In a significant stride for international youth development, Belize City has dispatched two promising young leaders to Miramar, Florida, for an immersive governance exchange program. Youth Shadow Councilors Sanaa Rowland and Arthur Butler, accompanied by Councilor Stephanne Hamilton who oversees Sister City Relations, arrived on Saturday to participate in a meticulously curated week-long agenda focused on municipal governance.
The delegation received formal welcoming ceremonies from Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam and his executive team on Monday morning, marking a substantial advancement in the bilateral partnership between the coastal municipalities. This exchange program represents a cornerstone initiative within the broader sister city framework established between Belize City and Miramar.
Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner provided exclusive insights into the program’s strategic importance, highlighting the comparable demographic scales between the two cities—approximately 150,000 residents in Miramar versus 70,000-80,000 in Belize City—which creates unique synergies for mutual learning. The partnership framework specifically prioritizes economic development, cultural exchanges, and youth development initiatives.
The Youth Shadow Councilors’ itinerary includes observational sessions at Miramar’s city council meetings, comprehensive briefings with both fire and police departments—unlike Belize City’s structure, Miramar’s municipal government maintains direct oversight of these services—and evaluations of recreational facilities and youth programming. This hands-on exposure aims to provide the young Belizean representatives with practical insights into alternative models of civic engagement and community development.
Mayor Wagner emphasized the program’s role in fostering sustainable international relationships while providing transformative professional development opportunities for the next generation of Belizean leadership. The exchange represents a significant investment in cross-cultural understanding and the development of practical governance skills among youth participants.