Albert, Belize

Albert is a Constituency in the Belize District of the Central American nation of Belize. Albert Constituency is home to the headquarters of most of Belize's banks, Belize City's major stores, The Supreme Court of Belize City, The Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, The Belize City House of Culture, Battlefield Park, the Belize City Commercial Center, and several government offices. Albert is named after the principal street (Albert Street) within its jurisdiction. The constituency's other principal street is Regent Street.

Boundaries

Albert, often referred to locally as Albert Division, is located entirely within the boundaries of Belize City, and is one of 10 constituencies in the Belize District that fall within the city limits of Belize. Albert is considered the downtown area of Belize CIty and is located on the eastern part of the city's southside.

Albert is bounded by the Caribbean Sea on the east and south, the Haulover Creek on the north, and the Constituencies of Mesopotamia and Queen's Square on the west. The historic Belize City Swing Bridge, which crosses Haulover Creek, connects Albert with the Fort George Constituency.

Current Area Representative

Albert is currently being represented in the House of Representatives of Belize by the People's United Party's Mark Espat, who is the former Minister of National Development, Investment and Culture. Mark Espat also served as the Minister of Tourism for several years.

Voting Population

Albert has a voting population of 3,030 ( [http://www.belize-elections.org/stats_2007/div_sex_july.html July 2007 estimate] ). This figure ranks Albert as 13th (out of 13) in the Belize District (10th out of 10 in Belize City) and 31st (out of 31) in the country of Belize.

Albert is thus Belize's smallest constituency in terms of both voting population and in area.

History

Albert was one of the original 18 constituencies that were [http://www.belize-elections.org/boundary_redistricting.pdf created in 1961] by the government of the then British Colony of British Honduras. Phillip Goldson of the National Independence Party won this seat in 1965 and held it under the NIP, UDP and NABR until his retirement in 1998, whereupon Espat defeated Tom Morrison and then Marilyn Williams in 2003. Espat beat Morrison in a rematch for the seat in 2008.

References

* [http://www.belize-elections.org/map_electoral_bz.html Belize Elections & Boundaries Deptartment's Map of Belize District Constituencies]
* [http://belize.gov.bz/ministry_details.php?ministry_id=11 Ministry of National Development, Investment & Culture]

ee also

*Districts of Belize
*Constituencies of Belize
*Politics of Belize
*Belize
*Belize City