It had been rumored for some time that the Governor General, Sir Colville Young, would be stepping down, and earlier this month, he confirmed that in a letter to the prime minister. He will demit office on April 30th.
We had reported weeks ago that the PM was looking to submit the name of an indigenous woman - and so he has. Froyla Tzalam has been recommended to the queen as Belize's next GG.
When the confirmation of this news hit social media, the wider public were more than satisfied with the PM's choice. This may be because Tzalam is no stranger to them. She has long worked with those in her community to highlight and preserve Maya culture and history. She has worked at the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management as well as the Tumul K'in Center of Learning.
Tzalam, who is originally from San Antonio, Toledo, has Bachelor's a degree in Anthropology and a Masters in Rural Development. She has written a grammar book on Mopan Maya and numerous articles on culture an identity. She was co-director of the African Maya History Project. She has also curated numerous exhibitions on Belize's culture and history at NICH.
With her elevation expected at the end of the month, women will lead the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary - a first in Belizean history.
