Exploring Belize: Discovering The Country's Record-Breaking Attractions

Belize has a Freedom of Information Act that was passed in 2000, which gives researchers the right to request access to government documents. The Belize Archives and Records Service (BARS) is responsible for preserving the country's national heritage, including the Belize Instrument of Independence. The country also has a range of online genealogy records, including birth records, marriage records, death records, biographies, censuses, immigration records, and military records. Additionally, Belize has a process for obtaining police records, which involves submitting an application form with the required documents and fees.

Genealogy records

Genealogy links to Belize online databases and indexes may include birth records, marriage records, death records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, obituaries, and probate records. Some websites that host these records include FamilySearch, Findmypast, and the Allen County Public Library. While some of these websites require a paid subscription for full access, others can be searched for free at a FamilySearch center or FamilySearch affiliate library.

Belize Civil Registration records from 1881 to 1951 are available on FamilySearch, including indexes and images. Similarly, British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms can be found on Findmypast, although this requires a paid subscription. An index to births of British citizens born overseas from 1818 to 2006, registered with the British Consul or High Commissioner, can also be used to order a birth certificate.

Marriage records can be found on both FamilySearch and Findmypast, covering the years 1881 to 1951. Additionally, an index of marriages of British nationals married overseas from 1818 to 2005 is available, which can be used to order a marriage certificate.

Death records for Belize from 1881 to 1951 are available on FamilySearch, while British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials can be found on Findmypast. The Jewish Online Worldwide Burial Registry, dating back to 1550, is another resource for burial records. British Nationals Overseas Deaths from 1818 to 2005 provides a name index linked to original indices, recording the area and age of the deceased.

Police records

To obtain a police record, individuals can apply in person at any district police station in Belize or through a lawyer with power of attorney. The application process typically requires the submission of a completed form, three recent passport-size photographs, a photo ID, and applicable fees. The fee for a police record is twelve Belize dollars (BZ$12.00), with an additional cost for same-day applications. The processing time is generally two weeks, but some stations offer an express service for a higher fee.

The Belize Police Record Form can also be obtained by mailing the completed application, photographs, a copy of the applicant's photo ID, and the required fee to the Criminal Records Office in Belmopan, Belize. This option is available for both citizens and non-citizens of Belize. Non-citizens must indicate their parent's names and present their original passport.

The Belize Police Record Form requires applicants to provide their full name, date of birth, current address, contact information, and the purpose of the request. It is important to note that the form must be completed in English and all information provided must be legible.

The Belize Police Department has a website where individuals can download the Police Record Form and find relevant contact information. The website also provides resources on various topics, such as cyber security awareness, reporting illegal online content, and emergency contact details.

Colonial records

Belize's history dates back thousands of years, with the Mighty Maya civilisation flourishing between 1500 BCE and 1200 BCE. However, the focus here is on the colonial rivalry between Spain and Britain in Belize.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain aimed to monopolise trade and colonisation in its New World colonies. Northern European powers, attracted by the potential for trade and settlement, responded with piracy, smuggling, and war. English pirates began cutting logwood in southern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula during the 17th century, using the seaside as a base to raid Spanish ships. In the 1650s and 1660s, they stopped looting Spanish logwood ships and began cutting their own wood. The shift from piracy to logging was supported by a 1667 treaty between European powers to curb piracy.

The first permanent British settlement in present-day Belize was established in the late 1710s on Cayo Cosina, after the Spanish destroyed initial British logging villages in the Laguna de Términos region. During the winter of 1717-1718, the pirate Blackbeard raided shipping sailing to and from Vera Cruz, Mexico, while sailing in the Bay of Honduras. In April 1718, Blackbeard captured the logwood-cutting sloop Adventure and installed Israel Hands as captain before sailing to North Carolina.

Throughout the 18th century, conflict persisted between Spain and Britain over British logwood cutting and settlement in the region. The Spanish repeatedly besieged British settlers during times of war but never established a permanent presence, allowing the British to continually re-establish their settlement and trade. The 1763 Treaty of Paris granted Britain the right to cut logwood but maintained Spanish sovereignty over the territory. When war broke out again in 1779, the British settlement was deserted until the 1783 Treaty of Versailles, which permitted the British to resume logwood cutting. By this time, however, the logwood trade had declined, and Honduras Mahogany had become the primary export.

The British avoided establishing a formal government for the town to avoid provoking the Spanish. As early as 1738, settlers elected magistrates to enforce common law, and in 1765, these regulations were expanded and codified into Burnaby's Code. When British settlers returned to the area in 1784, Colonel Edward Marcus Despard was appointed superintendent of the Belize Settlement in the Bay of Honduras.

The situation changed when the Spanish colonies surrounding Belize became the Federal Republic of Central America and newly independent Mexico. In 1825, Britain officially recognised Mexico, and in 1826, it relinquished any claims to Belize.

Spanish Colonisation (1506-1862)

In 1506, Spain explored the land that is now Belize and claimed it as part of the Spanish Empire. However, the indigenous population successfully resisted Spanish colonisation attempts. In the late 1700s, the Spanish granted the British permission to occupy the land in exchange for help in combating piracy. British settlements emerged, and in 1798, the Spanish launched their final attempt to reclaim the territory but were defeated by the British. In 1862, the region became an official crown colony known as British Honduras.

British Colonisation (1862-1961)

The first permanent British settlement was founded around 1716 in what became the Belize District. The Spanish allowed the British to occupy the area in exchange for suppressing piracy. From 1862 to 1964, the region was a crown colony called British Honduras. After 1964, Britain was only responsible for foreign affairs, defence, and security. In 1973, the country's name was changed to Belize, and in 1981, it gained independence.

Freedom of Information Act

Belize's Freedom of Information Act, which came into force on May 5, 1994, gives the Ombudsman legal authority to review decisions made by public authorities (such as ministries, departments, local authorities, or public statutory corporations) that deny or defer access to public documents.

The basic function of the Freedom of Information Act is to ensure informed citizens, which is vital to the functioning of a democratic society. The Act allows citizens to request access to information from public authorities, with certain exemptions in place to protect personal privacy and law enforcement interests, among other things.

If a citizen wishes to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act, they should first determine if the information they seek is already publicly available. They can do this by searching individual agency websites or using a search tool provided by the government. If the information is not publicly available, they can submit a FOIA request to the appropriate agency. There are over 100 agencies, each handling its own FOIA requests, so it is important to identify the correct one.

Once a request is made, the agency will typically search for the records and then review them to determine what can be disclosed. The time it takes to respond to a request will vary depending on its complexity and any backlog of requests. Citizens can seek further assistance from the Office of the Ombudsman, which is located at 91 Freetown Road, Belize City, Belize.

Civil records

The Belize Archives and Records Service (BARS) is another body responsible for preserving the country's records. BARS was established by the late Mr. Leo H. Bradley Sr. and holds records from various sources, including government and non-governmental institutions. In 1982, the Belize Archives Department initiated a campaign to identify and transfer all records to the BARS.

The High Court of Belize, located in Belize City, is the superior court of record and has unlimited original jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil or criminal proceedings. The Court also hears appeals arising from any decision of an inferior court. The High Court sits in its Civil Division in Belize City and in three Districts for its criminal jurisdiction: the Northern District (Corozal and Orange Walk), the Central District (Belize City and Cayo), and the Southern District (Stann Creek and Toledo).

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