Briceño Administration Remains in Power as ‘Caretaker Government’

Following the dissolution of parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister John Briceño advised the Governor General to issue a writ for general elections. Statutory Instrument Number 24 of 2025 was issued, which set the countdown to March 12 in effect.

Briceño officially announced the election date alongside his cabinet and candidates on Tuesday, giving a brief recap of his government’s work over the past four years and urging Belize for a renewal of their electoral mandate.

But what happens to the powers of the executive branch during this period? Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre told reporters that the current administration will operate under a “caretaker government” status, as outlined in section 84 of Belize’s constitution. Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre explained that the executive branch—comprising the Prime Minister and other ministers—will continue in power until a new prime minister is appointed post-elections.

He said that Belize’s constitution “makes provisions that the ministers and ministers of state continue to act. You need to have a government that ensures that national security issues, and other issues, that those are being addressed. In the interim, we are a caretaker government at the time.”