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BELIZE
Public Administration
Country Profile
Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM)
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
United Nations
December 2004
All papers, statistics and materials contained in the Country Profiles express entirely the opinion of the mentioned authors.
They should not, unless otherwise mentioned, be attributed to the Secretariat of the United Nations.
The designations employed and the presentation of material on maps in the Country Profiles do not imply the expression
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country,
territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents........................................................................................... 1
Belize ........................................................................................................... 2
1. General Information ................................................................................... 3
1.1 People.................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Economy .............................................................................................. 3
1.3 Public Spending ..................................................................................... 4
1.4 Public Sector Employment and Wages....................................................... 4
2. Legal Structure .......................................................................................... 5
2.1 Legislative Branch.................................................................................. 5
2.2 Executive Branch ................................................................................... 6
2.3 Judiciary Branch .................................................................................... 6
2.4 Local Government.................................................................................. 7
3. The State and Civil Society .......................................................................... 9
3.1 Ombudsperson ...................................................................................... 9
3.2 NGOs ................................................................................................... 9
3.3 Civil Society .......................................................................................... 9
4. Civil Service .............................................................................................10
4.1 Legal basis...........................................................................................10
4.2 Recruitment .........................................................................................10
4.3 Promotion............................................................................................11
4.4 Remuneration ......................................................................................11
4.5 Training...............................................................................................11
4.6 Gender................................................................................................11
5. Ethics and Civil Service ..............................................................................12
5.1 Corruption ...........................................................................................12
5.2 Ethics..................................................................................................13
6. e-Government ..........................................................................................14
6.1 e-Government Readiness .......................................................................14
6.2 e-Participation ......................................................................................15
7. Links .......................................................................................................16
7.1 National sites .......................................................................................16
7.2 Miscellaneous sites................................................................................16
1
BELIZE
Belize
Click here for detailed map
Government type
Parliamentary democracy;
within the Commonwealth
Independence
21 September 1981 (from
UK)
Constitution
21 September 1981;
amended 1985, 1988, and
2001 (in brief)
Legal system
English law
Administrative divisions
6 districts; Belize, Cayo,
Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann
Creek, Toledo
Source: The World Factbook - Belize
Source: The World Factbook - Belize
The Crown Colony System of Government was introduced in 1871, and the
Legislative Assembly by its own vote was replaced by a nominated Legislative
Council with an official majority presided over by the Lieutenant Governor.
An unofficial majority was created in 1892, and this constitution, with minor
changes, continued until 1935 when the elective principle was once again introduced
on the basis of adult suffrage with a low-income qualification. The administrative
connection with Jamaica was severed in 1884, when the title of Lieutenant Governor
was changed and a Governor was appointed.
Further constitutional advances came in 1954 with the introduction of Universal Adult
Suffrage and an elected majority in the Legislature, the Ministerial System was
adopted in 1961 leading up to Self Government in 1964. The country's name was
changed on 1st June, 1973, from British Honduras to Belize. Independence was
achieved on September 21, 1981 and a new independence constitution introduced.
Belize's current economic base dates back to the mid-20th century when there was a
shift from the production of forestry products such as logwood, mahogany and chicle
towards large-scale plantation-type agriculture with citrus and banana cultivation in
the south of the country and sugarcane in northern Belize.
Source: Government of Belize - About Belize
2
1. General Information
1.1 People
Belize
El Salvador
Guatemala
Population
1
a
Total estimated population (,000), 2003
256
6,516
12,347
Female estimated population (,000), 2003
126
3,319
6,127
Male estimated population (,000), 2003
130
3,197
6,220
Sex ratio (males per 100 females), 2003
103
96
102
Average annual rate of change of pop. (%), 2000-2005
2.06
1.55
2.55
38
35
43
Female population aged 60+ (%), 2003
6
8
6
Male population aged 60+ (%), 2003
6
7
5
Youth and Elderly Population
b
Total population under age 15 (%), 2003
Human Settlements
c
Urban population (%), 2001
48
62
40
Rural population (%), 2001
52
38
60
Urban average annual rate of change in pop. (%), ‘00-‘05
2.15
3.52
3.38
Rural average annual rate of change in pop/ (%), ‘00-‘05
1.65
-1.07
2.03
Education
d
Total school life expectancy, 1998/1999
..
10.6
..
1
Female school life expectancy, 1998/1999
..
10.6
..
1
Male school life expectancy, 1998/1999
..
10.6
..
1
Female estimated adult (15+) illiteracy rate (%), 2000
6.8i
23.9ii
38.9iii
2
Male estimated adult (15+) illiteracy rate (%), 2000
6.7i
18.5ii
24iii
Employment
12.7iv
Unemployment rate (15+) (%), 1999
Female adult (+15) economic activity rate (%), 1999
39
iv
Male adult (+15) economic activity rate (%), 1999
80 iv
Belize
Notes: i 1991;
ii
2
e
1992;
iii
1994;
iv
1997, Age 14+;
v
Age 10+;
vi
7v
..
1
45
vi
23
2
79
74vi
2
El Salvador
Guatemala
2
1998-1999
1.2 Economy
GDP
a
GDP total (millions US$), 2002
843
14,287
GDP per capita (US$), 2002
3,332
2,190
23,252
1,939
PPP GDP total (millions int. US$), 2002
1,496
30,497
47,087
PPP GDP per capita(int. US$), 2002
5,913
4,675
3,927
Sectors
b
i
Value added in agriculture (% of GDP), 2003
15.1
9.4
22.3
Value added in industry (% of GDP), 2003
19.7i
31.8
19.3
Value added in services (% of GDP), 2003
65.2i
58.7
58.5
2.4i
-1.2
5.8
Private consumption (% of GDP), 2003
77.3i
87.9
4.9
Government consumption (% of GDP), 2003
12.7i
11.3
90.0
Miscellaneous
c
GDP implicit price deflator (annual % growth), 2003
Notes: i 2002
1
United Nations Statistics Division:
Statistics Division and Population Division of the UN Secretariat; b Statistics Division and Population Division of the UN
Secretariat; c Population Division of the UN Secretariat; d1 UNESCO ; d2 UNESCO; e1 ILO; e2 ILO/OECD
2
World Bank - Data and Statistics:
a
Quick Reference Tables; b Data Profile Tables ; c Country at a Glance
a
3
1.3 Public Spending
Belize
El Salvador
Guatemala
Education (% of GNP), 1985-1987
4.7
3.1i
1.9ii
a
Education (% of GNP), 1995-1997
5
2.5
1.7ii
a
Health (% of GDP), 1990
2.2
1.4
1.8
Health (% of GDP), 1998
2.3
2.6
2.1
Military (% of GDP), 1990
1.2
2.7
1.5
b
Military (% of GDP), 2000
..
0.7
0.8
b
Total debt service (% of GDP), 1990
5
4.3
2.8
8.1
2.8
2.3
Public expenditures
3
Total debt service (% of GDP), 2000
i
Notes: Data refer to a year or period other than that specified;
ii
Data refer to the ministry of education only
1.4 Public Sector Employment and Wages
Belize
1991-1995
Data from the latest year available
Belize
1996-2000
Latin
America &
Caribbean
average4
1996-2000
Latin
America
average4
1996-2000
Middle
income
group
average4
1996-2000
0.69
0.74
0.59
0.69
0.74
0.59
0.58
0.58
1.20
..
..
0.70
..
..
0.30
0.34
0.37
0.46
2.16
2.16
3.61
..
..
6.05
Employment
Civilian Central Government5
Sub-national Government5
Education employees
Health employees
Police
Armed forces
SOE Employees
Total Public Employment
(,000)
..
..
(% pop.)
..
..
(,000)
..
..
(% pop.)
..
..
(,000)
..
..
(% pop.)
..
..
(,000)
..
..
(% pop.)
..
..
..
(,000)
..
(% pop.)
..
..
(,000)
..
1.05
(% pop.)
..
0.43
(,000)
..
..
(% pop.)
..
..
(,000)
..
..
(% pop.)
..
..
Wages
Total Central gov't wage bill
(% of GDP)
..
9.8
6.6
5.6
8.5
Total Central gov’t wage bill
(% of exp)
..
30.9
20.3
19.7
21.6
Average gov't wage
(,000 LCU)
..
22
Real ave. gov’t wage ('97 price)
(,000 LCU)
..
22
..
3.8
1.8
2.0
4.2
Average gov’t wage to per capita GDP ratio
Source: World Bank - Public Sector Employment and Wages
3
UNDP - Human Development Report 2002
Data refer to total public expenditure on education, including current and capital expenditures.
As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of military expenditure data over time and across
countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see SIPRI (2001).
4
Averages for regions and sub regions are only generated if data is available for at least 35% of the countries in that
region or sub region.
5
Excluding education, health and police – if available (view Country Sources for further explanations).
a
b
4
2. Legal Structure
2.1 Legislative Branch
Bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members; appointed by the governor general) and
the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms).6
women in parliament: 3 out of 13 seats: (23%). 1 out of 30 seats (3%).7
The Constitution provides for a bi-cameral Legislature which
consists of the National Assembly comprising the Senate and the
House of Representatives.
The Senate is the equivalent of House of Lords and consists of
twelve Senators appointed by the Governor-General. Of the
twelve Senators:
Fact box:
elections: House of
Representatives - last
held 5 March 2003
(next to be held March
2008)
election results: seats
by party - PUP 21, UDP
8
ƒ
six in accordance with the Prime Minister;
ƒ
three in accordance with the Leader of the Opposition;
ƒ
one in accordance with the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical
Association of Churches;
ƒ
one in accordance with the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the Belize Business Bureau; and
ƒ
one in accordance with the advice of the National Trade Union Congress and
the Civil Society Steering Committee.
The President of the Senate shall have a casting vote in the event of an equality of
votes in respect of any business at a meeting of the Senate.
The Senate approves the appointment the High Commissioner, the Chief Justice, the
Justice of the Supreme Court, the Justice of the Court of Appeal, the Contractor
General, and the Ombudsman.
The House of Representatives is equivalent to the British House of Commons and
consists of twenty-nine members8. The twenty-nine electoral divisions or
constituencies are distributed according to the distribution of population.
The House of Representatives is presided over during their meetings by a Speaker,
elected by the twenty-nine members of the House either from among themselves, or
from outside of the House. No member who is a Minister is allowed to be elected to
the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker.
The power of the National Assembly to make laws shall be exercised by Bills passed
by the Senate and the House of Representatives and assented to by the GovernorGeneral. Bills other than money Bills are introduced in either House. A money Bill
shall not be introduced in the Senate.
Specific parts of the Constitution are amended by not less than three-quarters of all
members the House of Representatives supporting a bill in the final reading. Other
6
Source of fact boxes if nothing else stated: The World Factbook - Belize
Inter-Parliamentary Union - Women in National Parliaments
8
Increased from 18 to 28 by Act No. 16 of 1984), and increased from 28 to 29 by the Representation of the People
(amendment) Act, 1993.
7
5
sections are amended by not less than two-thirds of all members. A simple majority
of the Senate is needed when amending provisions of Part II.
Source: Constitution of Belize9
2.2 Executive Branch
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
The executive authority of Belize is vested in Her Majesty and is
exercised on her behalf by the Governor-General.
The Governor-General appoints as Prime Minister the leader of
the political party or coalition which commands the support of
the majority of the members of the House of Representatives.
There Cabinet of Ministers for Belize consists of the Prime
Minister and the other Ministers. The Cabinet shall not be
comprised of more than two-thirds of the elected Members of the
party that obtains the majority seats in the House of
Representatives following a general election and not more than
four Senators. Ministers are appointed by the Governor-General
on the advice of the Prime Minister from among members of the
House of Representatives and of the Senate. The Prime Minister
may also remove Ministers.
Fact box:
chief of state: Queen
ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952),
represented by
Governor General Sir
Colville YOUNG, Sr.
(since 17 November
1993)
head of government:
Prime Minister Said
Wilbert MUSA (since 28
August 1998); Deputy
Prime Minister John
BRICENO (since 1
September 1998)
The Cabinet is the principal executive instrument of policy with general direction and
control of the Government and is collectively responsible to the National Assembly.
The office of Attorney-General is the office of the Minister with responsibility for the
administration of legal affairs in Belize.
The leader of the opposition is appointed by the Governor-General.
Source: Constitution of Belize
2.3 Judiciary Branch
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister).
The judicial branch consists of the following institutions (in ascending order of
hierarchy): the Magistrates’ Courts, the Family Courts, the Supreme Court, the Court
of Appeal and Her Majesty’s Privy Council in London. Belize’s Legal Aid Center has
been operational since 27 November 1981.
The Chief Justice heads the judiciary, which is composed of the Supreme Court and
the Court of Appeal, and has general responsibility for the administration of justice in
the country. The Governor General appoints the Chief Justice in agreement with the
Prime Minister and in consultation with the leader of the opposition.
The Supreme Court has original and unlimited jurisdiction to hear and pronounce
decisions in any civil or criminal case under any law in the country. The Court
convenes four times per calendar year to hear criminal matters in each of its three
9
See also: Government of Belize - Part II - The Legislative Branch
6
districts (North, South, and Central). The Supreme Court is comprised of the Chief
Justice and two other justices known as Puisne Judges. The Supreme Court justices
are appointed by the Governor General upon the recommendation of the Judicial and
Legal Services Commission, with the agreement of the Prime Minister and in
consultation with the opposition leader. The appointee must have practiced law for at
least five years prior to appointment.
The Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to hear and rule on appeals of civil and criminal
matters from both the High Court and Magistrates Court. The court is composed of
the President and three appeals judges, though a panel of only three judges sits at
any given session. The Court of Appeal may hold session as many as four times per
year, although in practice the number of cases requires only three sessions per
calendar year. The Governor General appoints judges to this court for a period
specified in the instrument of appointment in consensus with the Prime Minister and
in consultation with the opposition leader.
The lower courts, which are commonly known as the Magistrates’ Courts, are
regulated under Chapter 94 of the Belize Legislation Acts. They include the district
magistrates’ courts, the justices of the peace, the Court of the Mayor, and the courts
of summary procedure. The Judicial and Legal Services Commission appoints
magistrates. The community elects the Mayors, who exercise jurisdiction in a
determined district with the approval of the Commission.
Source: Justice Studies Center of the Americas (CEJA) - Belize (edited)10
The Privy Council, which is the final court for Belize, sits in the UK. It is composed of
between five and seven members of the House of Lords, who hear appeals for both
criminal and civil cases emanating from the Belizean Court of Appeal.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council serves as the highest court of appeal for
several independent countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, the UK
overseas territories, and the British crown dependencies. However, the Caribbean
Court of Justice (CCJ) is a nascent regional judicial body intended to replace the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
The ‘Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice’ (click here) was initially
signed on 14 January 200111, and the Revised Agreement Establishing the Caribbean
Court of Justice Trust Fund entered into force on 27 January 2004 on signature by
ten of the CARICOM Member States.12
The Caribbean Court of Justice is to be implemented as of March 2005. The CCJ will
be based in Port of Spain, Trinidad.13
Source: Project on International Courts and Tribunals - Caribbean Court of Justice
Click here for laws concerning the Administration of Justice.
2.4 Local Government
There are six administrative districts in Belize: Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk,
Stann Creek and Toledo.
10
See also: Office of the Attorney General - Judiciary System in Belize
Click here for background documents
12
The States that have signed the Revised Agreement as of February 2004 are: Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana,
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago;
CARICOM - Press release (11 February 2004)
13
Caribbean Net News - "The Caribbean Court of Justice: Is CARICOM ready?" (9 November 2004)
11
7
The Constitution of Belize does not recognize the existence and operational structure
of local government, but there has, for long, been a presence of official governing
bodies at the local levels. The intended function of these forms of local government
is to administer certain aspects of the specified area through the election of local
representatives.
In Belize, there are four forms of local government: city councils, town boards,
village councils, and the alcalde system. In 1999 key amendments were made to the
Belize City Council Act (click here) and to the Town Council Act (click here) that
govern these bodies. Also, a Village Council Act (click here) was enacted for the first
time. The alcalde system in southern Belize is the traditional Mayan equivalent to the
village council system.
Belize City along with Belmopan (Belmopan City Council Act – click here) are the only
cities with Council status. Councilors are elected every three years to city councils
(10 councilors and a mayor) and town boards (6 councilors and a mayor) in a
highest vote system. Recent amendments made to the Belize City Council and the
Town Board Acts now allow for the direct election of mayors. Both cities and towns
have very limited legislative powers and operate by receiving subventions from
central government and by collecting a limited number of taxes and fees.
Historically, the major political parties have competed for control of Belize City and of
the towns.
Village Councils are the most basic and grassroots level of local government. Belize
has over 150 villages across the nation, only some of which have defined boundaries.
In a system that began in the 1950's, but was never fully institutionalized, registered
villagers elect seven councilors every two years. In 1999, after the intense lobbying
of some villages and civil society organizations, the House of Representatives passed
an Act to legalize and define the role and powers of village councils in Belize. Unlike
the municipalities, village councils have historically received no public funds and
have very limited authority to manage village affairs. A minimum population of 200
has been set for villages to qualify to come under the Village Council Act.
Source: Government of Belize - Chapter 14: Local Government
Click here for laws concerning Local Government.
8
3. The State and Civil Society
3.1 Ombudsperson
In 1999, the Government created the position of Ombudsman to act as a check
against governmental abuses.14 The Ombudsman Act (amended in 2000) establishes
the Office of a Parliamentary Commissioner or Ombudsman, who is appointed by the
Governor-General acting on the recommendations of both Houses of the National
Assembly. The term of office is three years renewable.
The Ombudsman may investigate when there is reasonable cause to believe that in
the execution of administrative functions:
ƒ
authorities have been guilty of corruption or other wrongdoing; or
ƒ
injustice, injury or abuse has been sustained.
Source: Office of the Attorney General - Ombudsman Act - Chapter 5 (2000)
The Ombudsman stated in his fourth annual report that he received 307 formal
complaints between April 2002 and March 2003. While most complaints were against
the Government, a number were against private entities. There were 120 complaints
against the Police Department, 33 regarding the Lands Department, and 16 each
against the Department of Corrections and the Family Court. The Ombudsman
investigated the majority of these cases and published his findings on many of them
in the annual reports.
Source: U.S. Department of State (Human Rights) - Belize (2003)
3.2 NGOs
The ‘Non-Governmental Organisation Act’ (2000) provides for the establishment and
registration of Non-Governmental Organizations, regulates their operations to create
transparency and accountability, and specifies minimum standards which must be
observed by all registered NGOs.
Source: UN HCHR - State Party Report (28 February 2003)
3.3 Civil Society
Source: Institution - Title
14
U.S. Department of State (Background Notes) - Belize
9
4. Civil Service
The Ministry of the Public Service has responsibility for general administration of the
service and the Public Services Commission provides for the regulation of its
operations.
Source: Government of Belize - Chapter 11: The Public Service (January 2000)
4.1 Legal basis
The Public Services Commission (PSC) is constitutionally charged with the
responsibility of overall coordination of the Public Service.15 It holds the power to
appoint, transfer, remove and discipline public officers who come under section 106
of the Constitution. It also has the responsibility of making regulations for the
general management of the public service including matters related to recruitment,
code of conduct, salaries, promotions and transfers.
The PSC consists of a Chairman and five other members who are all appointed by the
Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister after
consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.16
Source: Constitution of Belize17
The PSC delegated all its powers of appointment, promotion, transfer, discipline and
removal from office to Chief Executive Officers for officers of pay scale 1 - 8, with
effect from 1 September 2002.18
With the new Public Service Regulations, the Public Service Commission for the first
time administers its own regulations. The previous General Orders were administered
by both the Commission and Management.19
Public Service Regulations, 2001 (No. 160 of 2001).
Official Gazette, 2001-11-15, No. 160, pp. 1-61
Comprehensive legislation on public employment. Applies to all public officers;
except those listed in Section 3. Part II deals with appointments and promotions,
Part III with conduct of public officers, Part IV with leave of absence, Part V with
training and career development, Part VI with salaries, allowances, and financial
benefits, and Part VII with advances. Part VIII contains provisions concerning
residential quarters, disaster management, use of telephone, correspondence
between departments, and some related matters. Section 38 provides that salaries
and wages of officers who go on strike shall not be paid for the duration of the strike.
Repeals Public Service Regulations, 1996.
Source: International Labour Organization (NATLEX) - Belize: Public and civil servants
4.2 Recruitment
Source: Institution - Title
15
16
17
18
19
The Constitution also provides for the Security Services Commission, and the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
Constitution of Belize
See also: Final Report of the Political Reform Commission - Chapter 11: The Public Service (January 2000)
Delegations of Powers of the Public Services Commission to the CEOs
Public Sector Reform Initiative in Belize (8 December 2000)
10
4.3 Promotion
Source: Institution - Title
4.4 Remuneration
Source: Institution - Title
4.5 Training
Source: Institution - Title
4.6 Gender
Source: Institution - Title
11
5. Ethics and Civil Service
5.1 Corruption
2003 CPI Score relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by
business people and country analysts and ranges between 10 (highly clean) and 0
(highly corrupt).
Corruption Perceptions Index
Rank
2003 CPI
Score
Surveys
Used
Standard
Deviation
High-Low
Range
Number
Inst.
90 percent
confidence
range
9.5 - 9.9
Country
1
Highly clean
9.7
8
0.3
9.2 - 10.0
4
46
Belize
4.5
3
0.9
3.6 – 5.5
3
3.6 -5.1
133
Highly corrupt
1.3
8
0.7
0.3 - 2.2
6
0.9 - 1.7
Source: Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index 2003
Surveys Used: Refers to the number of surveys that were used to assess a country's performance. 17 surveys were
used and at least 3 surveys were required for a country to be included in the CPI.
Standard Deviation: Indicates differences in the values of the sources. Values below 0.5 indicate agreement, values
between 0.5 and c. 0.9 indicate some agreement, while values equal or larger than 1 indicate disagreement.
High-Low Range: Provides the highest and lowest values of the sources.
Number Institutions: Refers to the number of independent institutions that assessed a country's performance. Since
some institutions provided more than one survey.
90 percent confidence range: Provides a range of possible values of the CPI score. With 5 percent probability the score
is above this range and with another 5 percent it is below.
There are three anti-corruption laws and one transparency law currently in place in
Belize. They were all passed into law in 1994. These are the Ombudsman Act20, (click
here), the Contractor General Act (click here), the Prevention of Corruption in Public
Life Act (click here), and the Freedom of Information Act (click here). The first three
are Anti Corruption laws, and the last, the Freedom of Information Act, deals with
transparency.
The Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act establishes an Integrity Commission
chaired by an Attorney with no less than five years standing. The Commission is
charged with the responsibility of receiving the financial standings of all members of
the National Assembly, City Councils and Town Councils. Every person in Public Life
must, within the first three months of being elected to office, file a declaration of
assets, income and liabilities with the Commission. Thereafter he or she is required
to file a declaration annually, and no later than three months after 31 December in
each year that he or she is a person in public life.
The declarations have to be sworn before a magistrate, Justice of the Peace,
Commissioner of the Supreme Court, or Registrar of the Supreme Court, who must
vouch for the truth and accuracy of the contents of the declaration. Declarations are
to include assets, income and liabilities of the individual in public life, his or her
spouse and children.
Source: SPEAR - "The Anti-Corruption & Transparency Roads Are Already Paved With Legislation"
20
See also ‘3.1 Ombudsperson’
12
5.2 Ethics
Article 121 of the Constitution establishes a brief code of conduct for government
officials and public servants. A complementary code of conduct is found in the Public
Service Regulations.
Source: OAS (Technical Secretariat for Legal Cooperation Mechanisms) - Belize
In Part IV of the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act, an additional Code of
Conduct is detailed that strictly prohibits use of office for private gain, gifts and
benefits in kind, restrictions on loans, use of public funds, prohibition of bribery,
restriction in acquisition of companies, and gives the Commission power to punish for
breach of the Code of Conduct.
That punishment may take the form of a reprimand, a fine not exceeding $10,000,
seizure and forfeiture of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office, or a
recommendation to the appropriate authority for the removal from office of the
individual.
Source: SPEAR - "The Anti-Corruption & Transparency Roads Are Already Paved With Legislation"
13
6. e-Government
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0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
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al
a
os
rb
ad
Ba
Ba
Web Measure Index:
A scale based on
progressively
sophisticated web
services present.
Coverage and
sophistication of stateprovided e-service and
e-product availability
correspond to a
numerical classification.
do
r
0
Be
The index is comprised
of three sub-indexes:
Web Measure Index,
Telecommunications
Infrastructure Index and
Human Capital Index.
e-Government Readiness Index
ha
m
as
The index refers to the
generic capacity or
aptitude of the public
sector to use ICT for
encapsulating in public
services and deploying
to the public, high
quality information
(explicit knowledge) and
effective communication
tools that support
human development.
6.1 e-Government Readiness
liz
e
e-Government
Readiness Index:
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003
Web Measure Index
Telecom. Infrastructure Index
Human Capital Index
1
0.9
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
ia
Lu
c
in
t
Sa
Ja
m
ai
ca
s
ur
a
on
d
H
G
ua
te
m
al
a
or
El
Sa
lva
d
os
rb
ad
Ba
Ba
ha
m
as
0
liz
e
Primary indicators are:
PC’s, Internet users,
online population and
Mobile phones.
Secondary indicators
are TVs and telephone
lines.
0.7
Be
Telecommunications
Infrastructure Index:
A composite, weighted
average index of six
primary indices, based
on basic infrastructural
indicators that define a
country's ICT infrastructure capacity.
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003
Human Capital Index:
A composite of the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio, with two thirds of the weight
given to adult literacy and one third to the gross enrolment ratio.
14
6.2 e-Participation
e-Participation Index
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
e-information:
The government
websites offer
information on
policies and
programs, budgets,
laws and regulations,
and other briefs of
key public interest.
Tools for disseminating of information
exist for timely access
and use of public
information, including
web forums, e-mail
lists, newsgroups and
chat rooms.
Sa
in
tL
uc
ia
ai
ca
Ja
m
on
du
ra
s
H
al
a
G
ua
te
m
B
El
S
ar
ba
do
s
as
ah
am
B
al
va
do
r
0
el
iz
e
Refers to the willingness, on the part of
the government, to
use ICT to provide
high quality information (explicit knowledge) and effective
communication tools
for the specific
purpose of empowerring people for able
participation in
consultations and
decision-making both
in their capacity as
consumers of public
services and as
citizens.
B
e-Participation
Index:
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003 d
e-information
e-decision making
e-consultation
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
1
ia
Sa
in
tL
uc
ai
ca
Ja
m
on
du
ra
s
H
al
a
G
ua
te
m
lv
ad
or
El
Sa
os
ar
ba
d
B
B
ah
a
m
as
0
el
iz
e
The government
indicates that it will
take citizens input
into account in
decision making and
provides actual
feedback on the
outcome of specific
issues.
2
B
e-decision making:
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003 d
e-consultation:
The government website explains e-consultation mechanisms and tools. It offers a choice of public policy topics online for discussion with
real time and archived access to audios and videos of public meetings. The government encourages citizens to participate in discussions.
15
7. Links
7.1 National sites
Authority
Topic
Government
http://www.belize.gov.bz/
Belize Legal Information Network
http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html
Central Statistical Office (CSO)
http://www.cso.gov.bz
7.2 Miscellaneous sites
Institution
Topic
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
http://www.caricom.org/
Centro Latinoamericano de Administración Para el
Desarrollo (CLAD)
Commonwealth Association for Public Administration
and Management (CAPAM)
http://www.clad.org.ve
http://www.capam.comnet.mt/
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
http://www.caribank.org/
Development Gateway
http://www.developmentgateway.org/countryprofile/...
European Union (EU)
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/country/...
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
http://www.iadb.org/exr/country/eng/belize/
Organization of American States (OAS)
http://www.oas.org
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
http://www.oecs.org/
Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) - OAS
http://www.upd.oas.org
UNPAN
http://www.unpan.org/virtual_library-byregion.asp
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
http://www.undpbelize.org/
World Bank (WB)
http://www.worldbank.org/bz
16