On September 18, 2026, Belize marked a historic milestone for gender equality and political progress during its annual Tribute to Belizean Patriots, where late political pioneer Gwen Lizarraga became the first woman in the nation’s history to be named a National Hero. The ceremony, held to honor 25 Belizeans for their decades of dedicated service to national development, also awarded six new recipients of the prestigious Order of Belize and introduced a brand-new honor, the Medal of Valor, awarded to a heroic pilot for his life-saving actions during a 2015 hijacking.
In his opening remarks at the event, Prime Minister John Briceño celebrated Lizarraga’s trailblazing legacy, noting that her decades-long career broke long-standing gender barriers in Belizean politics at a time when public leadership was almost exclusively held by men. “She was a pioneering Belizean woman whose life was defined by courage, determination, and an unwavering commitment to social justice, gender equality, and human rights,” Briceño told attendees.
Lizarraga’s public service career began at the municipal level, serving on the Belize Town Council before making history in 1961 as the first woman elected to Belize’s House of Representatives following the country’s transition to self-governance. She went on to serve three consecutive terms in office, ultimately claiming another historic first as Belize’s inaugural woman cabinet minister, serving through 1974. Beyond her own political achievements, her presence in top government leadership paved the way for generations of Belizean women to pursue public office.
The tribute to Lizarraga anchored an evening that recognized dozens of Belizeans who have shaped the modern nation across sectors from politics to environmental protection. Governor General Dame Froyla Tzalam emphasized that the honorees represent what sustained national service truly means. “Each of the patriots being recognized tonight has been selflessly embodying what it means to believe in Belize,” she said. “They are national role models for all of us. They have shown that love of country isn’t something done once a year. It is a duty fulfilled every day and consistently demonstrated in the little things they do to build strong communities, to protect the vulnerable, to protect the environment, and in so doing, nurture Belize to be the best in her glorious diversity.”
Alongside Lizarraga’s historic induction as a National Hero, six new honorees received the Order of Belize, one of the country’s highest civilian honors: posthumous awards went to Vernon Harrison “Harry” Courtney and Alexander “Sandy” Hunter, while living recipients include former People’s United Party leader Said Musa, Florencio Marin, former Ambassador Robert Leslie, and Shirley McSweeney (formerly Harvey). Briceño noted that the new inductees bring the total number of Order of Belize recipients from Belize’s greatest generation of nationalists to eight, joining previously honored Lindy Rogers and Assad Shoman, and called on the crowd to give all honorees a standing ovation.
The 2026 ceremony also added a new distinction to the program: the Medal of Valor, which awarded its first ever medal to Captain Howell Grange for his extraordinary bravery during an April 2015 mid-air hijacking. Francis Usher, CEO of Belize’s Ministry of National Defense, explained that Grange’s calm, quick thinking under extreme pressure saved every life on board the flight. “The fact that Captain Grange was able to, despite all the adversity, despite everything going wrong, despite the threat on his life, despite being attacked physically, despite his passengers being attacked, he was able to keep a level head and come up with a plan,” Usher said. “I think that is really what separates what happened that day and makes it so heroic.”
In his report from the event, News Five correspondent Shane Williams noted that while an AI-generated opening tribute contained several factual errors, the core mission of the night was carried out perfectly: cementing Lizarraga’s place in Belizean history as a barrier-breaking leader. The evening closed with a collective reminder that modern Belize, 45 years after independence, is the product of generations of selfless service from patriots across all walks of life.