Established in 1990, the Belize Mayors’ Association focuses on improving the quality of local governance and the quality of life for residents in each Belizean municipality. The Association is an advocacy body that provides collective support on behalf of the seven (7) town and two (2) city governments in Belize. It is comprised of the Mayor of Corozal, Mayor of Belize City, Mayor of Belmopan, Mayor of San Ignacio/ Santa Elena, Mayor of Benque Viejo del Carmen, Mayor of Dangriga, Mayor of Punta Gorda, Mayor of San Pedro and the Mayor of Orange Walk who all function under the guidance of the Ministry of Local Government.
The association meets once a month and uses this opportunity to discuss issues, ideas, best practices, business opportunities or challenges that they have experienced to benefit each member. Through this association, members have a unique networking opportunity to participate in information sharing with others who know exactly what it is like to honor the roles and responsibilities that come with being the chief elected official in a municipality.
In A spirit of Solidarity: •To network with all stakeholders at Local, Regional and International levels.
•To pursue a process that will enhance good governance.
•To encourage greater community participation and involvement.
•To invest in general public education in matters of Municipal Affairs.
•To promote foreign and local investments in our municipalities.
•To embrace ethnic diversity through the promotion of culture.
His Worship Mayor Bernard Wagner is currently serving his second consecutive term following the 2018 Municipal Elections. Bernard is the son of the late Joseph Wagner Sr. and Filomena Wade and was born and raised in the old capitol of Belize City. He attended Queen Square Anglican Primary School, and thereafter attended St. Michael College. His 1983 graduating class was the first such class coming out of the amalgamation of St. Michaels College and St. Hilda’s College. He then attended Belize Technical College sixth form as a student of the Engineering Department. He later attained an Associate Degree in Business and was recognized on the Dean’s List.After his business studies, Bernard pursued further education in banking and finance. He engaged in an extensive banking career, having worked in this sector for over thirty years. He began as an entry-level cashier/computer operator from 1986 to 1991 with Atlantic Bank Ltd then advanced his employment with Belize bank Ltd in 1991. Mayor Wagner dedicated twenty-four years of his life to the institution, determined to climb the ranks until he rose to the status of manager. Through his unwavering dedication, Bernard managed both the Dangriga branch and the largest branch countrywide, the Market Square branch in Downtown Belize City.After reaching the pinnacle of his banking career, Mayor Wagner decided to take his career into his own hands and open a small financing firm known as the JBW finance Co. Ltd, a microfinance and payday loan business entity operating in Belize City. Through this medium, Mayor Wagner has provided loan brokerage and other finance related services to the residents of Belize City for years.Outside of the office, Bernard Wagner has always been a leading personality in organizing basketball competitions in the city and served as the president of the Belize District Basketball Association, President of the Belize Basketball Federation and president of Semi-Pro Basketball. He is the founder Interoffice Basketball which he ran successfully for fifteen years and served as chairman of the National Sports Council. At the time, he was an active sports columnist in Belize’s leading newspaper, The Amandala, and served as co-host of the Amandala Sports Show. Bernard is the founder of the Belize Bank Bulldogs Basketball Club and continues to host local tournaments annually.
The Ministry of Labour, Local Government & Rural Development is established by the direction given in writing to the Minister by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Through notice published in the Gazette, the Portfolio for Local Government authorizes the Minister to have oversight powers in the following areas: Town and City Councils, Village Council, Alcaldes, Liquor Licensing, Trade Licensing, RECONDEV.
The respective legislations provide the Ministry with the necessary framework to carry out its mandate. Through these mechanisms the Ministry of Local Government provides oversight, guidance, support and capacity building initiatives to these various entities whilst monitoring their strategic and operational activities on a day to day basis. Currently, the Rural Development portfolio has been tasked to manage and oversee all affairs relating to Village Councils and the Alcalde jurisdictions. The Local Government portfolio is headed by a Director who reports to the Chief Executive Officer; the office of the Director is supported by Local Government Officers, a Secretary and the clerical staff of the Ministry.
Belize is a unitary constitutional monarchy and bicameral parliamentary democracy with two levels of government: a state government and a single-tier local government. There is currently no constitutional provision for local government and the main governing acts are the Town Councils Act 2000, the Belize and Belmopan City Council Act 1999, the Village Councils Act 1999 and the Inferior Courts Act 2003. The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development is charged with overseeing the administration of three systems of local government in Belize.
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