Who's The Boss? Belize Bank Notes Feature A Familiar Face

Belize's official currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD; symbol BZ$), which has been pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of BZ$2 to US$1 since 1976. All local banknotes feature a prominent image of Queen Elizabeth II on the front, as Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth and has King Charles III of England as its Head of State.

Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state of Belize

Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth and has a long-standing history of peace, stability, and democracy. The country's legal system and rule of law are firmly rooted in English Common Law, and supplemented by local legislation, with the Privy Council serving as the final court of appeal. The country's population is approximately 398,050, with a great deal of ethnic diversity among Belizeans, including Hispanic, Creoles (African-European), Mestizo (Spanish-Indian), Garifuna (African-Indian), Mayan, Anglo-European, Middle Eastern, and Asian. The largest single ethnic group is Hispanic.

The official currency of Belize is the Belize Dollar (BZD; symbol BZ$). The local currency is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed exchange rate of 2:1. The first bank notes under the Government of Belize were put into circulation in 1974, following the renaming of the country from British Honduras to Belize in 1973. The first notes issued under the Government of Belize maintained the colours and design of the previous British Honduras notes.

Belize bank notes feature a prominent image of Queen Elizabeth II

Belize's legal system and rule of law are rooted in English Common Law, and the country has a constitution and a bill of rights. The country has a small economy, largely based in tourism, and the local currency is the Belize Dollar or BZpegged to the US dollar at a fixed exchange rate of 2:1 for over 25 years.

The first bank notes issued by the Government of Belize were put into circulation in 1974, and the country has a democratic and politically stable environment. Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth and has King Charles III of England as its Head of State.

Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth

Belize is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, having joined in 1981 following its independence from Britain. It is the only mainland Central American country which is a Commonwealth realm, with King Charles III as its monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general.

Belize's legal system and rule of law are firmly rooted in English Common Law, and the country's political system is based on the British Westminster model. The country's bicameral National Assembly comprises a House of Representatives and a Senate, with legislative power vested in both the government and the Parliament of Belize.

Belize's institutions and official language reflect its history as a British colony. However, its culture is more typical of that of other Central American countries. The country's small population is ethnically diverse and includes a large proportion of immigrants. Belize has one of the most stable and democratic political systems in Central America.

The Commonwealth Secretariat supports Belize in several areas, including countering violent extremism, improving human rights reporting, tackling youth unemployment, and delivering climate action.

Belize achieved independence from the UK in 1981

Belize, previously known as British Honduras, became an independent state on 21 September 1981, after gaining full independence from the United Kingdom. This was preceded by a long struggle for independence, which followed a similar trajectory to other British colonies in the Caribbean. However, Belize's path to independence was complicated by a claim on its territory by Guatemala and opposition from the United Democratic Party (UDP), which later became the country's government.

The process of decolonisation in Belize began with the introduction of universal adult suffrage in 1954 and the creation of a new constitution and internal self-government in 1964. George Price, a middle-class Roman Catholic intellectual of mixed Creole and Mestizo ancestry, became premier that year. Despite these advances, Guatemalan hostility and the unresolved territorial dispute impeded Belize's path to independence.

In the 1970s, the Belizean government, led by Premier George Price and the People's United Party, intensified diplomatic efforts to gain international support for their claim to full independence. This period, known as "the internationalisation effort", involved lobbying for support from the Caribbean Community, the British Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations (UN). By 1975, the first UN resolution on Belize was passed, with 110 votes in favour, 9 against, and 16 abstentions.

Despite mounting international support, negotiations with Guatemala continued to be challenging. During the final round of negotiations in London in March 1981, the Belizean negotiators resisted intense pressure from the British to concede the cession of cayes and waters. On 6 July 1981, a Joint Communique was issued, stating that Belize would proceed with independence and that Guatemala would not use force to prevent it.

Finally, on 21 September 1981, Belize achieved independence with all its territory and full sovereignty. British troops remained stationed in Belize to defend against any possible attack from Guatemala, demonstrating the continued importance of British support in securing Belize's independence.

Belize's legal system is rooted in English Common Law

The legal system of Belize is adversarial in nature and reflects the precedent law of England and the British Commonwealth. Rulings frequently cite Supreme Court rulings in those jurisdictions. The country's legislation or Acts, or statute law, is considered a primary source of reference, with Parliament responsible for the law-making process. Belize's judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice, who has overall responsibility for the administration of justice in the country.

The Belize Supreme Court hears serious civil and criminal cases before judges and juries, while preliminary hearings of less serious civil cases are held in district courts, and those of criminal cases are heard in summary jurisdiction courts. Both district and summary jurisdiction courts are magistrates' courts. Appeals are heard by the Court of Appeal, which generally sits four times a year, and final appeals are heard at the Caribbean Court of Justice in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Belize's legal system is based on the common law of England, but it has been supplemented by local legislation. The country's legal system and rule of law are well-established, contributing to its long-standing history of peace, stability, and democracy.

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