_{Top (l-r) Rozel Arana, Linsford Castillo, Brittney Gálvez; Bottom (l-r) Hector Guerra, Christoper Coye and Eamon Courtenay}

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Mar. 20, 2025

Today, Thursday, March 20, the People’s United Party (PUP) announced its six senators that will represent the government, with four new faces.

The Senate is comprised of thirteen members, who are appointed by the Governor General – six senators are appointed by the Prime Minister; three are appointed by the Leader of the Opposition; one representing the Belize Chamber of Commerce and the Belize Business Bureau; one representing the Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of Churches; one representing the Belize National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; and one representing the Non-Governmental Organizations.

Aside from discussing and debating Bills, the Senate’s functions include approving any Bill to alter any provision of Part II of the Belize Constitution, under subsection (5A) of Section 69 of the Constitution.

Eamon Courtenay will remain the Leader of Government Business in the Senate and also serve as the Special Representative for the Prime Minister on International Legal Affairs, Diplomacy, and Strategic Engagement. Also returning to the Senate is Christopher Coye who remains a Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

The new faces for the Government in the Senate are: Linsford Castillo, PUP’s Sectary General; Rozel Arana, former Orange Walk Town Councilor; Brittney Galvez, Program Coordinator in the Office of The Special Envoy, which falls within the Office of the Prime Minister, and dedicated member of the United Women’s Group (UWG) and the Belize Youth Movement (BYM); and Hector Guerra, attorney and well-known party supporter.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has yet to announce its senators.

The newly appointed senators will be sworn in at the first session of the Senate meeting which will be announced later.