The first form of Local Government in the pre-colonial period of Belize were those practiced by the Mayans. The system practice by the Mayans were integrated with the Spanish governance approach which led to the Alcalde System. The village council system began around 1949 in Gales Point and 1951 in the Corozal district after hurricane Janet; as means of helping with relief and reconstruction. This system was informal with no legal framework. The process to formalize the system started in 1991 and it was not until 1999 that the Village Councils Act came into being.