National Institute of Culture and History

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.

On April 1, 2022, Belizean archaeologist Dr. Jaime Awe will receive the Society for American Archaeology 2022 Award for Excellence in Latin America and Caribbean Archaeology. The award recognizes and honors professional achievements at all career levels, including students and early career archaeologists, to those who have made lasting contributions to the Society for American Archaeology.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration hereby informs of the transition from the design phase of the new ePassports to the process phase of the new Electronic Passport Issuance and Control System (ePICS).

The island’s venue for exhibits and traditional events, The San Pedro House of Culture, will remain closed indefinitely. This is attributed to the pandemic and the reportedly limited finances to support the house of culture. As a result, and after working on reduced salaries for months, the island staff was terminated.