The Belize Government has today released the official list of Belize public and bank holidays for 2012. This is useful for those preparing travel and vacation in Belize as tourists or for resorts or Belize tour operators looking to draw up holiday specials, not to mention businesses that print and publish Belize Calendars. The list of 13 official Belize holidays includes the famous long four day Belize Easter Holiday which in 2012 starts on 6 April.

Travelers and Belizeans should note that while it is not reflected in this list, some holidays in Belize are “dry”, that is alcoholic beverages may not be sold on for example Good Friday or Christmas Day, but enforcement varies according to locality. In any event, most business establishments are closed on these days. Some Belize shops, especially Chinese operated, open for a brief period after six in the evening during holidays.

15 January 2012 Update: The Government of Belize has today announced that an order has been made that Election Day 7 March 2012 shall be a Public and Bank holiday. Note that alcohol shall not be sold on Election Day.

The full text of the release as issued by Minister of Police and Public Safety Douglas Singh through the Belize Press Office:

It is notified for general information that public and bank holidays specified in the First and the Second Schedules to the Holidays Act, Chapter 289 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2003, will be observed on the following days during the year 2012 in accordance with section 3 of the said Act.

Judge Pollard being sworn in by Governor General Sir Colville Young. Picture courtesy Belize Press Office.

Professor Duke Pollard from Guyana was today sworn in as a temporary Justice of the Belize Court of Appeal by the Governor General, Sir Colville Young, at Belize House, Belmopan.

Witnessing the swearing-in ceremony was the Registrar General, Ms. Velda Flowers.

Professor Pollard is a well-known legal luminary of the Caribbean. He was a judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice from 2005 to 2010. After his retirement from the CCJ, he took up appointment as Professor of Law at the University of Guyana, which position he still holds.

He has written widely on legal topics and has undertaken various lecturing assignments throughout the Caribbean region. His areas of expertise include General International Law, Law of Treaties and International Economic Law. Professor Pollard is a member of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, a member of the American Society of International Law and a member of the
Caribbean Association of Law and Court Administration.

UPDATE: Belize PSE 2012 Results

The Belize Primary School Education results – PSE – have been released and they provide a wealth of information on the status of education in Belize. Apart from the results, this year the Belize Ministry of Education provided an excellent background to the PSE. While interpreted as a way to spin poor performance on the part of the ministry and the Belize education system, the report nonetheless provides concise information for parents, students and ex pats with children considering Belize as a second home or retirement destination.

Some highlights:

A total of 6,962 students (including private candidates as well as those who attend alternative schools) registered for the Belize PSE in 2011

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