BELIZE

 

Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a country on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south and west by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide.

With 22,800 square kilometres (8,800 sq mi) of land and as of 2015 a population of 368,310,[ Belize has the lowest population density in Central America.

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Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place in the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.

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Belize, the only nation in Central America where English is recognized as the official language, shares its western and northern boarders with Spanish-speaking countries Guatemala and Mexico, respectively. Along its east coast are nothing but sandy beaches and the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.

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Belize's rich cultural treasures and scenic countryside offer plenty of opportunities to explore.  From Mayan ruins in Xunantunich to more modern atmosphere and the nightlife in the capital city Belmopan. Other popular Belize destinations include:

• The Belize Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems, with hundreds of coral and fish species

• The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, where you can snorkel with stingrays

• The Actun Tunichil Muknal, one of Belize's many Mayan caves, complete with original ceramics, stoneware, and even skeletons

• The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Blue Hole, a popular destination among scuba divers looking to spot Caribbean reef sharks

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Unlike the mass of arid land to the north, Belize experiences tropical climates with both wet and dry season; hurricane season spans June to November. Visit Belize during the winter for the best weather and most pleasant climate.

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Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and languages that reflect its rich history.

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Belize is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The structure of government is based on the British parliamentary system, and the legal system is modelled on the common law of England. The symbolic head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title Queen of Belize. The Queen resides in the United Kingdom, and is represented in Belize by the Governor-General. Executive authority is exercised by the cabinet, which advises the Governor-General and is led by the Prime Minister of Belize, who is head of government. Cabinet ministers are members of the majority political party in parliament and usually hold elected seats within it concurrent with their cabinet positions.

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The bicameral National Assembly of Belize is composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate. The 31 members of the House are popularly elected to a maximum five-year term and introduce legislation affecting the development of Belize. The Governor-General appoints the 12 members of the Senate, with a Senate president selected by the members. The Senate is responsible for debating and approving bills passed by the House.

Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Belize. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Members of the independent judiciary are appointed. The judicial system includes local magistrates grouped under the Magistrates' Court, which hears less serious cases. The Supreme Court (Chief Justice) hears murder and similarly serious cases, and the Court of Appeal, hears appeals from convicted individuals seeking to have their sentences overturned. Defendants may, under certain circumstances, appeal their cases to the Caribbean Court of Justice.

 

Political culture

Since 1974, the party system in Belize has been dominated by the centre-left People's United Party and the centre-right United Democratic Party, although there have been other small parties that have participated at all levels of elections in the past. Though none of these small political parties have ever won any significant number of seats and/or offices, their challenge has been growing over the years.

Foreign relations

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Belize is a full participating member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Organization of American States (OAS), Central American Integration System (SICA), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), Association of Caribbean States (ACS),[30] and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which currently pertains only to Barbados, Belize and Guyana. In 2001 the Caribbean Community heads of government voted on a measure declaring that the region should work towards replacing the UK's Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice. It is still in the process of acceding to CARICOM and SICA treaties, including trade and single market treaties.

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Belize is an original member (1995) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and participates actively in its work. The pact involves the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) subgroup of the Group of African, Caribbean, and Pacific states (ACP). CARIFORUM presently the only part of the wider ACP-bloc that has concluded the full regional trade-pact with the European Union. 

 

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