House of Representatives (Belize)
House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Speaker | Laura Tucker-Longsworth since January 13, 2017 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 31 |
 | |
Political groups | HM Government
HM Most Loyal Opposition |
| Meeting place | |
| National Assembly Building of Belize Independence Hill Belmopan Belize | |
| Website | |
| http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz | |
|
|---|
 Belize portal |
The House of Representatives of Belize is one of two chambers of the National Assembly, the other being the Senate. It was created under the 1981 constitution. Members are commonly called "Area Representatives."
Area Representatives are elected by winning a majority of votes in their respective constituencies under the first-past-the-post system. The body is directly descended from the British Honduras Legislative Assembly created in 1954 with nine elected members. It has been expanded several times since: to 18 in 1961, 28 in 1984, 29 in 1993 and finally to 31 in 2008. The leader of the majority party in the Belize House typically becomes Prime Minister of Belize.
Current members of the House of Representatives by district
The elected representatives and their constituencies according to the Elections and Boundaries Department are:[1]
- Caribbean Shores: Kareem Musa (PUP)
- Freetown: Francis W. Fonseca (PUP),
- Pickstock: Wilfred "Sedi" Elrington (UDP)
- Fort George: Said Musa (PUP)
- Lake Independence: Cordel Hyde (PUP)
- Albert: Tracy Ann Panton (UDP)
- Collet: Patrick Jason Faber (UDP) "Deputy Prime Minister"
- Mesopotamia: Michael Finnegan (UDP)
- Queen's Square: Dean Barrow (UDP), Prime Minister
- Port Loyola: Anthony "Boots" Martinez (UDP)
- Belize Rural North: Edmond Castro (UDP)
- Belize Rural South: Jose Manuel "Junior" Heredia (UDP)
- Belize Rural Central: Beverly Castillo (UDP)
- Orange Walk North: Gaspar "Gapi" Vega (UDP)
- Orange Walk Central: Juan "Johnny" Antonio Briceño (PUP) Leader of the Opposition
- Orange Walk East: Elodio Aragon Jr. (UDP)
- Orange Walk South: Jose Abelardo Mai (PUP)
- Cayo North: Omar Figueroa (UDP)
- Cayo South: Julius Espat (PUP)
- Cayo West: Erwin Rafael Contreras (UDP)
- Cayo Central: Rene Montero (UDP)
- Cayo North East: Orlando Habet (PUP)
- Belmopan: John B. Saldivar (UDP)
- Corozal North: Hugo Amilcar Patt (UDP)
- Corozal South West: Angel Campos (UDP)
- Corozal Bay: Pablo Marin (UDP)
- Corozal South East: Florencio Julian Marin (PUP)
- Dangriga: Frank Mena (UDP)
- Stann Creek West: Rodwell Ferguson (PUP)
- Toledo West: Ruben Oscar Requena (PUP)
- Toledo East: Mike Espat (PUP)
Elections
Next election
According to Section 84 of the Constitution of Belize, the National Assembly must be dissolved "five years from the date when the two Houses of the former National Assembly first met" unless dissolved sooner by the Governor-General of Belize upon the advice of the prime minister.[2] and the election held within three months of the dissolution.[2] The current parliament first met on Friday 13 November 2015,[3] so the next election must be held no later than 13 February 2021.
Past elections
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2017) |
The most recent general election to the House of Representatives, held on 4 November 2015,[4] was the 15th since 1954 when universal literate adult suffrage was introduced, and the 8th since independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. The United Democratic Party led by Dean Barrow increased its majority from 17 seats to 19 seats.[5][6] While the People's United Party won 12 seats.[6]
See also
References
- ^ General Elections 2012, Elections and Boundaries Department, 7 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Belize / Belice: Constitution 1981". Political Database of the Americas. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FRIDAY, 13th NOVEMBER, 2015 THRONE SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, SIR COLVILLE YOUNG" (PDF). Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-11-08. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Garcia, David Alire. "Belize PM Barrow wins record third consecutive term", Reuters, 5 November 2015. (accessed 5 November 2015)
- ^ a b "Election Results". Breaking Belize News. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2016.