Belize Independence 40th Anniversary

It was 40 years ago commencing in February 1981 that Belize embarked on countrywide consultations on the proposed constitution of Belize which culminated with the debates in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. The House meetings on August 14th and 28th 1981 were presided by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Charles Hyde, M.B.E. and the presiding officer for the senate meeting of September 1st 1981 was Hon. William Coffin. All national symbols of the country, the national seal and membership as an independent country in key international organizations such as the Commonwealth Nations and the United Nations among others were affirmed. The Commencement Date was September 21st 1981. The Father of the Nation, National Hero Rt. Hon. George Price, led the country on this journey to becoming a sovereign, independent nation with its territory intact and he led the discussions in parliament to establish Belize’s constitution. The architects of the Belize Constitution Bill 1981 were Hon. V.H. Courtney, team lead, and members, Hon. Said W. Musa, Hon. Assad Shoman and Hon. C.L.B. Rogers.

Today, the National Assembly has digitized the White Paper on the Proposed Constitution of Belize, the Report of the Joint Select Committee on the proposed terms of the constitution of an independent Belize, the countrywide consultations by district and the subsequent debates in the House and the Senate.

“As Belize commemorates its 40th anniversary year of Independence, we hear from a few of the leaders from 1981 who were in the debates at the House and Senate meetings on an independent Belize including former House Speaker, Honourable Charles B Hyde who presided over the House of Representatives at the time.