Overview

The Basics

Belize, which was originally known as British Honduras, is located in the heart of the Caribbean Basin on the East coast of Central American bordering Mexico to the North, Guatemala to the West and South, and the Caribbean Sea to the East. The 23,000 square kilometers of Belize is home to various types of biomes including plains to the North, coastal swamps and mountains in the Southwest, and a true tropical rainforest in the South.

The heat and humidity of the prevailing subtropical climate is tempered by a brisk wind originating in the Caribbean Sea. Despite the largely temperate weather, Belize is frequently devastated by hurricanes, particularly during the months from September to December.

The main tourist attractions in Belize are the cays, which are pronounced keys, the barrier reef, and the offshore atolls. The 185 mile long barrier reef is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. The cays, which are islands and/mangroves, are sandwiched between the mainland and the barrier reef as well as on the barrier reef and on or in the perimeters of the barrier reef of the offshore atolls.

The atolls, donut shaped coral islands and reefs that nearly or completely enclose a lagoon, are indistinguishable by their palm trees. They proved excellent opportunities for outdoors sports such as SCUBA diving, fishing, snorkeling, boating, sail boarding, sailing, and sea kayaking as well as habitats for indigenous animals such as nesting birds and turtles.

Belize’s capital city is Belmopan and its largest city is Belize City. Most travelers usually reach Belize by air and international flights operate daily in and out of Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City. The airport is only two hours flying time to Miami, New Orleans, or Houston in the United States. In additions, there are reliable air cargo and shipping services to and from the United States of America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Central America. There is a departure tax of $20USD from the international airport and a tourist departure tax of $10USD when leaving Belize from either of the land border crossings.

Belize is the only Latin American where English is the official language. Nevertheless, other languages, especially Spanish, are widely spoken.

According to the most recent estimates, Belize is home to over 290,000 people and has annual growth rate of 2.25%. The majority of the population, 48.7%, is ethnically mestizo, people of mixed European and indigenous Amerindian ancestry living in Latin American. Creoles are the second largest group, being nearly 25% of the population. The other notable ethnic groups are Mayan and Garifuna. The many different racial and ethnic elements of Belize have traditionally mixed and blended successfully giving Belize a reputation for racial harmony, religious tolerance, and friendly people.

Although Christianity, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, is the prevailing religion on the island, there are also small groups of Muslims, Hindus, and followers of the Bahai faith.

Belize was settled by the British, who wished to fell and export tropical hardwoods including mahogany, in the seventeenth century. The following years were marked by slave revolts and ownership disputes between Spain and England until Belize officially became the British Colony of “British Honduras” in 1871. In 1954, universal suffrage was introduces and ten years later, self-government followed. The country has been called Belize since 1973 and independent within the Commonwealth of British nations since 1981.

Government and Economy

Belize’s democratic, bi-cameral legislature is based on the Westminster system. The titular Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and she has been represented by Governor General Sir Colville Young since 1993.

Members of the House of Representatives are elected by direct popular vote and serve a five-year term. One of the Governor-General’s responsibilities is to appointment a leading member of the majority party in the House of Representatives to be the Prime Minister. Also, the Governor-General must appoint a 12-member Senate. The Senate includes six members based upon the Prime Minister’s advice and three on the advice of the opposition leader. The rest of the members are chosen based upon the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the civil Society Steering Committee. The two main political parties are the People’s United Party, called PUP, led by Said Musa and the United Democratic Party, UDP, led by Dean Barrow and Douglas Sign. The last elections were in 2003 and PUP was awarded 21 seats and UDP the remaining eight. The current Prime Minister is Said Musa.

The Belizean economy has been improving dramatically since 1986 partly because of government implemented adjust program. The internal reform happened at the same time as the recovery of the world economy and particularly the revival of the sugar market. Tourism also became a major contributor to economic growth. In the four years between 1986 and 1990, the annual average growth rate of the Belizean economy was more than 10% and inflation remained low at an average of 2.8%.

The economic upturn was interrupted in the early 1990s as a result of regional economic problems and the worldwide recession. There was a further economic slowdown from 1997 until 1998 as a result of a stringent austerity program. Furthermore, the trade deficit grew largely because of low export prices for bananas and sugars. Nevertheless, the slowdown was temporary and government expansionary monetary and fiscal policies initiated in the fall of 1998, led to a healthy GDP growth that average almost 4% from 1999 until 2006. In 2006, the estimated GDP per capita was $8,400 and unemployment stagnated at 9.4%, nearly 3% less than in 2004. A proposed series of unpopular revenue raising measures including increased levies on business and professionals were introduced in order to meet a fiscal deficit target of 3% of GDP in the 2005 Budget.

As of August 2006, the existing terms for servicing of the country’s debt, which makes up 90% of its GDP, was deemed no longer viable by Prime Minister Said Musa. This announcement led to the government rearranging its debt and successfully closing the exchange of its commercial external debt for new bonds due in 2029. These bonds are denominated in US dollars and provide for step-up coupons set at 4.25% per annum for the first three years after issuance.

Foreign Affairs

Belize is both a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Commonwealth of Nations.

A valid passport and visa may be necessary for entry into Belize. Visitors are permitted to stay in Belize for up to thirty days. However, for BZ$25.00, extensions may be granted upon application to the Immigration Office, Corner Pickstock and North Front Streets, Belize City. Travelers will be asked to show that they have sufficient funds, US$50.00 per person per day, for their visit, as well as a departure ticket.

Visas for travel are not required for United States citizens and citizens from the European Community. Citizens of Bangladesh, Bolivia, Columbia, China, Angola, Brazil, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Cuba, India, Libya, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa and nationals of the former USSR must receive prior approval for a visa from the Ministry of Human Resources, Department of Immigration.

Everyone is allowed to apply for permanent residence after one year of continuous legal residence in Belize. There is a $100.000 permanent residence fee. Applicants must also pay a deposit, which can vary from $100.00 to $1,200.00, depending on their nationality. New residents may get their deposit refunded three years after residency is granted. Each member of the family wishing to travel to Belize must include two passport-sized photographs with their application forms. The back of the photographed should be labeled with the applicants name and signed by a Justice of the Peace. Personal bank statements and current Police and Medical records should also be attached to the petition.

In order to be recognized as a Belizean national, an applicant must have permanent residence or have legally resided in the country for at least five years.

As a result of amendments to the Belizean Nationality Act, 1981 made in 1985, people who make substantial contributions to the economy and or well being of the nation may be registered. In 1995 the Government\'s Economic Citizenship Investment Programme was reformed and updated to add to the programme\'s credibility and integrity. The Economic Citizenship Investment Programme Unit, a special unit within the Ministry of Finance, administrated the program. 500 heads of household were admitted under the Program each year.

However, on January 15th, 2002, the Belizean citizenship program was officially ended because the Fourth Amendment to the Belize Constitution, which in addition to other things removed the constitutional authority to grant Belizean citizenship on the basis of a contribution to the economic well being of the country, came into effect. After the September 11th attacks on the Unites States there was also increasing concern about possible abuse of the citizenship program. Lastly, according to the Prime Minister, "The program was controversial among Belizeans also and some Belizeans felt that it was demeaning to the country\'s integrity."

The Retired Persons Incentive Act, passed by the Belize legislature in early 1999, is worth mentioning. It is similar to a formerly popular but now defunct pensionado program in Costa Rica and is designed to attract more retirees to Belize. Qualified retirees are allowed to live full time tax-free and bank in Belize with a “permanent” tourist visa. In order to be designated a Qualified retired person under the program, applicants must receive a monthly income of at least $2,000USD either through a pension or annuity generated outside of Belize.