Belize

src: www.cahalpech.com

Belize ( Ã, ( listen ) ), formerly of British Honduras, is an independent commonwealth region on the east coast of Central America. Belize is bordered to the north by Mexico, to the south and west by Guatemala, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. The land area is about 290 km (180 miles) wide and 110 km (68 mi).

Belize has an area of ​​22,800 square kilometers (8,800 sq mi) and a population of 387,879 (2017). It has the lowest population density in Central America. The population growth rate of the country of 1.87% per year (2015) is the second highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere.

The abundance of terrestrial and marine species of Belize and its diversity of ecosystems give it an important place in the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.

Belize has a diverse society, made up of many cultures and languages ​​reflecting its rich history. English is the official language of Belize, while Belizean Creole is an unofficial native language. More than half the population is multilingual, with Spain becoming the second most common spoken language.

Belize is considered a Central American and Caribbean country with strong ties to both Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Latin American Community and Caribbean Countries (CELAC), and the Central American Integration System (SICA), the only country that has full membership in all three regional organizations. Belize is the domain of the Commonwealth, with Queen Elizabeth II as the monarch and head of state.

Belize is known for the September Celebration, a vast coral reef barrier and punta music.

Video Belize

Etimologi

The original name of Belize is Honduras UK. The earliest known records of the name "Belize" appear in the journal Dominican priest Fray JosÃÆ'Â © Delgado, dating from 1677. Delgado recorded the names of the three great rivers that he passed while traveling north along the Caribbean coast: Rio Soyte , Rio Xibum and Rio Balis. The names of these waterways, which correspond to the Sittee River, Sibun River and Belize River, are given to Delgado by their translators. It is very likely that Delgado's "balis" is actually the Maya word beli (or beliz ), which means "muddy-mud".

Some suggested that the name was derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the buffer of Peter Wallace, who founded settlements at the mouth of the Belize River in 1638. There is no evidence that Wallace settled in this area and some scholars have been characterized. claim this as a myth. Authors and historians have suggested some other possible etymologies, including postulated French and African origin.

Maps Belize

History

Initial history

The Maya civilization emerged at least three millennia ago in the lowlands of the YucatÃÆ'¡n Peninsula and the southern highlands, in what is now southeastern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and western Honduras. Many aspects of this culture survive in the area despite nearly 500 years of European dominance. Before about 2500 BC, several hunting and feeding bands settled in small farm villages; they then cultivate crops such as corn, beans, pumpkin, and chili.

Various languages ​​and subcultures develop in the Maya core culture. Between about 2500 BC and 250 AD, the basic institutions of Mayan civilization emerged. The peak of this civilization occurred during the classical period, which began around 250 AD.

Civilization of Maya

The Maya civilization is scattered in what is now Belize around 1500 BC, and grew there until about 900 AD. The historical record of the central and southern regions is dominated by Caracol, the city's political center that may have supported more than 140,000 people. In the north of the Maya Mountains, the most important political center is Lamanai. At the end of the Classical Era of Mayan civilization (600-1000 AD), as many as 1 million people may have lived in the area that is now Belize.

When the Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century, the area that is now Belize belongs to three different Maya regions: the Chetumal province, which covers the area around the Corozal Bay; Dzuluinicob Province, which covers the area between New River and Sibun River, west to Tipu; and a southern region controlled by Manche Ch'ol Maya, covering the area between the Monkey River and the Sarstoon River.

h3>

The Spanish conquerors explored the land and declared it a Spanish colony but chose not to settle and thrive due to a lack of resources and hostile Indian tribes from YucatÃÆ'¡n.

British and Scottish settlers and pirates known as Baymen entered the area from the 17th century, with Baymen first settling on what is now Belize beach in 1638, seeking protected areas from which they could attack Spanish ships (i) see residential English in Belize) . The settlers established trading colonies and ports in the area that became Belize District, and during the 18th century, established a system using black slaves to cut down logwood trees (Haematoxylum campechianum ). This produces a valuable bonding agent for clothing dye, and is one of the first ways to achieve black quickly before the appearance of artificial coloring. Spain gave British settlers the right to occupy the area and cut logs in return for their help in suppressing piracy.

Britain first appointed a superintendent over the Belize region in 1786. Before that the British government did not recognize the settlement as a colony for fear of provoking a Spanish attack. The delay in government oversight allows the settlers to establish their own laws and forms of government. During this period, several settlers who succeeded in controlling the local legislature, known as the Public Meeting, as well as most of the land and timber settlements.

Battle of St. George's Caye is a military battle in 1798 off the coast of Belize between the Spanish fleet that attacked and small power Baymen and their slaves. From 3 to 5 September, the Spaniards tried to force their way through swarms of Montego Caye, but was blocked by the defenders. Spain last attempt occurred on Sept. 10, when Baymen repelling the Spanish fleet in a short engagement with no known casualties on both sides. Anniversary of the battle is a national holiday in Belize and is celebrated to commemorate the "people first Belize" and the defense of their territory.

As part of the British Empire (1862-1981)

At the beginning of the 19th century, Britain sought to reform the settlers, threatening to postpone the General Assembly unless observing government instructions to eliminate slavery directly. After generations of disputes, slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833, As a result of their slave abilities in mahogic extraction work, owners in British Honduras were compensated at £ 53.69 per average slave, the highest amount paid in any British territory.

However, the end of slavery did not change much of the working conditions of previous slaves if they continued to trade. A series of institutions limits the ability of individuals to purchase land, in a debt-peonage system. Former mahogany or "extra special" logging reinforces an early assumption about the capacity (and consequently limitations) of African-American people in the colony. Because the small elite controls the land and settlement trade, former slaves have little choice but to continue working in logging.

In 1836, after the emancipation of Central America from the Spanish government, the British claimed the right to administer the territory. In 1862, Britain officially declared it a British Crown Colony, a subordinate to Jamaica, and named it Honduras of England.

As a colony, Belize began to attract British investors. Among the British companies that dominated the colony in the late nineteenth century was the Belize Plantation and Production Company, which eventually acquired half of all privately owned land and ultimately eliminated peonase. The influence of Belize Estate effects is partly for colony dependence on the trade of mahogany throughout the rest of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.

The Great Depression of the 1930s led to the collapse of the colony economy as the demand for British timber dropped dramatically. The effects of widespread unemployment were exacerbated by the severe storm that hit the colony in 1931. The perception of inadequate government assistance efforts was exacerbated by his refusal to legalize trade unions or introduce minimum wages. The economic conditions improved during World War II as many Belize men entered the armed forces or contributed to the war effort.

After the war, the colonial economy stagnated. The British decision to devalue the British Honduras dollar in 1949 exacerbated the economic conditions and led to the formation of the People's Committee, which demanded independence. Substitute of the People's Committee, the United People's Party (PUP), seeks constitutional reform that broadens the voting rights for all adults. The first election under universal suffrage was held in 1954 and was convincingly won by the PUP, beginning a three-decade period in which the PUP dominated state politics. Pro-independence activist George Cadle Price became the leader of the PUP in 1956 and the head of an effective government in 1961, a position he would hold under various titles until 1984.

Under the new constitution Britain bestowed the self-government of the British Honduras in 1964. On June 1, 1973, the British Honduras officially renamed Belize. Progress towards independence, however, was hampered by Guatemala's claim to sovereignty over the Belize region.

Independent Belize (since 1981)

Belize was granted independence on 21 September 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new country because of its long-standing territorial dispute with the British colonies, claiming that Belize belonged to Guatemala. About 1,500 British troops remain in Belize to prevent possible attacks.

With the Price at the helm, the PUP won all national elections until 1984. In the election, the first national elections after independence, the PUP was defeated by the United Democratic Party (UDP). UDP leader Manuel Esquivel replaces Price as prime minister, with Price himself unexpectedly losing his own home seat to UDP challenger. PUP under Price returned to power after elections in 1989. The following year the United Kingdom announced that it would end its military involvement in Belize, and the release of the RAF Harrier was withdrawn in the same year, having remained in this country continuously since its placement has become permanent there in 1980. The British troops were withdrawn in 1994, but the British left a military training unit to help the newly created Belize Defense Force.

UDP regained power in the 1993 national elections, and Esquivel became the second prime minister. Soon afterwards Esquivel announced the suspension of a pact reached with Guatemala during Price's term, claiming Price had made too many concessions to gain Guatemalan recognition. The pact may have restricted 130-year-old border row between the two countries. Border tensions continued into the early 2000s, although both countries worked together in other fields.

The PUP won a landslide victory in the 1998 national elections, and PUP leader Said Musa was sworn in as prime minister. In the 2003 elections, PUP retained the majority, and Moses continued as prime minister. He promised to improve conditions in the backward and largely inaccessible parts of Belize.

In 2005, Belize was the place of anxiety caused by dissatisfaction with the PUP government, including tax increases in the national budget. On February 8, 2008, Dean Barrow was sworn in as prime minister after UDP won in the general elections. Barrow and UDP were re-elected in 2012 with a much smaller majority.

Throughout the history of Belize, Guatemala claims to have all or part of the Belize region. These claims are sometimes reflected in maps made by the Guatemalan government, which shows Belize as twenty-three departments of Guatemala. Until 2016, the border dispute with Guatemala remains unresolved and quite controversial. Guatemala's claim to the Belize region lies, in part, to Clause VII of the Anglo-Guatemalan Treaty of 1859, which requires the British to build a road between Belize City and Guatemala. On various occasions, the issue requires mediation by the United Kingdom, the heads of the Caribbean Community, the Organization of American States (OAS), Mexico, and the United States. In particular, both Guatemala and Belize participate in trust-building measures approved by the OAS such as the Guatemalan-Belize Exchange Project.

src: www.belizehub.com

Government and politics

Belize is the constitutional monarchy of parliament. The structure of government is based on the British parliamentary system, and the legal system is modeled on English common law. The head of the symbolic state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Queen of Belize. The queen lives in England, and is represented in Belize by the Governor-General. The executive authority is exercised by the cabinet, which advises the Governor-General and is headed by the Prime Minister of Belize, who is the head of government. Cabinet ministers are members of the majority political party in parliament and usually hold the elected seats in it along with their cabinet positions.

The Belize National Bicameral Assembly consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. 31 popular members of the House are elected for a maximum five-year term and introduce laws affecting the development of Belize. The Governor-General appoints 12 members of the Senate, with a Senate president elected by the members. The Senate is responsible for debating and approving the bill passed by Parliament.

The legislative powers are in the hands of the government and Parliament of Belize. Constitutional protection includes freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. An independent judiciary of the executive and legislature.

Independent judicial members are appointed. The judicial system includes local judges grouped under the Magistrates Court, who hear less serious cases. The Supreme Court (Supreme Court Justice) hears murder and cases that are just as serious, and the Court of Appeal, hears the requests of the convicts who seek to have their sentences canceled. The accused may, in certain circumstances, appeal their case to the Caribbean Justice Tribunal.

Political culture

Since 1974, the party system in Belize has been dominated by the center-left American People's Party and the center-right American Democratic Party, although there are other smaller parties that have participated at all levels of the election in the past. Although no small political party has ever won significant seats and/or offices, their challenges have grown over the years.

Foreign relations

Belize is a full member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Organization of American States (OAS), Central American Integration System (SICA), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), Association of State- The Caribbean States (ACS), and the Caribbean Justice Court (CCJ), which currently serves as the last court of appeal only to Barbados, Belize and Guyana. In 2001, the heads of government of the Caribbean Society voted in a statement stating that the territory should work to replace the British Judiciary Committee of the Advisory Council with Caribbean Courts of Justice. It is still in the process of accessing CARICOM and SICA agreements, including single trade and market agreements.

Belize is an original member (1995) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and actively participates in its work. This pact involves the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) sub group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP). CARIFORUM is currently the only part of the broader ACP block that has completed a regional trade pact with the European Union.

Armed forces

The Belize Defense Force (BDF) functions as a state military and is responsible for protecting Belize sovereignty. BDF, with the Belize National Coast Guard and Immigration Department, is the Department of Defense and Immigration department. In 1997 the regular army numbered more than 900, 381 reserve soldiers, 45 air wings and 36 maritime wings, totaling an overall strength of about 1400. In 2005, the maritime wing became part of the Belize Coast Guard. In 2012, the Belize government spends about $ 17 million for the military, which is 1.08% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

After Belize reached independence in 1981, the United Kingdom maintained the deterrent force (British Belize British Army) in the country to protect it from invasion by Guatemala (see Guatemala's claims over the Belize region). During the 1980s this included battalions and No. 1417 RAF of Harriers. The main British troops left in 1994, three years after Guatemala recognized the independence of Belize, but the United Kingdom maintained a training presence through the British Army and Belize Support Unit (BATSUB) and 25 AAC flights until 2011 when the last British troops left the Ladyville Barracks, with the exception of a seconded advisor.

Administrative division

Belize is divided into six districts.

These districts are subdivided into 31 constituents. The local government in Belize consists of four types of local authorities: city council, city council, village council and community council. Two city councils (Belize City and Belmopan) and seven city councils cover the city's urban population, while village councils and communities cover the rural population.

src: www.yellowdogflyfishing.com

Geography

Belize is on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America. It shares the border in the north with the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, to the west with the Guatemalan department PetÃÆ'Â © n, and in the south with the Guatemalan department of Izabal. To the east in the Caribbean Sea, the second longest barrier reef in the world flanking many of 386 kilometers (240 miles) of swamp-dominated beaches. The country's territory totals 22,960 square kilometers (8,865 square meters), an area slightly larger than El Salvador, Israel, New Jersey or Wales. Many lagoons along the coast and in the northern hinterland reduce the actual land area to 21,400 square kilometers (8,263 square meters).

Belize is shaped like a rectangle extending about 280 kilometers (174 miles) north-south and about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east-west, with a total land length of 516 kilometers (321 mi). The two undulating river courses, Hondo and the Sarstoon River, define many things from the northern and southern border of the country. The western border does not follow natural features and runs north-south through lowland forests and highland plateau.

The northern part of Belize consists mostly of flat and swampy coastal plains, in heavily forested places. Flora is very diverse considering the small geographical area. The southern part contains the low mountains of the Maya Mountains. The highest point in Belize is Doyle's Delight at 1,124 m (3,688 ft).

Rough geography of Belize also makes the coastline and forest of the country attractive to drug smugglers, who use the country as a gateway to Mexico. In 2011, the United States added Belize to the list of countries that are considered major pharmaceutical manufacturers or transit countries for narcotics.

Environmental preservation and biodiversity

Belize is a country with diverse wildlife, because of its unique position between North and South America, and various climates and habitats for plant and animal life. The low human population in Belize and about 22,970 square kilometers (8,867 square meters) of un-distributed land make it an ideal home for over 5,000 plant species, and hundreds of animal species, including armadillos, snakes and monkeys.

The Cockscomb Basin Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in central-south Belize that was established to protect the forest, fauna and watercourses of approximately 400 km ² (150 m²) on the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains.. This reserve was established in 1990 as the first wilderness refuge for jaguar and is considered by one author as the main site for the preservation of jaguar in the world.

Vegetation and flora

While more than 60% of the land surface of Belize is covered by forests, about 20% of the country's land is covered by agricultural land (agriculture) and human settlements. Savanna, scrubland and wetlands are the remains of Belize land cover. Important mangrove ecosystems are also represented in the Belize landscape. As part of a significant global Mesoamerican Biological Corridor stretching from southern Mexico to Panama, Belize's biodiversity - both marine and terrestrial - is rich, with abundant flora and fauna.

Belize is also a leader in protecting biodiversity and natural resources. According to the World Database on Protected Areas, 37% of Belize's land area is under a form of official protection, giving Belize one of the most extensive protected terrestrial systems in America. In contrast, Costa Rica has only 27% of its protected land area.

Approximately 13.6% of Belize's territorial waters, containing Belize Barrier Reef, are also protected. Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO recognized World Heritage Site and is the second largest barrier reef in the world, behind Great Barrier Reef Australia.

A remote sensing study conducted by the Center for Tropical Tropical Water in Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) and NASA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry and Land Information Center (LIC) from the Belize and Environment Ministry of Natural Resources (MNRE) government, and published in August 2010 revealed that the forest cover of Belize in early 2010 was approximately 62.7%, down from 75.9% at the end of 1980. Similar research by Belize Tropical Forest Studies and Conservation International revealed a similar trend in terms of the Belize forest cover. Both studies show that every year, 0.6% of Belize forest cover disappears, translating to an average opening of 24,835 hectares (10,050 ha) annually. The USAID-supported ERVIR study by CATHALAC, NASA, and MNRE also shows that the Belize protected area is very effective in protecting state forests. While only about 6.4% of forests within legally-stated protected areas opened between 1980 and 2010, more than a quarter of the forest outside protected areas disappeared between 1980 and 2010.

As a country with relatively high forest cover and low deforestation rates, Belize has significant potential to participate in initiatives such as REDD. Significantly, the SERVIR study on deforestation of Belize is also recognized by the Earth Observation Group (GEO), where Belize is a member country.

Geology, mineral potential, and energy

Belize is known to have a number of important minerals economically, but does not exist in large enough quantities to guarantee mining. These minerals include dolomite, barite (barium source), bauxite (aluminum source), kasiterite (lead source), and gold. In 1990 limestone, used in road construction, was the only mineral resource exploited for domestic or export use.

In 2006, newly discovered crude oil planting in the Spanish city Lookout has presented new prospects and problems for this developing country.

Belize Barrier Reef

The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs stretching on Belize beach, about 300 meters (980 ft) off the north coast and 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the country border. The Belize Barrier Reef is 300 km (190Ã,) long length of 900 kilometers (560Ã mi) long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, continuously from CancÃÆ'ºn at the northeast end of the Yucatán Peninsula through the Riviera Maya to Honduras making it one of the reef systems the largest coral in the world.

This is Belize's main tourist destination, popular for scuba diving and snorkeling, and attracts nearly half of its 260,000 visitors. This is also important for the fishing industry. In 1842, Charles Darwin described it as "the most extraordinary rock in the West Indies".

Belize Barrier Reef was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996 because of its vulnerability and the fact that it contains important natural habitats for the conservation of in-situ biodiversity.

Species

Belize Barrier Reef is home to a huge diversity of plants and animals, and is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world:

• 70 species of hard coral
• 36 species of soft coral
• 500 fish species
• hundreds of invertebrate species

With 90% of coral still under study, some estimate that only 10% of all species have been found.

Preservation

Belize became the first country in the world to actually ban basic trawlers in December 2010. In December 2015, Belize banned offshore oil drilling within 1 km (0.6 m) of the Barrier Reef and all of the 7 World Heritage sites.

Despite these protective measures, corals remain under threat of ocean pollution as well as uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. Other threats include hurricanes, along with global warming and rising ocean temperatures, leading to coral bleaching. It is claimed by scientists that more than 40% of the Belize reefs have been damaged since 1998.

Climate

Belize has a tropical climate with clear wet and dry seasons, although there are significant variations in weather patterns by region. Temperatures vary according to altitude, proximity to the coast, and the moderating effects of northeast trade winds loose from the Caribbean. Average coastal temperatures range from 24 ° C (75.2 ° F) in January to 27 ° C (80.6 ° F) in July. Temperatures are slightly higher in the interior, except for the high plateau in the south, such as Mountain Pine Ridge, where it feels cooler throughout the year. Overall, seasons are marked more by differences in humidity and precipitation than temperature.

Average rainfall varies considerably, from 1,350 mm (53.1 inches) in the north and west to more than 4,500 mm (177.2 in) in the southern most. Seasonal differences in rainfall are the largest in the north and central regions of the country where, between January and April or May, less than 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rainfall per month. The dry season is shorter in the south, usually only lasting from February to April. Shorter periods, less rain, known locally as "slightly dry", usually occur in late July or August, after the start of the rainy season.

Hurricanes have played a key role - and devastating - in the history of Belize. In 1931, an unnamed storm destroyed more than two-thirds of buildings in Belize City and killed more than 1,000 people. In 1955, Hurricane Janet conquered the northern city of Corozal. Just six years later, Hurricane Hattie hit the country's central coastline, with winds of more than 300 km/h (186 mph) and a tidal wave of 4 m (13.1 ft). The destruction of Belize City for the second time in thirty years prompted the relocation of the capital about 80 kilometers (50 miles) inland into the planned city of Belmopan.

In 1978, Hurricane Greta caused more than US $ 25 million of damage along the southern coast. On October 9, 2001, Hurricane Iris made landfall at Monkey River Town as a Category Four storm along 233 km/h (145 mph). The storm destroyed most of the houses in the village, and destroyed banana plants. In 2007, Hurricane Dean made the landing as a Category 5 storm only 40 km (25 mi) north of the Belize-Mexico border. Dean caused great damage in northern Belize.

In 2010, Belize was directly affected by Category 2 Hurricane Richard, which made landfall about 32 km (20 mi) south-southeast of Belize City at around 00:45 UTC on October 25, 2010. The storm moved inland towards Belmopan, causing Damage estimates BZ $ 33.8 million ($ 17.4 million USD 2010), mainly from crop and housing damage.

The most recent storm affecting this nation is Hurricane Earl 2016.

src: brightcove04pmdo-a.akamaihd.net

Economy

Belize has a small, largely private company economy that is primarily based on exports of petroleum and crude oil, agriculture, agro-based industries, and trade, with tourism and construction recently having greater importance. In 2007, oil production was 3,000 bbl/d (480 m ³ /d) and in 2006 oil exports were 1,960 bbl/d (312 m ³ /d). The country is also an industrial minerals producer. In agriculture, sugar, as in colonial times, remains a major crop, accounting for almost half of exports, while the banana industry is the largest company.

Belize's new government faces an important challenge to economic stability. Rapid action to increase tax collection has been promised, but the lack of progress in curbing spending can bring the exchange rate under pressure. The tourism and construction sectors rose in early 1999, leading to an initial forecast of revived growth of 4%. Infrastructure remains a major economic development challenge; Belize has the most expensive electricity in the region. Trade is important and its main trading partners are the United States, Mexico, the European Union and Central America.

Belize has five commercial banks, the largest and the oldest is Belize Bank. The other four banks are Heritage Bank, Atlantic Bank, FirstCaribbean International Bank, and Scotiabank (Belize). A strong and complex credit union began in 1940 under the leadership of Marion M. Ganey, S.J., and is an ongoing source for the improvement of society across economic and cultural lines.

Belize is located on the coast of Central America. Based on its location, this place is considered a wonderful vacation destination. However, also because of its location, it is now becoming famous in the global arena to attract many drug trafficking entities in North America. Belize currency is pegged to US dollars. It persuades drug traffickers and money launders who want to capitalize on their current economic system. In addition, Belize also offers non-resident the ability to create accounts abroad. Because of this gap, it is desirable for many drug traffickers and money launders to use Belize as a money laundering banking entity. As a result, the US Department of State has recently named Belize as one of the world's largest "money laundering states". 2016 World Fact Book of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States

Industrial Infrastructure

The largest integrated electrical utility and major distributor in Belize is Belize Electricity Limited. BEL is approximately 70% owned by Fortis Inc., a Canadian investor's distribution utility, representing less than 2% of Fortis assets. Fortis took over the management of BEL in 1999, at the invitation of the Belize government in an effort to reduce previous financial problems in locally managed utilities. In addition to investments set up at BEL, Fortis owns Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL), a non-regulated hydroelectric power plant operating three hydroelectric facilities in the Macal River.

On 14 June 2011, the government of Belize nationalized majority ownership of Fortis Inc. in Belize Electricity Ltd. The Belize Company faced serious financial problems after the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) in 2008 did not allow "the recovery of previously spent fuel and buy electricity charges at the customer level and set customer rates at a level that does not allow BEL to get a fair and reasonable return ", Fortis said in a statement in June 2011. BEL appealed this ruling to the Court of Appeals; however, the hearing is not expected until 2012. In May 2011, the Supreme Court of Belize granted BEL petition to prevent PUC from taking law enforcement action pending an appeal. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement saying that the government was acting in a hurry and expressed concern over messages it sent to investors.

In August 2009, the government of Belize nationalized Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), which now competes directly with Speednet. As a result of the nationalization process, interconnection agreements once again have to negotiate. Both BTL and Speednet boast a wide range of products and services including basic telephone services, national and international calls, pre-paid services, mobile services via GSM 1900 megahertz (MHz) and 3G CDMA 2000, international roaming mobile, fixed wireless, dial-up and internet, high-speed DSL, internet services, and national and international data networks.

Tourism

The combination of natural-climate factor, Belize Barrier Reef, over 450 off the coast of Cays (islands), excellent fishing, safe waters for boating, scuba diving and snorkeling, lots of rafting, kayaking rivers, various forests and asylum wildlife from fauna and flora, to hiking, bird watching, and helicopter tours, as well as many Mayan sites - supporting the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry. It also has the largest cave system in Central America.

Development costs are high, but the Belize government makes tourism a second priority after agriculture. In 2012, the number of tourist arrivals reached 917,869 (with about 584,683 from the United States) and tourist receipts totaled more than $ 1.3 billion.

Transportation

src: www.vivabelize.com

Society

Demographics

The population of Belize is estimated to be 360,346 in 2017. Belize's total fertility rate in 2009 was 3.6 children per woman. Her birthrate was 27.33 births/1000 residents, and the mortality rate was 5.8 deaths/1.000 inhabitants. Substantial ethnic-demographic shifts have occurred since 1980 when the Kreoles/Mestizo ratio has shifted from 58/48 to now on 26/53, with Creoles moving to US and Mestizo-born levels and entering from El Salvador. Woods, Composition and Distribution of Ethnic Groups in Belize 1997

Ethnic group

Maya

The Maya tribe is thought to be in Belize and the Yucatonia region since the second millennium BC; However, most of the indigenous people of Belize in Maya are erased by the conflict between the warring tribes. There are some who died of disease after contact and invasion by Europeans. The three Maya groups now inhabit the country: Yucatec (originally from YucatÃÆ'¡n, Mexico, to escape the fierce Caste War of the 1840s), Mopan (indigenous Belize but forced out of Guatemala by the British for raiding settlements; Belize to avoid slavery by Guatemalans in the 19th century), and Q'eqchi '(also escaped from slavery in Guatemala in the 19th century). The latter group is mainly found in the Toledo District.

Creoles

Creole, also known as Kriols , makes up about 21% of the population of Belize and about 75% of the diaspora. They are descendants of Baymen slave owners, and slaves are brought to Belize for the purpose of the logging industry. These slaves are ultimately of West and Central African descent (many are also Miskito descendants of Nicaragua) and African-borns who have spent a very short period in Jamaica and Bermuda. The inhabitants of Bay Island and ethnic Jamaicans came at the end of the 19th century, further increasing the already varied population, creating this ethnic group.

For all intents and purposes, Creole is a ethnic and language denomination. Some natives, even with blond hair and blue eyes, might call themselves Creole.

Belize Creole English or Kriol developed during the period of slavery, and historically only spoken by ex-slaves. However, this ethnicity has become an integral part of Belize's identity, and as a result is now spoken by about 45% of people of Belize. Belizean Creole comes primarily from English. The substrate language is Native American Miskito, and various West African languages ​​and Bantu are brought to the country by slaves. Creole is found throughout Belize, but mainly in urban areas such as Belize City, coastal towns and villages, and in the Belize River Valley.

Garinagu

The Garinagu (single Garifuna ), about 4.5% of the population, is a mixture of West Africa/Central, Arawak, and ancestral islands. Although the prisoners were removed from their homeland, these men were never documented as slaves. The two theories apply is that, in 1635, they were one of the survivors of two recorded wrecks or somehow taken over the ship they were traveling to.

Throughout history they have been wrongly labeled as Black Caribs. When the British took over the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines after the Treaty of Paris in 1763, they were opposed by French settlers and their Garinagu allies. Garinagu finally surrendered to England in 1796. Britain separated Garifunas who look more African than the more native. 5,000 Garinagu were exiled from the island of Grenadine, Baliceaux. However, only about 2,500 of them survived the voyage to RoatÃÆ'¡n, an island off the coast of Honduras. The Garifuna language belongs to the Arawakan family, but has a large number of loan words from the Carib language and from English.

Because RoatÃÆ'¡n is too small and infertile to support their population, Garinagu petitioned the Spanish authorities of Honduras to be allowed to settle on the coast of the mainland. The Spaniards employed them as soldiers, and they spread along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The Garinagu settled in Seine Bight, Punta Gorda and Punta Negra, Belize, by way of Honduras in early 1802. However, in Belize, 19 November 1832 was the official date recognized as "Garifuna Settlement Day" in Dangriga.

According to one genetic study, their ancestors averaged 76% Sub Saharan Africa, 20% Arawak/Karib Island and 4% Europe.

Mestizos

The Mestizo culture is a mix of Spanish and Maya descent. They originally came to Belize in 1847, to flee the Caste War, which occurred when thousands of Mayans rose up against the state in Yucatán and massacred over a third of the population. The other survivors fled across the border into the British territory. Mestizo is found everywhere in Belize but most make their homes in the northern districts of Corozal and Orange Walk. Mestizo is the largest ethnic group in Belize and is half of the population. Downtown Mestizo is in the main square, and social life focuses on the Catholic Church built on one side. Spanish is the main language most of the descendants of Mestizos and Spanish, but many speak English and Belize Kriol smoothly. Due to the influence of Kriol and English, many Mestizos speak with what is known as the "Spanish Kitchen". The mixture of Latin and Mayan foods such as tamales, escabeche, chirmole, relleno, and empanada comes from the Mexican side and the corn tortillas are lowered by their Mayan side. Music mainly comes from marimba, but they also play and sing with guitar. Dances are performed at village parties including Hog-Head, Zapateados, Mestizada, Paso Doble and more.

German-speaking mennonites

About 4% of the population are farmers and Mennonite-speaking craftsmen in German. Mostly called the German Mennonites of German descent who settled in the Russian Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries. Most Mennonite Russians lived in Mennonite settlements such as Spanish Lookout, Shipyard, Little Belize, and Blue Creek. The Mennonites speak with the Plautdietsch (German dialect) in everyday life, but most use German Standard for reading (the Bible) and writing. The Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites came mostly from Mexico in the years after 1958. There were also mostly Old German-speaking interpreters from the United States and Canada in the late 1960s. They live mainly in Upper Barton Creek and related settlements. The Mennonites attracted people from different Anabaptist backgrounds who formed a new community. They look very similar to the Old Order of the Amish, but are different from them.

Other groups

The remaining 5% or more of the population consists of a mixture of Indians, Chinese, White from the United States and Canada, and many other foreign groups are brought in to assist the country's development. During the 1860s, large East Indian waves that spent a short time in Jamaica and American Civil War veterans from Louisiana and other Southern states established Confederate settlements in British Honduras and introduced commercial sugarcane production to the colony, building 11 settlements in the interior. The 20th century saw the arrival of more Asian settlers from mainland China, South Korea, India, Syria, and Lebanon. Said Musa, the son of an immigrant from Palestine, was the Prime Minister of Belize from 1998 to 2008. Central American immigrants and American and African expatriates also settled in the country.

Emigration, immigration, and demographic shifts

Creoles and other ethnic groups mostly emigrate to the United States, but also to England and other developed countries for better opportunities. Based on the latest US Census, the number of Belizees in the United States is about 160,000 (including 70,000 official residents and naturalized citizens), mostly made up of Creoles and Garinagu.

Due to conflicts in neighboring Central American states, Mestizo refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have fled to Belize in significant numbers during the 1980s, and have significantly added to this group. These two events have changed the nation's demographics over the last 30 years.

Language

English is the official language of Belize, a former British colony. Belize holds the distinction of being the only country in Central America whose official language is English. In addition, English is the main language of public education, government, and most of the media. About half the population of Belize is independent of ethnicity speaking with an English-based creole called Belizean Creole (also called Kriol) for most informal, social and interethnic dialogues.

When Creole is next to the language of lexification, as in Belize, a continuum between Creole and lexifier. It is therefore difficult to prove or differentiate the number of Creole speakers compared to English speakers. Belizean Creole may be described as the lingua franca of the nation.

Approximately 50% of Belize people identify themselves as Mestizo , Latin , or Hispanic and 30% speak Spanish as the native language. When Belize was a British colony, Spanish was banned in schools but today is widely taught as a second language. "Kitchen Spanish" is a transitional form of Spanish mixed with Belizean Creole, spoken in northern cities like Corozal and San Pedro.

More than half the population is multilingual. Being a multiethnic small country, surrounded by Spanish-speaking countries, multilingualism is highly recommended.

Belize is also home to three Mayan languages: Q'eqchi ', Mopan (an endangered language), and Yucatec Maya. Around 16,100 people speak Arajakan-based Garifuna languages, and 6,900 Mennonites in Belize speak mainly Plautdietsch while a small part of Mennonites speak with Pennsylvania Germany.

The largest city

Religion

According to the 2010 census, 40.1% of the population of Belize is Roman Catholic, 31.8% are Protestant (8.4% Pentecostal; 5.4% Advent; 4.7% Anglican; 3.7% Mennonite; 3.6% Baptist 2.7% are Jehovah's Witnesses, 10.3% adhere to other religions (Maya religion, Garifuna religion, Obeah and Myalism, and minorities of Mormon, Hinduism, Buddhism, Muslim, BahÃÆ'¡'ÃÆ's, Rastafarians, and others) and 15.5% said they were not religious.

According to PROLADES, Belize is 64.6% Roman Catholic, 27.8% Protestant, 7.6% Others in 1971. Until the late 1990s, Belize was a predominantly Roman Catholic country. Catholics make up 57% of the population in 1991, and fell to 49% in 2000. The percentage of Roman Catholics in the population has declined in recent decades because of the growth of Protestant churches, other religions and non-religious people.

In addition to Catholics, there is always a large Protestant minority. It was brought by Britain, Germany, and other settlers to the British colonies of British Honduras. From the beginning, it was mostly Anglicans and Mennonites in nature. The Protestant community in Belize is experiencing a large stream of Pentecostals and Seventh-day Adventists linked to the recent spread of Protestant Evangelical denominations throughout Latin America. Geographically speaking, the German Mennonites live mostly in the rural districts of Cayo and Orange Walk.

The Greek Orthodox Church is present at Santa Elena.

The Association of Religious Data Archives estimates there are 7,776 BahÃÆ'¡'ÃÆ's in Belize in 2005, or 2.5% of the national population. Their estimates suggest this is the highest proportion of Bahá¡'ÃÆ's in any country. Their data also state that BahÃÆ'¡'ÃÆ' Faith is the second most common religion in Belize, followed by Hinduism (2.0%) and Judaism (1.1%). Hinduism is followed by most Indian immigrants. Muslims claim that there are Muslims in Belize since the 16th century who have been brought from Africa as slaves, but there is no source for that claim. The Muslim population today began in the 1980s. Muslims numbered 243 in 2000 and 577 in 2010 according to official statistics. and consists of 0.16 percent of the population. The mosque is in Belize Islamic Mission (IMB), also known as Belize Muslim Community. Another mosque, Al-Falah Mosque, was officially opened in 2008 in Belize City.

Health

Belize has a high prevalence of infectious diseases such as malaria, respiratory diseases, and intestinal diseases.

Education

A number of tertiary, medium and tertiary school schools in Belize provide quality education for students - mostly funded by the government. Belize has about a dozen tertiary level institutions, the most prominent of which is the University of Belize, which evolved from the University College of Belize, founded in 1986. John, founded in 1877, dominated the field of tertiary education.

Education in Belize is mandatory between the ages of 6 and 14 years. In 2010, the literacy rate in Belize was estimated at 79.7%, one of the lowest in the western hemisphere.

The current education policy follows the 2011-2016 Education Sector Strategy, which sets 3 goals for the coming years: Improving access, quality, and governance of the education system by providing technical and vocational education and training.

Crime

Belize has a relatively high degree of violent crime. The majority of the violence in Belize comes from gang activity, which includes drug trafficking and people, protecting drug smuggling routes, and securing areas for drug trafficking.

By 2015, 119 murders were listed in Belize, giving the country the rate of murder of 34 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest in the world, but lower than neighboring Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Compared to other districts in Belize, Belize District (which contains Belize City) has the most murders so far compared to all other districts. By 2015, 55% of murders occur in Belize District. Violence in Belize City (especially the southern part of the city) is largely due to gang warfare.

In 2015, there are 40 cases of rape, 214 robberies, 742 robberies, and 1027 theft cases.

The Belize Police Department has implemented many protective measures in the hope of reducing the number of crimes high. These measures included adding more patrols to the "hot spots" in the city, gaining more resources to face adversity, creating a "Do the Right Thing for the Risk Young" program, creating the Crime Information Hotline, creating the Citizen Development Committee Yabra, an organization that helps youth, and many other initiatives. Belize Police Department started a Christmas Anti-Crimes campaign targeting criminals; as a result, the crime rate decreased in that month. In 2011, the government formed a ceasefire among many large gangs, lowering the murder rate.

Social structure

Belize's social structure is characterized by eternal differences in the distribution of wealth, power, and prestige. Because of Belize's small size and the scale of intimate social relationships, the social distance between rich and poor, while significant, is not as large as in the Caribbean and Central America, such as Jamaica and El Salvador. Belize has no class of violence and racial conflicts so prominent in the social life of its Central American neighbors.

Political and economic power remain in the hands of local elites. A sizeable middle group consists of people of different ethnic backgrounds. This middle class is not a unified social class, but rather a number of middle-class and working-class groups, loosely oriented around a shared disposition of education, cultural honor, and the possibility of upward social mobility. These beliefs and social practices they make, help distinguish the middle class from the grassroots majority of the Belize people.

Female

In 2013, the World Economic Forum placed Belize 101 out of 135 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report. Of all the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Belize is ranked 3rd from the last and has the lowest female-to-male ratio for primary school enrollment. In 2013, the UN gave Belize a Gender Inequality Index score of 0.435, ranked 79th out of 148 countries.

In 2013, 48.3% of women in Belize participated in the workforce, compared with 81.8% of men. 13.3% of seats in Belize National Assembly are filled by women.

src: www.liveandinvestoverseas.com

Culture

In the Belize folklore, there are legends of Lang Bobi Suzi, La Llorona, La Sucia, Tata Duende, X'tabai, Anansi, Xtabay, Sisimite and cadejo.

Most public holidays in Belize are traditional Commonwealth and Christian holidays, though some are specific to Belize culture such as Garifuna Settlement Day and Baron Bliss Day. In addition, September is considered a special time of national celebration. In addition to Independence Day and St. Caye Day George, the Belize people also celebrated Carnival during the month of September, which usually includes several events spread over several days. In some areas of Belize, however, Carnival is celebrated at traditional times before Lent (in February).

Cuisine

The Belizean cuisine is an amalgamation of all the ethnicities in the country, and their different kinds of food. This is probably best described as both similar to Mexican/Central American cuisine and Jamaican/Anglo-Caribbean cuisine.

Breakfast usually consists of bread, flour tortillas, or jack fries that are often made by themselves. Fried Jack is eaten with a variety of cheeses, refried beans, various forms of eggs or cereal, along with milk powder, coffee, or tea. Day lunches vary, from foods such as rice and beans with or without coconut milk, tamales, "panades" (fried cornshells with peanuts or fish), and meat pies, escabeche (onion soup), chimole (soup), caldo, braised chicken and garnach (fried tortillas with beans, cheese, and sauce) for a variety of dinners consisting of several types of rice and beans, meat and salad or coleslaw.

In rural areas, food is usually simpler than in cities. The Mayans use corn, beans, or pumpkins for most meals, and Garifuna likes seafood, cassava (mainly made into cassava or Ereba bread) and vegetables. The Nation is full of restaurants and fast food restaurants selling reasonably priced. Local fruits are quite common, but raw vegetables from the market are less so. Mealtime is a fellowship for families and schools and some businesses close at noon for lunch, reopened later in the afternoon. Steaks are also ordinary.

Music

Punta is a popular genre of Garifuna music and has become one of the most popular types of music in Belize. This is obviously Afro-Caribbean, and is sometimes said to be ready to popularize internationally as the same-downhill style (reggae, calypso, merengue).

Brukdown is a modern style of Belize music that deals with calypso. It evolved from the music and dance of the lumberjack, especially the form called hunt. Reggae, dancehall, and soca were imported from Jamaica and all of the West Indies, rap music, hip-hop, heavy metal and rock from the United States, also popular among Belize's youth.

Sports

The main sports in Belize are football, basketball, volleyball and cycling, with smaller than boat racing, athletics, softball, cricket, rugby and netball. Fishing is also popular in the coastal area of ​​Belize.

The Cross Country Cycling Classic, also known as the "cross country" race or the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, is considered one of Belize's most important sporting events. The one-day sporting event is meant for amateur cyclists but also gaining popularity around the world. The history of the Cross Country Cycling Classic in Belize dates back to a time when Monrad Metzgen took the idea of ​​a small village on the Northern Highway (now Phillip Goldson Highway). People from this village used to travel long distances on their bikes to attend weekly cricket matches. He made improvisations on this observation by making sporting events on a difficult terrain on the Western Highway, which was then poorly built.

Another major annual sporting event in Belize is the La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, a 4-day canary marathon held annually in March. The race runs from San Ignacio to Belize City, 180 miles (290 km) away.

On Easter day, residents of Dangriga participate in an annual fishing tournament. First, second, and third prizes are awarded based on a combination of size, species, and number scores. The tournament is broadcast on local radio stations, and prize money is awarded to the winners.

Belize's national basketball team is the only national team that has achieved a major international victory. The team won the CARICOM Men's Basketball Championships in 1998, held at the Civic Center in Belize City, and later participated in the 1999 Centrobasquet Tournament in Havana. The national team finished seventh out of eight teams after winning just one match despite playing almost all the way. In a return engagement at the CARICOM 2000 championship in Barbados, Belize is placed fourth. Shortly after, Belize moved to Central America and won the Central American Games championship in 2001.

The team failed to double this success, which last ended with a 2 and 4 record at the 2006 COCABA championship. The team finished second at the 2009 COCABA tournament in Cancun, Mexico where it went 3-0 in the group play. Belize won its opening game at the Centrobasquet Tournament in 2010, defeating Trinidad and Tobago, but lost badly to Mexico in the final rematch of COCABA. The hard victory over Cuba made Belize in a position to advance, but they fell to Puerto Rico in their last game and failed to qualify.

National symbol

The national flower is a black orchid ( Prosthechea cochleata , also known as Encyclia cochleata ). The national tree is a mahogany tree ( Swietenia macrophylla ), which inspired the national motto Sub Umbra Floreo , which means "Under my auspices". The national animal is Baird tapir and national bird is touc-billed toucan ( Ramphastos sulphuratus ).

src: www.nature.org

See also

• Belize people
• Belize related article index
• Belize Outline
• Belizean-Guatemala territorial dispute
• The History of Catholicism in Belize
• Forgotten District - a documentary on Maya ecotourism in southern Belize

src: consulateofbelize.org

Note

src: static1.squarespace.com

References

src: photos.projects-abroad.org

External links

• Belize Government - Official government site
• Wikimedia Atlas of Belize
• Profile in the US Department of State
• National Emergency Management Organization - Official government website
• Belize Wildlife Conservation Network - Belize Wildlife Conservation Network
• CATHALAC - Water Center for Tropical Humidity in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Belize LANIC Page
• "Belize". The World Factbook . Central Intelligence Agency.
• Belize in UCB GovPubs Library
• Belize on Curlie (based on DMOZ)
• Belize from BBC News
• Key Developments for Belize from International Futures
• Hydromet.gov.bz - The official website of Belize National Meteorological Service

Source of the article : Wikipedia