The Ref's Belizean Hideaway

Belize is a country located on the Caribbean coast of northern 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 a small country with a population of 397,483 (as of 2022). Its capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is Belize City. The country has a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages. English is the official language of Belize, followed by Spanish.

Belize's location and geography

Belize is located on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America, just a few hours by air from the United States and Canada. 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 situated south of the Yucatán Peninsula and has a land area of 22,966 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi). The country is shaped roughly like a rhombus, extending about 280 kilometres (170 mi) north-south and 100 kilometres (62 mi) east-west, with a total land boundary length of 516 kilometres (321 mi). The Belize River, the New River, and the Hondo River (which forms the northern frontier with Mexico) drain the lowlands of the country. The undulating courses of the Hondo and the Sarstoon River define much of the country's northern and southern boundaries, respectively. The western border, which runs through lowland forest and highland plateau, follows no natural features.

The northern half of Belize consists of flat, swampy coastal plains that are heavily forested in places. The flora in this region is highly diverse given the small geographical area. The south contains the Maya Mountains, a low mountain range. The highest point in Belize is Doyle's Delight, at 1,124 metres (3,688 ft).

Belize has a total population of 397,483 (as of 2022) and is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America. Its capital is Belmopan, and its largest city and former capital is Belize City, with a population of about 70,000. The country has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and languages. English is the official language, followed by Spanish, Belizean Creole, Mayan languages, German dialects, and Garifuna.

Belize's history

Belize, previously known as British Honduras, is located on the northeast coast of Central America and was the last British colony on the American mainland. The history of Belize dates back thousands of years, with the Maya civilisation flourishing in the region from 1500 BC to around 1000 AD. The Maya population began to decline long before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and missionaries in the 16th century, and the remaining Maya lived in politically decentralised societies.

The Spanish tried to convert the Maya to Christianity, but with little success. They also tried to maintain a monopoly on trade and colonisation in their New World colonies, but northern European powers were attracted to the region by the potential for trade and settlement. The Dutch, English, and French encroached on Spain's New World possessions, resorting to smuggling, piracy, and war to challenge Spanish control.

In the 17th century, British buccaneers began cutting logwood, which was used in the production of textile dye. The British also established settlements along the coastline, using them as bases from which to attack Spanish ships. Conflict continued between Britain and Spain over the right of the British to cut logwood and settle in the region, with the Spanish attacking British settlers whenever the two powers were at war. Treaties signed in 1763 and 1783 granted British subjects the privilege of exploiting logwood and mahogany, though Spain retained sovereignty over the area.

In the 19th century, the British settlement became known as British Honduras, and in 1862 it officially became a British colony. The colony was ruled by a governor subordinate to the governor of Jamaica. The British settlers, who called themselves Baymen, imported enslaved Africans to cut logwood and mahogany. There were four revolts by enslaved people in Belize, and many escaped over the frontiers. After emancipation in 1838, formerly enslaved people remained tied to the logging operations through a system of wage advances and company stores that induced indebtedness and dependency.

In the early 19th century, a mixed population of Carib Indians and Africans, known as Garifuna, settled on the southern coast of Belize. In the 1840s, the Caste War, an Indigenous uprising in the Yucatán, resulted in several thousand Spanish-speaking refugees settling in northern Belize. In the late 19th century, Mopán and Kekchí Maya, fleeing from oppression in Guatemala, established largely self-sufficient communities in southern and western Belize.

In the 20th century, the economy of British Honduras was stagnant, and crown colony government precluded any democratic participation. The Great Depression and a devastating hurricane in 1931 further crippled the colony. A series of strikes and demonstrations by labourers and the unemployed gave rise to a trade union movement and demands for democratisation. The People's United Party (PUP), formed in 1950, led the independence movement.

British Honduras evolved through several stages of decolonisation, from universal adult suffrage in 1954 to a new constitution and internal self-government in 1964. However, independence was impeded by Guatemalan hostility. In the 1970s, Belize took its case for self-determination to the international community, appealing to the United Nations and joining the Nonaligned Movement. Belize finally achieved independence on September 21, 1981, with a British defence guarantee, and was admitted to the United Nations.

Today, Belize is a country with a diverse population and a stable, democratic political system. It has retained its historical link with the United Kingdom through membership in the Commonwealth.

Belize's population and demographics

Belize is the most sparsely populated nation in Central America, with a population of 397,483 as of 2022. It has an area of 22,970 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi) and its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide. Belize's population growth rate of 1.87% per year (2018 estimate) is the second-highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. The capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is the namesake city of Belize City.

Belize is a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages. It is the only Central American country where English is the official language, while Belizean Creole is the most widely spoken dialect. Spanish is the second-most-commonly-spoken language, followed by Mayan languages, German dialects, and Garifuna. Over half the population is multilingual due to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of the population.

Belize's population is made up of people of many different ethnicities. According to the 2022 Belize Population Census, 51.7 percent of the population identified as Mestizo-Hispanic/Latino, while those who identified as Creole, Maya, Garifuna and East Indian accounted for 25.2 percent, 9.8 percent, 4 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. The remaining 7.8 percent was comprised of a mix of other ethnicities.

Belize is known for its September Celebrations and punta music. It is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as its monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general. The bicameral National Assembly of Belize comprises a House of Representatives and a Senate. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Belize.

Belize's economy

Belize has a developing free-market economy. It is a small, private enterprise economy that is based primarily on agriculture, tourism, and services. The country has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.5 billion and a per capita GDP of $6049.

Belize's primary exports are citrus fruits, sugar, and bananas. The country's economy depended on forestry until well into the 20th century, with logwood being the main export. However, the supply outstripped demand, and loggers eventually turned to mahogany. While many became wealthy from the mahogany industry, fluctuations in the market had a large impact on the economy. When the supply of accessible timber dwindled and logging became unprofitable, the country's economy shifted to new sectors, with cane sugar becoming the principal export. In recent years, this has been augmented by expanded production of citrus fruits, bananas, seafood, and apparel.

Belize's trade deficit has been growing, mostly due to low export prices for sugar and bananas. The country's economy is highly susceptible to external market changes and is vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations. Belize relies heavily on foreign trade, with the United States as its number one trading partner. The country's main exports are seafood, sugar, citrus products, bananas, and clothing, and its chief imports include machinery, transport equipment, food, fuels, lubricants, and chemicals.

Tourism is the most important source of foreign exchange in Belize, with the country's many Mayan ruins, diverse ecology, and the Belize Barrier Reef—the second-largest coral reef system in the world—attracting visitors. The industry expanded rapidly in the 1990s, and tourist arrivals have continued to fuel economic growth.

Belize has a unique cultural heritage and is the only English-speaking country in Central America. As a member of CARICOM, the country enjoys access to members' markets and benefits from trade agreements.

Belize's culture

Belize is a melting pot of diverse cultures, languages, and ethnic groups. While the official language is English, many other languages are also used, including Spanish, Mayan, Creole, and German. The country has a rich cultural history, with influences from the ancient Maya, British colonisation, and various immigrant groups. Belize is also home to a thriving tourism industry, with its barrier reef—the second-largest in the world—being a top destination for scuba diving and snorkelling.

The Maya

The first inhabitants to develop a distinct culture in what is now Belize were the Maya. Belize was an important part of the great Mayan Empire, which was possibly the most sophisticated civilisation in ancient America. The Maya reached their peak in the 6th, 7th, and 8th centuries AD, but by the time the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, their presence was barely felt. Today, evidence of this ancient civilisation can be found throughout Belize in the form of archaeological sites, and modern-day Mayas practising many aspects of their heritage. Belizean descendants of the ancient Maya, known as the modern Maya, have formed three distinct groups: the Yucatec, the Mopan, and the Ketchi.

British Colonisation

From the outset of colonisation, Belize's roots were more British than Spanish. Britain gained full control of Belize from Spain in 1798 and later declared it a colony of British Honduras. As a result of this influence, Belize has a larger Protestant population than any other country in Central America, and the official language is English.

Immigrant Groups

Over the years, various immigrant groups have contributed to the cultural diversity of Belize, including:

• Creole: During the colonisation of Belize, Africans brought as slaves mingled with European logwood cutters, resulting in the Creole culture. Today, Creoles make up about a quarter of Belize's population and have created the native Creole language, recognised as an official language.
• Garifuna: The Garifuna people are descended from a mix of West African, Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak heritage. They resisted British rule and were exiled from island to island until they landed in Honduras and then in Belize. Today, they are regarded as one of Belize's predominant cultures, known for their traditional practices, language, and food.
• Mestizo: The Mestizo people are descended from a mix of Spanish and Mayan heritage. They hold tight to elements of both parent cultures, such as their food and belief systems. Today, they account for almost 50% of Belize's population.
• Mennonites: The Mennonites of Belize are a relatively new group, arriving as late as the 1960s. They tend to live in secluded communities and retain their culture and traditions, including their language, dress, and religious practices.
• East Indians: East Indians were brought to Belize as labourers on plantations after the abolition of slavery. Today, they have integrated into Belizean society while still maintaining some of their cultural influences, particularly in the food culture.
• Middle Easterners: There has been an influx of people from the Middle East, mostly from Lebanon and Syria, who come to Belize as merchants, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Their cultural influences can be seen in the form of Arab food restaurants and a small mosque in Belize City.
• South Asians: A growing population of South Asians, mostly Indians, have come to Belize as merchants, professionals, and restaurant owners. They have brought with them Indian food, prepared as closely as possible to the traditional way.
• Asians: Belize has seen an influx of Asian people, mostly from Taiwan and China, who come as entrepreneurs and restaurant owners. The current generation of Asians in Belize are educated in the same schools as other Belizeans and lead normal lives within the local communities.

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