Leroy Dayton Alvarez

Leroy Dayton Alvarez was born on June 25, 1972, in the beautiful coastal town of Dangriga, Belize. He is the fourth youngest of nine children born to Mrs. Ophelia Alvarez, a dedicated single mother, and Ernest Alvarez Sr. Growing up in humble circumstances, Leroy developed a strong work ethic and a commitment to academic excellence from an early age.
He attended Sacred Heart Primary School from 1977 to 1985, graduating with honours. He then furthered his education at Ecumenical High School, where he again graduated with honours on May 26, 1989. Leroy made a personal vow never to fail a class or semester, driven by the goal of securing a stable and well-paying job to support his mother a goal he proudly achieved.
Exactly three months after graduating from high school, on August 26, 1989, Leroy enlisted in the Belize Defence Force (BDF) at the age of 17. He served until May 2, 1992. During his time in the BDF, he demonstrated discipline and leadership, but a new opportunity soon emerged. After successfully passing two panel interviews outperforming over 100 applicants, he was selected for the post of Immigration Officer Grade II. Because he had signed a three-year contract with the BDF, Leroy was required to complete a Premature Voluntary Release (PVR) at a personal cost of over $1,500, having served 2 years and 9 months.
On May 4, 1992, Leroy began his long and distinguished career with the Immigration Department, starting at the Belize City Office. Over the course of his service, he worked at numerous locations across the country, including the Belize Western Border, Northern Border Station, Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), Belize City, Dangriga, Independence Village, and now San Pedro. In the early days, his duties included flying to San Pedro via Tropic Air to issue extensions, receiving a meal voucher for Elvi’s Kitchen, then valued at $27.50 and conducting outreach in Independence Village every Wednesday during 2001.
Leroy’s service in Immigration spans 33 years, and when combined with his BDF service, totals an impressive 36 years in government. His experience has made him a seasoned public officer, with a deep understanding of border control and national security operations.
In 2012, 28 years after graduating high school, Leroy chose to return to school, enrolling in the CJC Night Division while stationed in Corozal. Motivated by personal challenges, he channelled his energy into academic excellence. He credits his wife, Laidy Alvarez, whom he met in 2011, for being instrumental in his academic success. Together, they became proud parents to two sons, Caleb (born 2013) and Dainroy (born 2018).
Leroy graduated Magna Cum Laude from CJC in 2014, with a GPA of 3.74, his lowest semester GPA being 3.49. Over the course of two years, he earned over 22 academic awards, including several 1st and 2nd place subject awards. He ranked 1st in his class and 4th overall, combining both day and night divisions.
After a two-year break, he enrolled at the University of Belize in 2016. He studied at both the Belize City and Belmopan campuses, and took a study leave in 2018 to complete his Bachelor of Science in Business Management. He graduated in June 2019 at the Belize City Center, during what became the largest UB graduation ceremony prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leroy describes his journey in government as bittersweet, filled with both rewarding and challenging moments. Starting his career at such a young age has afforded him the unique honour of qualifying for the Public Service Walk of Recognition, reserved for officers who have served 35 years or more.
He most recently served as the Port Commander in Charge of the Immigration Department in Dangriga (2022–2025), and currently holds the position of Port Commander in Charge of San Pedro Immigration as of August 2025.
Now, at 53 years of age, Leroy prepares for his upcoming retirement with pride and gratitude. He remains deeply thankful to the Government of Belize for the opportunity to serve for nearly four decades. His legacy stands as a testament to resilience, consistency, and faith.
Leroy is a proud role model to his two sons and often shares words of encouragement:
“If you truly want to achieve a goal, put God first and never give up. (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:13). Add consistency and perseverance. If you think it, you can achieve it. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”