Froyla Tzalam

Dame Froyla Tzalam is a Belizean Mopan Maya anthropologist and community leader, who has served as the third governor-general of Belize since 27 May 2021.

She is the first indigenous person of Maya descent to serve as governor-general of any country in the history of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Education

Tzalam is from the village of San Antonio, Toledo. She graduated with a BA in Anthropology from Trinity University, Texas. This was followed by a MA in Rural Development from University of Sussex.

Career

She was the executive director of the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM).

Tzalam was shortlisted for nomination to the Senate in January 2017, but declined in order to concentrate on her work with SATIIM.

Governor-General of Belize

It was announced on 22 April 2021 by Prime Minister of Belize John Briceno that she was nominated to be the next Governor-General of Belize following the retirement of Sir Colville Young. She is the third Governor-General and the second woman appointed to the role.

On 21 March 2022, she was invested as a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge on behalf of Elizabeth II, Queen of Belize, during the Platinum Jubilee royal tour of Belize.

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