Commonwealth country profile
Belize<br>This little known country is tucked in Central America, bordering Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. It forms part of the Commonwealth Caribbean.
Belize
This little known country is tucked in Central America, bordering Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. It forms part of the Commonwealth Caribbean.
The east coast is mostly flat with lagoons and mangrove swamps.
For 16-32km out to sea, the water is about five metres deep and a barrier reef (second in size only to Australia’s) stretches nearly 297km, with many tiny islands known as cays, inside.
Inland, the terrain rises with Victoria Peak (1,122m), the country’s highest point, in the Cockscomb range to the east and the heavily-forested Maya Mountains to the south-west.
Continuing north, the western (Cayo) district is also hilly, with the Mountain Pine Ridge. There are 17 principal rivers, navigable at best only by vessels of shallow draught.
With a population of only 287,730, English is the official language, but Spanish is spoken by over half the population. English Creole is widely understood. Other languages are Garifuna, Maya or Ketchi in the south. Most Belizeans are bilingual or trilingual.
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium AD. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981, the same year she joined the Commonwealth. Guatemala refused to recognise the new nation until 1992.
Although tourism has become the mainstay of Belize’s economy, it is predominantly agricultural, with heavy dependence on exports of sugar and citrus fruits. This makes Belize vulnerable to the volatility of the world market. Efforts have been made to diversify from traditional export products such as sugar and timber to bananas, seafood and fish products.
Forestry has been revitalised while tourism expanded to become a significant foreign currency earner. Since 1990, an export-processing zone has been developed near Belize City International Airport, mainly for clothing production.
Despite the industrial development, Belize faces high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade and an increase in urban crime. The timber activities have led to deforestation. Other environmental issues include water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural run-off and solid waste disposal.
Nevertheless, there is strong emphasis on conservation. By 1992, 18 national parks and reserves had been established, including the world’s only jaguar reserve.
Belize’s capital is Belmopan. The governor-general, Sir Colville Norbert Young Sr., represents Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.
Compiled by Elizabeth Agiro
This little known country is tucked in Central America, bordering Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. It forms part of the Commonwealth Caribbean.
The east coast is mostly flat with lagoons and mangrove swamps.
For 16-32km out to sea, the water is about five metres deep and a barrier reef (second in size only to Australia’s) stretches nearly 297km, with many tiny islands known as cays, inside.
Inland, the terrain rises with Victoria Peak (1,122m), the country’s highest point, in the Cockscomb range to the east and the heavily-forested Maya Mountains to the south-west.
Continuing north, the western (Cayo) district is also hilly, with the Mountain Pine Ridge. There are 17 principal rivers, navigable at best only by vessels of shallow draught.
With a population of only 287,730, English is the official language, but Spanish is spoken by over half the population. English Creole is widely understood. Other languages are Garifuna, Maya or Ketchi in the south. Most Belizeans are bilingual or trilingual.
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium AD. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981, the same year she joined the Commonwealth. Guatemala refused to recognise the new nation until 1992.
Although tourism has become the mainstay of Belize’s economy, it is predominantly agricultural, with heavy dependence on exports of sugar and citrus fruits. This makes Belize vulnerable to the volatility of the world market. Efforts have been made to diversify from traditional export products such as sugar and timber to bananas, seafood and fish products.
Forestry has been revitalised while tourism expanded to become a significant foreign currency earner. Since 1990, an export-processing zone has been developed near Belize City International Airport, mainly for clothing production.
Despite the industrial development, Belize faces high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade and an increase in urban crime. The timber activities have led to deforestation. Other environmental issues include water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural run-off and solid waste disposal.
Nevertheless, there is strong emphasis on conservation. By 1992, 18 national parks and reserves had been established, including the world’s only jaguar reserve.
Belize’s capital is Belmopan. The governor-general, Sir Colville Norbert Young Sr., represents Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.
Compiled by Elizabeth Agiro