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Above: Underground structure at Cahal Pech Maya Ruin in Belize
Famed writer Aldous Huxley wrote in Beyond The Mexique Bay (1934) "If the world had any ends Belize would be one of them. It is not on the way from anywhere, to anywhere else. It is all but uninhabited." Huxley's off-the-cuff observation is one of the most famous made by a writer about Belize. Almost eighty years ago he was one of the few adventurers daring enough to visit what at that time was one of the most remote corners of the then mighty British Empire.
Belize's relatively undiscovered status has been one of the country's most powerful attractants over the centuries and the inhabitants from the time of its modern history have liked it just that way. Belize was the center of the vast Mayan Civilization founded about 2,000 B.C. Dozens of pyramids and ruins - most not yet excavated - can be found throughout Belize.
Today Huxley would be amazed that Belize, while still relatively undiscovered, is a burgeoning nation-state with close to 400,000 inhabitants spread over a land area twice the size of Jamaica and a top tourist destination. On a good day six or more cruise ships pull into one of its major harbours bringing some 18,000 visitors from North America and Europe eager to get a taste of the only country in Central America with a British Colonial History and the largest Barrier Reef in the Western Hemisphere.
Belize (formerly British Honduras), is a young nation-state in northern Central America. Belize has a wonderfully diverse society, made up of a multiplicity of cultures and speaking many languages. English is the official language but Spanish is widely spoken as the major ethnic group of Belize is now Latino. But most Belizeans are fully bilingual in English and Spanish and most everyone speaks and understands Creole which is a an English derived dialect.
Above: Belize cheerleader in southern Belize.
Belize is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the south and west, and the enchanting Caribbean sea to the east. With 8,867 square miles (22,960 km²) of territory and 360,000 people (2010 est.), the population density is the lowest in Central American and one of the lowest in the world making for wide open spaces to explore and discover. The country's population growth rate, 2.21% (2008 est.), is the highest in the region. Belize's rich biologically significant and unique ecosystems contribute to it being designated as a bio diversity hotspot and a center for eco-tourism.
Belize gained its independence from the Great Britain on September 21st 1981 under the Peoples United Party Government led by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. George Price now known as the Father Of The Nation. The movement to Independence was opposed by the United Democratic Party. Belize is a member of the United Nations, the Non Aligned Movement, the Organisation of American States, PARLACEN ( the Central American parliament), SICA (the acrnonym in Spanish for the Central American Integration System) and the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Left: Belize Parliament Building.
Capital: Belmopan. Parliamentary democracy with two major political parties, the People's United Party (PUP), and the United Democratic Party (UDP). The UDP currently holds power, led by Prime Minister Dean Oliver Barrow (took office 7 February 7 2008). the Belize Constitution (this will open a new window where you can download the document in PDF format) includes a Bill of Rights.
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. Belize is essentially ruled by the Cabinet. The Senate is by law controlled by appointees approved by the Central Government and is viewed as a "rubber stamp" body since it cannot reject bills sent to it by the House of Representatives.
Above: Supreme Court Building downtown Belize City
The Belize 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.
This in practice means that the Prime Minister needs to discuss his intended appointment with the Leader of the Opposition. In the final analysis the Prime Minister has sole and absolute discretion to appoint members of the Supreme Court..
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.
Above: North American travelers entering Belize by road.
Getting to Belize is easy, by air, sea or land. By road from north America it is usually a two to three day trip or longer if you want to tarry and explore Mexico. Many visitors come to Belize via their yachts as we have several full service marinas - but be careful - it is recommended that mariners hire a local pilot to steer them through the Barrier Reef that protects Belize's entire coastline.
Air service to Belize is from the North and South. Most hubs in the U.S.A. offer direct connections to Belize. From Central and South America several airlines offer non-stop service or connecting flights. To find the most affordable flights, stay flexible on your dates, avoid peak holiday travel (around Christmas and Easter), and sign up for Internet specials and e-mail fare alerts. The big airlines currently serving Belize are American, Continental, US Airways, Delta, and TACA. Regional airlines such as Maya Island Air and Tropic offer flights to Cancun (Mexico) as well as Guatemala and Honduras. Many visitors from North American fly into Cancún, for the cheap airfares, then catch a bus (about five hours) to Belize.
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. Below, a statue in Chetumal, Mexico commemorates Guerrero and his children. Belize has yes to erect a monument to its first hero.
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 fell inn love with and married the Chief's daughter had children and this the genesis of the Mestizo (Spaniard-Indian admixture) of Latin America. In the state anthem of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Gonzalo Guerrero is referred to as the Father of the Mestizos. Section in Spanish follows with translation into English:
Esta tierra que mira al oriente
cuna fue del primer mestizaje
que nació del amor sin ultraje
de Gonzalo Guerrero y Za'asil.
Oh, this land that looks off to the east
the cradle of the first mestizo,
born from the pure loving breast
of Gonzalo Guerrero and Za'asil
Using his training as a Spanish solder, Guerrero became a famous war lord for the Maya at Chectemal. Because of his knowledge of Spanish military tactics, Guerrero (which literally translated into english means "warrior") became an important military adviser to the Maya of Belize and Yucatan in their subsequent resistance to Spanish domination: noted archeologist Dr. Eric Thompson calls him the first European to make Belize his home.
Left: Monument to Gonzalo Guerrero in Chetumal City.
In 1531 Gonzalo Guerrero and his father-in-law led the Maya and defeated an invading army from Spain at Chectemal (Corozal) headed by Alonso Davila. This was the first defence of Belize against an invading European army.
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.
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