Belize has officially launched its national theme competition for the country’s 45th independence celebrations, introducing significant changes to this year’s contest format. The “Belize at 45” competition now features stricter submission guidelines, a prohibition on artificial intelligence-generated entries, and a substantially increased cash prize.
According to Eluide Miller of the National Celebrations Commission, this year’s competition builds on last year’s success which attracted nearly 400 submissions. The 2025 winning theme “Belize at Forty-four: Stronger Together, Rising Forever” was jointly created by two citizens who captured the nation’s spirit during the independence season.
The revised competition criteria mandate that all submissions must not exceed ten words, emphasizing conciseness while authentically reflecting the Belizean spirit. Participants are limited to a maximum of three entries each, with violations resulting in disqualification.
A notable new regulation prohibits the use of AI-generated content, with all entries undergoing automated screening for AI detection. Submissions exceeding a 40-50% AI score threshold will be automatically disqualified from consideration.
The competition deadline has been set for April 10th, with the prize money dramatically increased to $2,000 Belize dollars—double the amount offered in previous years. This financial incentive aims to encourage broader participation and higher quality submissions from creative citizens across the nation.
The National Celebrations Commission expresses strong enthusiasm for this year’s independence festivities, viewing the theme competition as a cornerstone event that engages national pride and creative expression among Belizeans worldwide.