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 The Belize Public Service (A Brief) The British Honduras Civil Service was established during British colonial rule and was aimed to support governance and administration. After Belize gained Independence in 1981, reforms in public service structure and policies took place. The Public Service Commission was formed in 1995 and was responsible for setting policies related to public service employment; to oversee recruitment and management of public service personnel; to appoint people to public service positions and to discipline employees; to provide guidance and support for public service training and development; to ensures fair and transparent hiring processes within government agencies; to conduct examinations for prospective public service employees; to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector in Belize. The Public Service Regulations 2001 reflected a more modern, decentralized approach to the management of the Public Service. A new feature of the Regulations was the absence of the powers of the Public Services Commission. This revision allowed a departure from management practices of an era long gone and to herald in a new public management, one free from rules and regulations that to date constrain rather than support management. The revision process is an ongoing one in keeping with the changing environment. Public officers are encouraged to contribute to the process by making recommendations for further improvements to the Ministry of the Public Service. In 2002, the implementation of the Public Service Act was to modernize operations, improve accountability, and to continue ongoing efforts to address challenges such as corruption and inefficiency within the public sector. Continued emphasis was placed on professional development and training for public officers to enhance efficiency. Public service employees are expected to execute the policies of the cabinet ministers who head the various executive ministries regardless of the ministers' political affiliations. In turn, public service employees are to be insulated from overt political pressure. Earlier this year, on June 25, one hundred seventy-three (173) public officers from across the Government of Belize were honoured during the 2026 Public Service Awards Ceremony in recognition of their remarkable milestone of 25 years of dedicated service, professionalism, and invaluable contributions to the people of Belize. The ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management as part of activities commemorating Public Service Week and brought together senior government officials, public officers, family members, and invited guests to recognize and celebrate this significant achievement. Awards were presented by Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam, Governor General of Belize, and Hon. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management. Belize’s public officers, from colony to an Independent nation, have shown unwavering commitment and their experience, resilience, and their institutional knowledge have been instrumental in advancing national development and strengthening the public service. Public officers remain the backbone of government and are central to the successful implementation of policies, programmes, and services that directly impact the lives of Belizeans. Their collective achievements stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of public service and the indispensable role public officers play in building a stronger, more resilient Belize (Adapted from Minister Usher’s speech). John Owen Anthony Longsworth OBE 
Among many renowned public officers is the late John Owen Anthony Longsworth OBE. On the morning of June 21, 2026, John Owen Anthony Longsworth OBE passed away peacefully at his home in Belmopan. He was ninety-one. The Belmopan community, the tennis fraternity, and the nation of Belize are mourning the loss of this outstanding citizen. He will be remembered for his long-standing commitment to public service and his defining role in shaping the sport of tennis in Belize. John Longsworth was respected for his distinguished career in the Belize public service. He began as a Junior Clerk in 1954 in the then British Honduras Colonial Civil Service and rose through the ranks to serve as a District Officer, an administrative role that carried magisterial authority. He retired in February 1990, having served almost a decade as a Permanent Secretary, including during the early years of independence. He assisted a cabinet sub-committee in the revision of the Financial Orders and played supporting roles in the drafting of various pieces of legislation. In 2018. the Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young conferred New Year Honours to John, on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, at the Belize House in Belmopan. The honour was in recognition of his contributions to governance and national development. He was awarded the Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contribution to public service. The New Year Honours are conferred to citizens of Commonwealth territories in recognition of their good work and contributions to their home countries. John was a Belmopan institution. As a foundational member of the Belize Tennis Association and the Belmopan Tennis Club, he dedicated decades to nurturing the sport and mentoring young players. He gave generously of his time and commitment to the growth and development of tennis in Belize, helping to strengthen the sport he loved. Long before he became a coach, he was a champion himself, winning the 1968 National Open Junior title. After his retirement, Longsworth became a familiar figure across Belmopan, riding his bicycle daily as he visited government offices and businesses—making countless friends along the way. Many recall him not only as a tennis coach but as a life coach, always ready with advice, a story, or a joke. He was a natural storyteller, a sharp observer of people, and a brilliant mind who freely shared his wisdom. His presence, humour, and generosity of spirit made him a beloved fixture in the Capital and his passing leaves a noticeable void in the community he helped shape.  For an interesting interview with XTV Belize that covers John’s profession life—many photos of historical significance included—please go to: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1556974406145067 Public Service Union of Belize The Public Service Union of Belize is a trade union representing public sector workers in Belize. The union was founded in 1922 as a professional organization named the Civil Service Association. In the early 1960s, it renamed itself as the Public Officers Union, expanding its membership to include workers in state enterprises and also workers in privatized industries. It transformed itself into a trade union and was later affiliated with the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. Handbook of British Honduras 1888 - 89 (Includes contributions from public service officers of that era)  The Handbook of British Honduras 1888 - 1889 comprises historical, statistical, and general information concerning the Colony. It was compiled from official and other reliable records. It should prove an interesting read and a great addition to your books concerning Belize’s colonial history. The ‘Preface’ below. Current reprints, like the one shown, are available from various Print-on-Demand retailers like Amazon and Abe. For a free Google download, go to: https://dn760109.eu.archive.org/0/items/handbookbritish00wriggoog/handbookbritish00wriggoog.pdf PREFACE The success which has attended the publication of Handbooks of the different colonies has induced us to present this, the first publication of the Handbook of British Honduras, to the public; and in doing so, we desire to state that we have endeavored to lay before them a work comprising, in a condensed form, an account of the history, statistics, and general resources of the colony. The object of bringing out this volume in the middle of the year is to enable us to include the returns of the past financial year. If the handbook were annually published before these returns are obtained, as information relating to the finances of the colony must necessarily be a year in arrear, and the usefulness of the work, as a book of reference, would be greatly diminished. We have to express our thanks to several public officers and private individuals for the valuable information afforded by them in the prosecution of our work; nor can we omit to mention the great assistance derived from the following sources:—Mr Crowe’s ‘The Gospel in Central America’; Mr. Gibb’s ‘British Honduras’; Mr. Morris’s ‘The Colony of British Honduras’; the late Mr Cockburn’s ‘Rough Notes’; also various old almanacs and newspapers. Many of the facts in the history of the colony and in other parts of the handbook have been taken from the above; and our labour, seeing that the early records of the colony have been destroyed by fire, hurricane, and Spanish incursions, would have been materially increased had we not been able to refer to such works. In conclusion, we are anxious to record our sense of the readiness with which His Excellency Governor Goldsworthy, and the Colonial Secretary, Mr Jerningham, complied with our request for access to all official sources of information. LINDSAW W. BRISTOWE PHILIP B. WRIGHT Belize, March 1888. Belize Book Sector Network (BBSN) Publishing New Website Ian Gibson, illustrator and author, has been working on an online network for people in the Belizean publishing industry through the BBSN. It has just been announced that BBSN has a new website and writers, editors, illustrators, photographers, librarians, educators, and more, both current and new members, are asked to register through it and help Belize grow its book industry sector. Please spread the word to anyone else who might be interested. www.belizebooksector.org  Newsletters Update. All our Newsletters are now archived at the Blog section of our website. Read these interesting and informative Newsletters: http://jabirubooksbelize.com If you know someone who would like to receive our monthly Newsletter, please have them go to CONTACT on our website and send us an e-mail. Please note that our monthly Newsletters are also published on our FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/JabiruBooksBelize Thank you for forwarding and sharing this Newsletter. BOOKS WRITTEN BY DR. HENRY W. ANDERSON Add these great books to your personal library for your reading pleasure. They are available as e-books and printed books.  INFORMATION/LINKS Dr. Anderson books are available both as Print-on-Demand and E-Books at store.bookbaby.com (Recommended by Publishers). Please go to: https://store.bookbaby.com/profile/jabirubooksbelizecom Dr. Anderson’s books are available at the libraries of the Belize National Library Service and Information System. Search under Author: Henry W Anderson. Please go to: https://bnlsis.mlasolutions.com/m5/catalog/(S(tsaodaxofc2mvp3zhpl4wwt2))/Default.aspx?internal=1&installation=LeoBradley E-Books are available at other Retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Vearsa, Kobo, OverDrive, Copia, Gardners Books, Baker & Taylor, eSentral, Scribd, Ciando, Hoopla, Playster, and many more. Print-on-Demand books are available at some of the Retailers listed. Please visit us at: https://www.facebook.com/JabiruBooksBelize Visit our website at http://jabirubooksbelize.com 
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