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Colville Young

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The Right Honourable
Sir Colville Young
GCMG MBE
Young in 2020
2nd Governor-General of Belize
In office
17 November 1993 – 30 April 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterManuel Esquivel
Said Musa
Dean Barrow
Johnny Briceño
Preceded byElmira Minita Gordon
Succeeded byFroyla Tzalam
Personal details
Born (1932-11-20) 20 November 1932 (age 92)
Belize City, British Honduras
(present-day Belize)
Alma materSt. Michael's College (Belize)
University of the West Indies
University of York

Sir Colville Norbert Young GCMG MBE (born 20 November 1932) is a Belizean politician who served as the second governor-general of Belize. He is also a patron of the Scout Association of Belize. He was appointed as the Governor-General in 1993, taking office on 17 November of that year,[1] and was knighted in 1994.[2]

His tenure of 28 years is the longest of any governor-general in the history of the Commonwealth.[3]

Education

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Sir Colville studied at Belize's St Michael's College (now part of Anglican Cathedral College (ACC) and not to be confused with the institution now known as Maud Williams High School), and earned a BA degree in English from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, prior to his doctorate in linguistics from the University of York in England.[4] Young was a Fulbright Scholar and is a member of the Caribbean Teachers of English Association and the Society for Caribbean Linguistics.[5]

Career

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In the 1960s, Young was a member of the opposition National Independence Party. He ran as the NIP candidate for the British Honduras Legislative Assembly in the Mesopotamia constituency in 1965 and 1969, but was defeated both times by C. L. B. Rogers, the People's United Party incumbent.[6][7]

Along with future Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel, Young was one of the founding members of the Liberal Party, a short-lived pro-business political party which ultimately became a part of the United Democratic Party (UDP). Afterwards Young was interested in seeing Belize's development in academia and education, and after returning from England began trying to advance the nation in that regard. In the late 1980s Young became president of the University College of Belize, one of the five parent institutions of the University of Belize, and was one of its senior lecturers.[4]

He became involved in music, composing all manner of musical pieces from operas to cantatas to others. He published a series of books of and about Belizean literature, including Literature and Education in Belize, Creole Proverbs of Belize, From One Caribbean Corner and Caribbean Corner Calling, the last two containing poems in English and Belize Creole.[citation needed] Of these books, Creole Proverbs is his most recognised. In 1993, just before becoming Governor General, he published a book of short stories called Pataki Full, earning acclaim from the local writing community. His stories have been featured in the Belizean Writers Series in "Snapshots of Belize", and a play Riding Haas in the drama anthology Ping Wing Juk Me, also in the Series.[citation needed]

Governor-General of Belize (1993–2021)

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Viceregal styles of
Sir Colville Young
(1993–2021)
Reference styleHis Excellency
Spoken styleYour Excellency

Young became the Belizean governor-general shortly after the UDP under Esquivel regained power in the 1993 elections. He is the longest-serving governor-general of all time in the Commonwealth. Young is active in creating and maintaining relations with foreign dignitaries and countries. He was sworn into the Privy Council upon his assumption of office.[8][9] He is also active within the larger community in Belize, specifically in education and teacher training.[10]

In 2017, several fake and unauthorized Facebook profiles were created under the name "Colville Young". Citizens were warned not to interact with the profiles as all communication from the governor is shared by the Government of Belize Press Office.[11]

Young retired as Governor-General on 30 April 2021. Froyla Tzalam succeeded him as Governor-General on 27 May 2021.[12]

Personal life and interests

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Young is married to Lady (Norma) Young, née Trapp, and has three sons and a daughter.[13] He has three siblings.[14]

Sir Colville Young playing piano at BAY Back to School Fundraiser, 2014

Young has a stated interest in promoting the development of Belizean music.[15] Young has actively contributed to efforts in Belizean schools to maintain music as an educational staple.[14] Young's son, Colville Young Jr., is the director of the Belize National Youth Symphony. Currently Colville Young is working with founders of the Belize Virtuosi Orchestra, Joel Nagel and Peter Illavsky,[16] to raise funds to build a chamber orchestra auditorium in Belize.[17] Young established the Governor General's Music in the Schools Programme which works with partner abroad to expand music in schools and access to musical instruments.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BELIZE". World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  2. ^ Johnson, Lisa. "His Excellency Sir Colville Young Governor General of Belize". The Pelican (1: July –Dec 2006). Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  3. ^ "G.G. Colville Young Retires!". 30 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b East, Roger; Thomas, Richard (2003). Profiles of people in power: the world's government leaders. Routledge. pp. 52–53. ISBN 978-1-85743-126-1.
  5. ^ "Government House Antigua & Barbuda". governmenthouseab.org. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  6. ^ General Elections 1965, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
  7. ^ General Elections 1969 Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  8. ^ Administrator. "Belize prepares to receive Taiwanese President - The Guardian Newspaper". guardian.bz. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Sir Colville Young, Governor General of Belize, Leads a Delegation to Visit the Republic of China". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) 中華民國外交部 - 全球資訊網英文網. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Governor General Sir Colville Young holds workshop at SPHS, Belize News, San Pedro Sun". sanpedrosun.com. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Governor General warns of fake profiles". Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  12. ^ "PM Confirms Nomination of Froyla Tzalam as the next Governor General – Love FM | Belize News and Music Power". Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  13. ^ Brill Online, International Year Book and Statesmen's Who's Who, "Young, H.E. Sir Colville Norbert, G.C.M.G., M.B.E., Ph.D, J.P(S) - Brill Reference". Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Governor General of Belize | Belize's Most Visited Home Page". www.mybelize.net. Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Governor General honors local musicians and donates musical instruments to SPRCS". San Pedro Sun. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  16. ^ "News". Belize Virtuosi String Orchestra. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Joel Nagel and Peter Illavsky Collaborate to Create the Belize Virtuosi String Orchestra - Finally Good News". Finally Good News. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Governor General receives donation of musical instruments". Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
Government offices
Preceded by Governor General of Belize
1993–2021 		Succeeded by
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