for residents in each Belizean municipality. The Association is an advocacy body that provides collective support on behalf of the seven (7) town and two (2) city governments in Belize. It is comprised of the Mayor of Corozal, Mayor of Belize City, Mayor of Belmopan, Mayor of San Ignacio/ Santa Elena, Mayor of Benque Viejo del Carmen, Mayor of Dangriga, Mayor of Punta Gorda, Mayor of San Pedro and the Mayor of Orange Walk who all function under the guidance of the Ministry of Local Government.
The association meets once a month and uses this opportunity to discuss issues, ideas, best practices, business opportunities or challenges that they have experienced to benefit each member. Through this association, members have a unique networking opportunity to participate in information sharing with others who know exactly what it is like to honor the roles and responsibilities that come with being the chief elected official in a municipality.
In A spirit of Solidarity: •To network with all stakeholders at Local, Regional and International levels.
•To pursue a process that will enhance good governance.
•To encourage greater community participation and involvement.
•To invest in general public education in matters of Municipal Affairs.
•To promote foreign and local investments in our municipalities.
•To embrace ethnic diversity through the promotion of culture.
The Ministry of Labour, Local Government & Rural Development is established by the direction given in writing to the Minister by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Through notice published in the Gazette, the Portfolio for Local Government authorizes the Minister to have oversight powers in the following areas: Town and City Councils, Village Council, Alcaldes, Liquor Licensing, Trade Licensing, RECONDEV.
The respective legislations provide the Ministry with the necessary framework to carry out its mandate. Through these mechanisms the Ministry of Local Government provides oversight, guidance, support and capacity building initiatives to these various entities whilst monitoring their strategic and operational activities on a day to day basis. Currently, the Rural Development portfolio has been tasked to manage and oversee all affairs relating to Village Councils and the Alcalde jurisdictions. The Local Government portfolio is headed by a Director who reports to the Chief Executive Officer; the office of the Director is supported by Local Government Officers, a Secretary and the clerical staff of the Ministry.
Belize is a unitary constitutional monarchy and bicameral parliamentary democracy with two levels of government: a state government and a single-tier local government. There is currently no constitutional provision for local government and the main governing acts are the Town Councils Act 2000, the Belize and Belmopan City Council Act 1999, the Village Councils Act 1999 and the Inferior Courts Act 2003. The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development is charged with overseeing the administration of three systems of local government in Belize.
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