Belize Government

Elections and the Political Parties of Belize:

General elections in Belize are held at intervals of not longer than five years. The voting age is 18. The Prime Minister has the right to advise the Governor-general to dissolve the National Assembly and so determine the date of the general elections.

The most recent elections in Belize took place took place in August 2003. The People's United Party won 26 of the 29 seats in the House of Representatives, the remaining 3 were won by the United Democratic Party.

Administration and Local Government:

There are six administrative districts: Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo. With the abolition of the posts of the District Officers, the district administration is now jointly run by a number of Government functionaries, namely the District Accountant, the Officer Commanding the District Police and the Heads of various Government departments based in the districts.

Each district town has a locally elected Town Board of seven members. The Cayo District has two Town Boards, namely, San Ignacio and Benque Viejo.

Belize City is administered by a nine-member City Council. There is also a Town Board in the Belize District, namely San Pedro Town Board in Ambergris Caye.

The Capital city of Belmopan is administered by the Reconstruction and Development Corporation.

Local Government in the villages is carried on with the help of village councils who do not at present have a legal standing. A Village Councils Act to formally establish Village Councils is in the process of being enacted.