Belize public officers’ long service honored

By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELMOPAN, Tue. Sept. 8, 2026

   Forty-two Belizeans who had served Belize and their fellow citizens for 35 years or more were honored by having their names included in the Public Service Walkway, along with the other names of long-serving former public servants, at a ceremony hosted by the Ministry of the Public Service in Belmopan on Monday, September 7.

   “We’re recognizing giants that came before us. We are recognizing you, public officers, who have dedicated 35 plus years to the people and nation of Belize,” declared Minister of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform and Religious Affairs, Hon. Henry Charles Usher. “This is a little that we can do to acknowledge all the work that you have done. A big round of applause for your achievements, for your dedication, and for your sacrifice, as we continue on this Christian path of building a nation, a family of Belizean people.”

   He thanked Belmopan Mayor Pablo Cawich for allowing the Ministry to use the space on the walkway, which he saw would need to be expanded in the years going forward, as they start to honor other long-serving public servants next year and the years to come.

   “We often speak about the leaders, the institutions and the milestones that have shaped our nation; but behind all of those things are people who came to work every day, people who kept our ministries and departments functioning, people who served citizens, implemented policies, managed our institutions, and helped Belize move forward. Our public officers are nation builders, and today we have the opportunity to recognize 42 of them who have given decades of their lives to that work. Thirty-five years or more is a long time to dedicate to any career. Over those years, there were countless early mornings, long days, missed family occasions, difficult decisions, changing governments, changing ministers, changing policies, and new challenges to face. Yet, through it all, these public officers continued to show up and continued to serve. That is what we are recognizing today,” Usher affirmed.

   He cited the outstanding example of “Ms. Gladys Sarita Bernard, whose career in the public service began in 1975.  51 years ago, Ms. Gladys Bernard started to work in the Belize public service; before that we were British Honduras. When we talk about longevity, Ms. Bernard certainly gives that word real meaning. She has given 51 years of her life to the Public Service, making her one of the longest serving public officers in Belize. From her early days as a typist, she served across several government ministries and departments, before spending decades contributing to the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, treating Belizeans and visitors alike, with the royalty and the celebrity, with her same charm, her same smile, and her same warmth. Much of the work of the public service happens quietly and behind the scenes. It may not always make headlines; but it is work that keeps our institutions functioning. Ms. Bernard’s 51 years of service are a powerful reminder of the value of professionalism, experience, and commitment. Her career has seen generations of Belizeans and many different chapters in our country’s development,” he affirmed.

   “We also recognize Mrs. Josephine Tamai, whose journey in the Public Service began in 1991, as a second-class clerk. Through hard work, determination, and a commitment to furthering her education, she rose through the ranks to become Belize’s Chief Elections Officer, a position she has held for the past 15 years. I can’t tell you how much I have relied on her steadfast guidance and support,” Usher stated.

   He also had a special mention for Gilbert Emmanuel Gordon PhD of the Customs and Excise Department, who started out as a Customs Examiner in 1991, and serves today as Deputy Comptroller. Throughout his career, he continued to invest in his own education and development, ultimately earning a doctorate, and becoming a leader in areas such as Customs modernization and technology-driven reform. “The Public Service must continue to evolve … with the willingness to learn, adopt, and find better ways of serving the people of Belize”, Usher avowed.    Ms. Gladys Bernard also shared anecdotes of her half century of service: “My journey began in 1975 – that was approximately six years before Independence – giving me the privilege of serving the nation before we raised our flag and to continue serving after. I was a young woman stepping into the Public Service with one simple goal: to serve my country and my people to the best of my ability. From that first day, I have had the privilege of working every chapter of our nation’s story. I was here before Independence; I was here as we built new systems after 1981. I was here through changes in Government, changes in technology – particularly from using onion-skin paper on Remington typewriters, to computers small enough to fit in our hands – and changes in the way we serve the public.”