REPORT OF THE BELIZE CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE HELD AT
MARLBOROUGH HOUSE IN LONDON IN APRIL 1981
1. The Conference met at Marlborough House and held 18 Plenary
Sessions between 6 and 14 April. A list of delegates, officials
and advisers who took part in the Conference is at Annex A. An
invitation to attend the Conference was extended to the Leader
of the Belizean Opposition and representatives of the United
Democratic Party but this was declined. The Minister of State,
Mr Nicholas Ridley, presided at the opening session and some of
the Plenary Sessions. At the other Plenary Sessions the Chair
was taken by the Alternate Chairman, Mr John Hickman.
2. At the opening session speeches were made by Mr Ridley and
by Mr Rogers, the Deputy Premier of Belize. The text of these
speeches is at Annex B.
The Constitution for an Independent Belize
3. The Conference had before it a White Paper issued by the
Government of Belize containing "Proposed Terms of a Constitution
for the Independent Belize" and the Report of a Joint Select
Committee set up by both Houses of the Belize Legislature to
which the White Paper had been referred and which had been
directed to canvass the opinions of the Belizean people. The
Committee met and received oral and written evidence in all
district towns of Belize. The Report, which recommended a
number of amendments to the proposals in the White Paper, was
- 1 -
-