National Symbols Bill Introduced to Protect and Standardize Belizean Icons

The Government of Belize introduced a Bill in today’s house meeting that would protect the country’s national symbols.  The bill, entitled, ‘National Symbols Bill, will copyright and protect the trademark of the flag, the black orchid, the tapir, the mahogany tree, the keel billed toucan, the national anthem and the national prayer.  Minister of Culture, Francis Fonseca, explained that the legislation does not seek to limit the use of any of these items, but rather it would standardize the ratio dimensions, colors and artwork of all symbols.  

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education: “It’s really about ensuring that we provide a legal framework that underpins these national symbols. Regulating the use of the national symbols, the national anthem, the national prayer, which is not the case currently. Indeed, the current state of the law is such that the government cannot restrict or prohibit the use of the nation’s coat of arms by any entity, whether local or foreign we’ve had a few examples, I’m sure others will recall where people are misusing our national coat of arms for all sorts of purposes. So as things stand, the only restriction on the use of our national symbols is if someone wanted to register it as its own. So that trademark copyright law is the only real protection we have. So in section 36, 1 of the Trademark Act, Chapter 257 of the Laws of Belize, that provides a restriction on the use of our national symbols. But again, as I said, that section only applies to circumstances where a party, somebody is actually trying to register one of those symbols in their name. So outside of that, there’s no restriction or prohibition on the use of the Belizean flag or other national symbols so that entities can use the flags really in any way they can so long as they’re not trying to register them. This we feel is an untenable state of affairs. There must be some regulatory structure in place for the use of our national symbols and the bill among other things Madam Speaker, the design, the description, the words, the lyrics of the national flag, very important, the lyrics, the national anthem, the prayer, the coat of arms, the national symbols are for the first time stautorily specified and declared as set out in the schedule to this bill. And very importantly, Madam Speaker, the regulation of the use of these is done by declaring that the copyright, copyright in the words, the music of the national anthem, which we sing so proudly, the design of the national flag, the national coat of arms, is vested in the state in perpetuity.”

Minister Fonseca went on to speak on the licensing aspect of this Bill, particularly for those who would use the symbols for commercial purposes.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education: “I want to make very clear that while there are licensing requirements, this will not impact our use of the flag and the symbols in the manner in which we do now. There will be no fees for example, no limits on how artists and creative people can use the flag and other symbols. But we do want businesses to get a one-time license, get a license and you have up to six months after the bill is passed to do so. We want to make sure that people understand that these are our national symbols. As much as we take pride in them, we also have an obligation together, a community obligation to make sure that we are safeguarding and protecting these national symbols.”

One part of the National Symbols Bill 2025 indicate that, ‘any person who mutilates, cuts or tears or in any way defaces the Coat of Arms or the National Flag, whether by writing, printing or stamping thereon or otherwise without lawful authority or excuse, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for one year.’  This Bill is being taken through all its stages at today’s house meeting.