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P.O. Box 165 | Belmopan, BELIZE.
(501) 822 2759 (V) | (501) 822 3785 (F) | Email: webmaster@belize.com
Government: Independent nation since 1981, member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Parliamentary democracy with two major political parties, the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the People's United Party (PUP). The PUP currently holds power, led by Prime Minister Said Musa (took office March 5, 2003). Belize has a Constitution, which includes a Bill of Rights.
Belize lies on the eastern coastline of Central America, bordered on the north by Mexico, on the west and south by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. It is separated by sea from its neighbor to the southwest, Honduras.
Size: Approximately 8,866 square miles. Belize's mainland is approximately 180 miles long and up to 68 miles wide. Belize also consists of over 200 cayes (islands), ranging in size from a few hundred feet to 25 miles long and four miles wide; most of which are located inside the 200 mile Belize Barrier Reef.
Population: The population of Belize is approximately 320,000. There is a great deal of ethnic diversity among Belizeans, who include Hispanic, Creoles (African-European), Mestizo (Spanish-Indian), Mennonite, Garifuna (African-Indian), Mayan, Anglo-European, Middle Eastern and Asian. The largest single group is Hispanic.
Climate: Belize weather is characterized by two seasons: a rainy and a dry season. Belize annual rainfall: most of the year's rainfall occurs during the period June to November, that is, the rainy season. It is noted that the transition from dry to the rainy is very sharp. Belize annual rainfall ranges from 60 inches (1524mm) in the north to 160 inches (4064mm) in the south. Except for the southern regions, the rainfall is variable from year to year.
The onset of the rainy season begins in the early May in Toledo, (where the Belize annual rainfall is highest) progressing north to the Stann Creek, Belize, Cayo and Orange Walk District in late May, followed by Corozal District in early June. The mean temperature varies from 81°F/ 27°C along the coast to 69°F/21°C in the hills. The coldest month is January while the highest temperatures are experienced during the month of May.
English is the official language and is widely spoken, as is Spanish. Other languages include Creole, German, Mayan and Garifuna.
Getting to Belize: Belize is about 2 hours and 15 minutes by air from Miami, Florida and Houston, Texas. U.S. gateway cities to Belize include Miami, Dallas-Forth Worth, Houston and New Orleans, Louisiana. Direct flights are also available from Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C; and from Toronto, Canada. From Mexico, direct flights to Belize are available from Cancun and Chetumal. Most Central American countries offer direct flights to Belize, including Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica. Direct service from the UK and/or Europe may be available in 2008. American Airlines: . Direct flights from Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami. Continental Airlines: Nonstop from Houston. Taca Direct flights from Houston, Miam Costa Rica, El Salvadori. Delta Airlines: Direct from Atlanta, United Air Lines: Direct from Atlanta.
Getting Around by Air in Belize: International travelers fly into the newly renovated and expanded Philip Goldson International Airport in Belize City. From there, connections can be made to various destinations within Belize, including: Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, Corozal, Dangriga, Big Creek, Placencia and Punta Gorda; as well as to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, etc. Travelers already in Belize City should utilize the smaller Municipal Airport for in-country flights, as costs are much lower.
Belizean Airlines Offering In-Country Service:
Tropic Air: Belize International, Belize Municipal, Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, Corozal, Placencia, Punta Gorda, Flores (Guatemala)
Island Air-Island Air: Belize International, Belize Municipal, Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Corozal
Private Aircraft: Private aircraft must enter Philip Goldson International Airport in Belize City.
Next: Belize Fact Sheet II.
Modern day Belize was founded in the 1600s by English and Scottish pirates. But the first European to live here was a Spanish soldier, Gonzalo Guerrero - the victim of a 1511 shipwreck off Cozumel. He was one of the first Heroes of Belize. Above, a statue commemorates Guerrero and his children.
Guerrero was captured by the Maya along with fellow soldier Geronimo de Aquilar. Guerrero was sent to Chief Na Chan Kan at Chectemal (present day Corozal Town).
Guerrero married the Chief's daughter had children and thus started the Mestizos of Mexico and Belize. In the state anthem of Quintana Roo he is called the Father of the Mestizos. Using his training as a Spanish solder, Guerrero became a famous war lord for the Maya at Chectemal.
The first battle of Belize was actually fought at Corozal Town and prevented Spain from occupying territory south of the Rio Hondo - the northern border of present-day Belize. The British and Scottish pirates would not arrive in Belize until 1650.
Above, the Belize National Assembly in Belmopan.
The Executive Branch of government consists of the Governor General, the Prime Minister and The Cabinet.
The Governor General's role is ceremonial. The executive authority of Belize is vested in the Queen of England as the Head of State, who appoints the Governor General to represent her in Belize. The appointment is made on the advice of Belize's Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government and heads the Cabinet. The Cabinet is the chief policy-making body in the government. Cabinet members are appointed by the Prime Minister from members of the House of Representatives or the Senate.
The Judiciary consists of the Supreme Court headed by a Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court. Belize has its own court of Appeals. The lower courts are known as the Magistrate Courts. Our system of law is based on English common law. The members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Prime Minister in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.