Brittney Galvez, A Voice for Women and Youth in Parliament

Among Prime Minister John Briceño’s Senate appointments is the youngest woman parliamentarian for this new term, thirty-year-old Brittney Galvez, from Belize City. With an Associates Degree in Biology, Bachelors in Psychology with First Class Honors from UWI Global Campus and her pursuit to obtain a  Master of Art in Public Health, she has been actively involved in various People’s United Party and women’s organizations. Galvez, an avid lover of the arts, is now channeling her experiences and knowledge from the past three decades to serve her country as a senator. In honor of Women’s Month, News Five’s Paul Lopez explores the journey that led Galvez to this remarkable achievement. Here’s the report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

At just nine years old, Brittney Galvez faced the heartbreaking loss of her mother. Her father stepped up to raise her and her four siblings. Tragically, at fourteen, she lost her brother to gun violence. Despite these hardships, Galvez has also experienced triumph. She began serving her country through the People’s United Party’s youth arm, the Belize Youth Movement. She was later elected to the Caribbean Women in Leadership Organization and became a member of the United Women’s Group. As the Program Coordinator in the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children, Brittney Galvez has now been appointed as a government senator in parliament, making her the youngest woman parliamentarian.

 

Brittney Galvez, Government Senator

“My dad was the one who really instilled in me leadership and to lead like a girl and to not compromise who you are to become something. With BYM a lot of our work was to inspire youths, especially with voting, because we find that a lot of times are not ones to go out and vote, but from a young age I was always interested in exercising that right, as I turned eighteen, I registered to vote. And yes I am young but I am determined, driven, passionate and I come with a  very love for my country. I have always been someone who think about what I can do to better Belize.”

 

Beyond her passion for service, Galvez thrives in the creative realm. She’s a talented visual artist, crafting vibrant and realistic pieces that celebrate Belize’s natural wonders. Galvez is also a poet, adding another layer to her artistic expression. In a poem entitled, This One Is For the Girls, she wrote, “Look at the girls in your life, tell em what you see. Do you see the girl, the child, or the woman to be? Or do you see the challenges she must endure, from bullying, sexual harassment, to so much more?”. In another piece titled Who Would They Become, she wrote, “And so we can never forget their names, as we must honor Dwayne, Laddie and so many others by making a change”.

 

Brittney Galvez

“I commend the government, I commend Prime Minister Honorable John Briceno for this appointment, because this is not just about me, this is about youths and women all over this country. Having this appointment is not just a personal achievement. It is an achievement for everyone to be able to see me there as a youth, other youths and women can now envision that as well. What can be expected is that I will carry the spirit of youth from all across the country in my roll. This is not just about me, this is about all of us and I am committed to serve my country in this roll.”

 

While Galvez views her appointment as a victory for women and youth across the country, we asked if she sees it as a steppingstone to greater political aspirations. She admits she hasn’t given it much thought. But is Galvez ready for the challenges of being a parliamentarian—the personal attacks, intimidation tactics, and the constant pressure to align with the party’s stance?

 

Brittney Galvez

“For me I have always been a positive person, so like what Michelle Obama says, when they go low we go high. So that is what I am committed to doing. I am someone who believes in being respectful, honest and spreading positivity. I am not about the negative.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez