Sir Colville Norbert Young

Govenor General of Belize - Sir Colville Norbert Young

Sir Colville Norbert Young (Born 20 November 1932) is the Governor General of Belize, and also patron of the Scout Association of Belize. He was appointed Governor-General in 1993, taking office on 17 November of that year, and was knighted in 1994.

Sir Colville studied at Belize's St. Michael's College (now part of Anglican Cathedral College (ACC) and not to be confused with the one established recently, and earned a B.A. in English from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica prior to his doctorate in linguistics from the University of York in England.

Sir Colville was one of the founding members of the Liberal Party, a short-lived political party that ultimately became a part of the United Democratic Party (UDP). Young was interested in seeing Belize's development in academia and education and after returning from England began trying to advance the nation in that regard. In the late 1980s Young became president of the University College of Belize, one of the five parent institutions of the University of Belize, and was one of its senior lecturers. He also got involved in music, composing all manner of musical pieces from operas to cantatas to others. He published a series of books of and about Belizean literature, including "Literature and Education in Belize", "Creole Proverbs of Belize", "From One Caribbean Corner" and "Caribbean Corner Calling", the last two containing poems in English and Belize Creole. Of these books, "Creole Proverbs" is his most recognized. In 1993, just before becoming Governor General, he published a book of short stories called "Pataki Full", earning acclaim from the local writing community. His stories have been featured in the Belizean Writers Series in "Snapshots of Belize", and a play "Riding Haas" in the drama anthology "Ping Wing Juk Me", also in the Series.

Sir Colville Young has two sisters (Myrna and Jean) and a younger brother (Wally). He also has three sons and a daughter. The eldest son Colville Jr., is also a talented musician. His granddaughter Natasha Young has maintained the family's musical preeminence as a student at the University of North Florida . Second son Lynn Young is an engineer and the CEO of Belize Electricity Limited. Third son Carlton Young is also a self employed engineer and is owner of Young's Engineering Consultancy, while the only daughter Maureen Young is an Accountant living in Florida. His grandson Alobi Young, son of Colville Young JR, is currently in Taiwan studying music.

Young has a stated interest in promoting the development of Belizean music. In addition to producing his own and getting his family into it, Young has actively contributed to efforts in Belizean schools to maintain music as an educational staple. Many of Belize's school bands were originally started by Young's contributions through his Governor General's office. Young recently hosted a band competition featuring some of these bands.

ame Elmira Minita Gordon, GCMG, GCVO. Born on December 30, 1930, in Belize City Dame Minita Gordon has the distinction of being Belize’s first Governor–General from its independence to 1993, being the first woman in a Commonwealth realm to assume that position. She was educated in Belize City at St. John’s Girl’s School and St. Mary’s Primary School, before attending the Government Teacher’s Training College. Her teaching career began as an Anglican school teacher including missionary work throughout Belize, extending from 1946-1958. During the years 1959-1969 Dame Minita lectured at the Belize Teacher’s Training College, after which she became an Education Officer. She furthered her academic achievements by correspondence course from the College of Preceptors, Oxford, England. Dame Minita then went on to attend the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham in England, the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, then pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology followed by a Ph.D course in Applied Psychology at the University of Toronto, Canada. She became Belize’s first Psychologist in 1980. She has been a member of the Girl Guides since 1946, becoming District Commissioner for the Belize district in 1970.

Awards:

• In 1981 became the first Belizean to receive a Certificate of Inclusion in the International Who’s Who of Intellectuals.

• Justice of the Peace in 1974.

• In 1975 awarded the Certificate of Honour and Life Membership of the British Red Cross.

• Conferred with an honorary degree from the University of Victoria, Canada, in 1984.

Appointments:

• Member of the National Library Service Board until 1976.

• Member of St. Hilda’s College Board of Governors.

• Deputy Chairperson of the Domestic Wages Council.

• Member of the Y.W.C.A.

• Member of the Educational Psychology Programme Planning Committee, University of Toronto 1977-1978.

• Member Leather Craft Club, Toronto 1978-1980.

• People in Parliament

In Belize there are persons that have specific duties to perform in how Parliament operates.

Governor-General

The Governor-General represents the Queen in Belize and has important duties to perform in Parliament. He assents to Bills passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate so that they become Laws of Belize. The Governor-General also opens the first Sitting of the House of Representatives (Inaugural Sitting) by delivering what is known as the Government Speech (Throne Speech). The Government Speech usually entails Government's intention for the coming session or term of Parliament. The Governor-General also ends a parliamentary

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