Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Encyclopedia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia (born 1957) is a Belize
an lawyer, politician, activist, broadcaster and author.
As a member of the People's United Party
, she served as Belize's Minister of Human Development, Women and Civil Society, where her emphasis was on improving the condition of women and children and bringing about gender equality. From 2003 to 2008 she also worked for the Government of Belize as Ambassador
/Special Envoy for Children, Gender
and HIV/AIDS.
in Wisconsin
, where she graduated Cum Laude in 1979. This was followed by a Master's degree in English
, from Marquette University
. In 1982 Balderamos-Garcia decided to attend the University of the West Indies
to study law. She received her Bachelor of Laws
degree from the Norman Manley Law School in 1985 and was admitted to practice law in Belize in 1987.
She was a Member of the Board of Directors of the Belize Sugar Board between 1989 and 1991, of the Broadcasting Corporation of Belize from 1990 to 1992 and of the Belize Zoo and Tropical Educational Center (1995-1996).
in 1993.
In 1998 Balderamos-Garcia was elected to the House of Representatives of Belize
for the Port Loyola Constituency, and named Minister of Human Development, Women and Civil Society by then Prime Minister of Belize Said Musa
. She served in the Senate of Belize
for a second time between March 2005 and January 2008.
At the same time, she was a member of the Commonwealth of Nations
Observer Group for National Elections in Zanzibar, Tanzania (2005) and served as Chairperson of the Commonwealth Expert Team of Observers for Local Government Elections in Sierra Leone
(2008).
based National Policy on HIV/AIDS, and began to provide free life saving anti-retroviral medication.
She is chairperson of the steering committee of Living With Hope, a charity organization which provides help to persons living with HIV and AIDS. She also serves on the Board of Directors of both the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired and the Alliance Against AIDS. She has been a Member of Steering Committee for the Pan Caribbean HIV/AIDS Forum since
February 2008.
Vibes" on VIBES Radio, and for several years contributed a jazz-centred column to the Belize Times. In 2009, she compiled these columns into the book "Jazz Sketches; Profiles of Thirty Greats".
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
an lawyer, politician, activist, broadcaster and author.
As a member of the People's United Party
People's United Party
The People's United Party is one of two major political parties in Belize, and currently the main opposition party. It is a Christian Democratic party; the current Party Leader is Francis Fonseca....
, she served as Belize's Minister of Human Development, Women and Civil Society, where her emphasis was on improving the condition of women and children and bringing about gender equality. From 2003 to 2008 she also worked for the Government of Belize as Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
/Special Envoy for Children, Gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
and HIV/AIDS.
Education and early career
She received primary and secondary education in Belize, followed by a partial scholarship to Viterbo UniversityViterbo University
Viterbo University is a Roman Catholic liberal arts university located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States in the Diocese of La Crosse.-History:...
in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, where she graduated Cum Laude in 1979. This was followed by a Master's degree in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, from Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
. In 1982 Balderamos-Garcia decided to attend the University of the West Indies
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
to study law. She received her Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from the Norman Manley Law School in 1985 and was admitted to practice law in Belize in 1987.
She was a Member of the Board of Directors of the Belize Sugar Board between 1989 and 1991, of the Broadcasting Corporation of Belize from 1990 to 1992 and of the Belize Zoo and Tropical Educational Center (1995-1996).
Political career
She has held several positions in the People's United Party, including National Women's Organizer and member of Central Executive (1990-1994), and President of United Women's Group, the women's arm of the party (1994-1997). She was nominated Senator in the 7th National Assembly of BelizeNational Assembly of Belize
The National Assembly of is the bicameral legislature of Belize. It is divided into the House of Representatives, with 29 members, and the Senate, with 13 members.- History :...
in 1993.
In 1998 Balderamos-Garcia was elected to the House of Representatives of Belize
House of Representatives of Belize
The House of Representatives of Belize is one of two chambers of the National Assembly, the other being the Senate. It was created under the 1981 constitution....
for the Port Loyola Constituency, and named Minister of Human Development, Women and Civil Society by then Prime Minister of Belize Said Musa
Said Musa
Said Wilbert Musa is a Belizean lawyer and politician. He was the Prime Minister of Belize from August 28, 1998 to February 8, 2008.-Early life and education:Said Musa was born in San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize...
. She served in the Senate of Belize
Senate of Belize
The Senate is one of the chambers of the National Assembly. It has 12 members appointed for a five year term by the Governor General.- Establishment and appointment :Senators are appointed by the Governor General in the following manner:...
for a second time between March 2005 and January 2008.
At the same time, she was a member of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
Observer Group for National Elections in Zanzibar, Tanzania (2005) and served as Chairperson of the Commonwealth Expert Team of Observers for Local Government Elections in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
(2008).
Activism
In 2000 She was appointed as the first Chairperson of the National AIDS Commission, a position she held until 2008. Through her leadership, the PUP Government passed the human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
based National Policy on HIV/AIDS, and began to provide free life saving anti-retroviral medication.
She is chairperson of the steering committee of Living With Hope, a charity organization which provides help to persons living with HIV and AIDS. She also serves on the Board of Directors of both the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired and the Alliance Against AIDS. She has been a Member of Steering Committee for the Pan Caribbean HIV/AIDS Forum since
February 2008.
Broadcasting
Since the late 1980s, Balderamos-Garcia has been the host of the weekly program "JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
Vibes" on VIBES Radio, and for several years contributed a jazz-centred column to the Belize Times. In 2009, she compiled these columns into the book "Jazz Sketches; Profiles of Thirty Greats".