Governor-General of Belize
Dame Froyla Tzalam GCMG is a Belizean Mopan Maya anthropologist and community leader , who has served as the third governor-general of Belize since 27 May 2021.
She is the first indigenous person of Maya descent to serve as governor-general of any country in the history of the Commonwealth of Nations .[3] [4]
Education
Tzalam is from the village of San Antonio, Toledo . She graduated with a BA in Anthropology from Trinity University, Texas . This was followed by a MA in Rural Development from University of Sussex .[5]
Career
She was the executive director of the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM).[6]
Tzalam was shortlisted for nomination to the Senate in January 2017, but declined in order to concentrate on her work with SATIIM.[7]
Governor-General of Belize
Viceregal styles of Dame Froyla Tzalam (2021–present) Reference style Her Excellency Spoken style Your Excellency
Dame Froyla meeting Dame Cindy Kiro , Governor-General of New Zealand, in London, 2022
It was announced on 22 April 2021 by Prime Minister of Belize John Briceno that she was nominated to be the next Governor-General of Belize following the retirement of Sir Colville Young .[8] She is the third Governor-General and the second woman appointed to the role.
On 21 March 2022, she was invested as a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge on behalf of Elizabeth II , Queen of Belize , during the Platinum Jubilee royal tour of Belize.[9] [10] [11]
Tzalam with the Duchess of Gloucester and the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace during her visit for the coronation of King Charles III
References