Belize: State Or Country?

Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Belize was formerly known as British Honduras and was the last British colony on the American mainland. It gained independence from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1981, and has since retained its historical link with the UK as a Commonwealth realm. Belize has a diverse society with a small population and a unique history, culture, and language that set it apart from other Central American countries.

Belize's independence from the UK

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, became an independent state on 21 September 1981. However, its path to independence was not straightforward, and it faced two major obstacles: the British reluctance to grant independence, and Guatemala's claim to Belizean territory.

Belize's journey to independence followed a similar trajectory to other British Caribbean colonies until the 1960s, when it became complicated by Guatemala's claim to the territory. In addition, the United Democratic Party (UDP), which would later become the government of Belize, firmly opposed the move towards independence.

The Belizean government, led by Premier George Price of the People's United Party (PUP), decided to take the campaign for independence to the international stage. This diplomatic effort, known as "the internationalization effort," aimed to gain support for Belize's claim to full independence with its territory intact. The campaign proved successful, with the first United Nations resolution on Belize passing in 1975.

In 1975, after 14 years of negotiations, Guatemala demanded the cession of a large area of Belizean territory as a condition for withdrawing its claim. This proved to be a sticking point in negotiations, and by 1981, the Guatemalan government was still insisting on terms that amounted to land cession. Despite these challenges, Belize continued its efforts to find a peaceful resolution.

In November 1980, the United Nations passed a resolution calling for Belize's independence by the end of 1981, with no strings attached. This was followed by a similar resolution from the Organization of American States (OAS) in the same month.

Belize became an independent state on 21 September 1981, without reaching an agreement with Guatemala. About 1,500 British troops remained in Belize after independence to deter any possible Guatemalan incursions.

The road to independence was not without challenges within Belize as well. The UDP, which later formed the government, vigorously opposed independence, even resorting to violent protests and riots that led to a state of emergency being imposed by the British Governor.

Despite these obstacles, Belize's independence was a significant milestone, and it continues to maintain its historical link with the United Kingdom as a member of the Commonwealth.

Belize's relationship with Guatemala

Belize and Guatemala share a border and have had a long-standing dispute over the territory of Belize. Both countries are members of the Organization of American States and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

Historical Context

The roots of the territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala can be traced back to the 17th century when British settlers and their slaves arrived on the Central American coast to cut logwood. The Spanish Crown considered these settlers intruders and pirates, and the British Crown initially did nothing to protect them. In 1763, Spain, as part of the Treaty of Paris, gave these "Baymen" the right to cut logwood within a small area that remained subject to Spanish sovereignty. These rights were extended by treaty in 1783 and 1786 when the boundaries of what had become a British settlement were agreed upon.

Guatemala's Claims

Guatemala's claims to Belizean territory date back to the late 1600s and throughout the 1700s when Britain and Spain signed several treaties regarding territories in the Americas. Both nations agreed that modern-day Belize was under Spanish sovereignty, although British settlers could use the land for specific purposes. When the Spanish Empire fell, Guatemala claimed that it inherited Spain's sovereign rights over the territory. Since its independence, Guatemala has claimed, in whole or in part, the territory of Belize.

Attempts at Resolution

Guatemala and Britain negotiated the Wyke-Aycinena Treaty in 1859 regarding the disputed area. The treaty stated that Guatemala would recognise British sovereignty over the region and formed the modern-day boundary lines of Belize. However, tensions flared up intermittently throughout the 20th century, with Guatemala periodically renewing its claims and massing troops on the border. In 1961, negotiations between the United Kingdom and Guatemala resumed, but the elected representatives of British Honduras (now Belize) had no voice in these talks.

In 1965, the United Kingdom and Guatemala agreed to have an American lawyer, Bethuel M. Webster, mediate the dispute. The resulting draft treaty, known as the Webster Proposals, was controversial as it detailed a shared governmental body between Guatemala and Belize, effectively handing control from the UK to Guatemala despite Belize's independence. The United Kingdom rejected the draft due to civil unrest in British Honduras.

Recent Developments

In 2008, Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow proposed referendums for the citizens of both countries, asking whether they support referring the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). A "Special Agreement" on submitting the issue to the ICJ was signed, and in May 2019, Belize held a referendum in which 55.4% of voters agreed to allow the ICJ to resolve the dispute. Guatemala's referendum was held in 2018, with 95.88% of voters supporting sending the claim to the ICJ.

As of 2022, both countries are settling the dispute at the ICJ, with each country having submitted their initial briefs to the organisation. The court is not expected to rule until 2025 at the earliest.

Belize's economy

Belize is a small, developing country with a free-market economy. It has a unique cultural heritage and is the only English-speaking country in Central America. Belize's economy is primarily based on agriculture, tourism, and services.

Agriculture

Belize has about 8,090 km2 of arable land, but only a small fraction of this is under cultivation. The country's agricultural exports include citrus fruits, sugar, bananas, seafood, and apparel. Citrus fruits are the second most important agricultural crop, after sugarcane. In 2018, Belize produced 1.7 million tons of sugarcane, 100,000 tons of oranges, 80,000 tons of bananas, and 77,000 tons of maize, in addition to smaller yields of other crops such as papaya, rice, and soy.

Tourism

Tourism is the most important source of foreign exchange in Belize, and the government has designated it as the second development priority after agriculture. The country's diverse ecosystems, including the Belize Barrier Reef (the second-largest in the world), its extensive mangroves, and numerous Mayan ruins, attract tourists. In 2012, tourist arrivals totalled 917,869, and tourist receipts amounted to over $1.3 billion.

Services

The service sector of the economy has accounted for the largest share of the GNP since the early 1980s. Services sustain nearly half of the labour force and the GNP.

Trade and Investment

The United States is Belize's leading trading partner and the source of most investment funds. In 2022, trade in goods between the two countries totalled $644.09 million. Other major trading partners include Mexico, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and members of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom).

Belize has a substantial trade deficit in goods, largely due to low export prices for sugar and bananas. The country's domestic industry is limited by high-cost labour and energy, and a small domestic market.

Belize is considered a tax haven, and its citizenship-by-investment program has been popular among Chinese migrants.

Belize's population

Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast. Belize is the only Central American country where English is the official language. It has a population of 416,758 as of July 2024, with a growth rate of 1.87% per year (2018 estimate). Belize is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America, with a population density of 18 per square kilometre. The median age in Belize is 26 years.

Belize has a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages. The population is ethnically diverse and includes a large proportion of immigrants. The population is made up of a variety of groups, including Mestizo (people of mixed Spanish and Yucatec Maya descent), Creole (mixed African and British descent), Maya, Garifuna (a mix of West/Central African, Arawak, and Island Carib ancestry), East Indian, Mennonite, White or Caucasian, and East Asian and Arab.

The population of Belize is predominantly rural, with approximately 25-30% living in the former capital, Belize City, and over half living outside of urban areas. Belize has one of the most stable and democratic political systems in Central America.

Belize's political system

Belize is a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, with a multi-party system. The country is led by a Prime Minister, who is the head of government, and a King, who is the head of state. The current Prime Minister of Belize is Johnny Briceño, and the King of Belize is King Charles III.

Legislative power is held by the government and the Parliament of Belize. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, and members are appointed. The judicial system includes local magistrates grouped under the Magistrates' Court, which hears less serious cases, the Supreme Court, which hears murder cases and other serious cases, and the Court of Appeal, which hears appeals from convicted individuals seeking to have their sentences overturned.

Belize has a system of local government comprising four types of local authorities: city councils, town councils, village councils, and community councils. The two city councils and seven town councils cover the country's urban population, while village and community councils cover the rural population.

Frequently asked questions