National Institute of Culture and History

U.S. Ambassador Michelle Kwan joined Minister of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology Hon. Francis Fonseca for the opening ceremony of the Lamanai Conservation and Preservation Project held on March 18th at the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve. The project will enable the conservation and preservation of the High Temple, Mask Temple, ball court plaza, and other ancient structures at Lamanai, one of Belize’s most frequently visited Mayan archaeological sites. This project was made possible by an Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant worth USD $177,188 to the Institute of Archaeology at National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology.

The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) through the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, in collaboration with the Belize Archives and Records Service, the Belize National Library Service and Information System, the George Price Centre for Peace and Development and the University of Belize, is pleased to announce the launch of the ‘Let Belize Live: Speeches from the Premier’ Exhibit.

While other Houses of Culture have re-opened across the country, the San Pedro House of Culture (SPHOC) remains closed. A National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) representative indicated that they expect the island’s venue for exhibits and traditional events to re-open. They anticipate this taking place early next year (January). In the meantime, the SPHOC’s building will be used by the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) to host activities such as meetings.

On Monday, October 24th, the Government of Belize (GOB), through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration, launched the Electronic Passport Issuance and Control System (EPICS) and E-Passports. This upgrade in the immigration department is to end required visits to the main offices in Belmopan, where applicants often stand in line for hours. The system will also address the issue of backlogs delaying the issuance of passports. The new passport application process is moving almost entirely online, requiring one visit to the data capture site and another to the issuance center to pick up the passport.

The Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations (MTDR) through the Sustainable Tourism Program II handed over three additional vehicles as part of scheduled program activities under Component Institutional Strengthening geared towards the provision of tourism transportation security vehicles, bringing to date the total number of vehicles handed over to five. These vehicles will assist and improve on the destination management of the tourism sector.

On July 9, 2022, the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) through the Museum of Belize and Houses of Culture, officially reopened the doors of the Corozal House of Culture (CHOC), after more than a year of closure.

June 1, 2022, the National Celebrations Commission (NCC) held its inaugural meeting at the House of Culture in Belize City to plan the events which will form a part of the 2022 September Celebrations.

History serves as an opportunity to travel back in time and explore past events about a settlement, a region, or a country. Belizean history is rich and diverse, highlighting different past events across the country. However, there are many questions about specific chapters of the Belizean society. Have you ever wondered how San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye transformed from a quaint fishing village to the prime tourism destination it is today? The answer to clear such curiosity is by visiting the recently opened San Pedro Tourism Information Center on Angel Coral Street across from the Saca Chispas field, where you can find the book ‘San Pedro History of Tourism.’ This unique and well-documented history of the island was penned by well-known islander Guillermo ‘Mito’ Paz, and it can be yours for just BZ$30.