Belize

exclusive economic zone:

200 nm

territorial sea:

• 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south;
• note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm;
• according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

• tropical;
• very hot and humid;
• rainy season (May to February)

current issues:

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff

natural hazards:

frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

international agreements:

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Whaling

• national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of hurricanes;
• only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

0-14 years:

43% (male 48,291; female 46,451)

15-64 years:

53% (male 59,132; female 57,498)

65 years and over:

4% (male 3,881; female 4,043) (July 1996 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.96 male(s)/female

all ages:

1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

noun:

Belizean(s)

adjective:

Belizean

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Belize

former:

British Honduras

consists of an eight-member appointed body; five members are appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one after consultation with the Belize Advisory Council (this council serves as an independent body to advise the governor general with respect to difficult decisions such as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.)

• elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998);
• results - percent of vote by party NA;
• seats - (28 total) PUP 13 UDP 15

• People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA;
• United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW;
• National Alliance for Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON

chief of mission:

Ambassador Dean R. LINDO

chancery:

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 332-9636

chief of mission:

Ambassador George Charles BRUNO

embassy:

Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City

mailing address:

P. O. Box 286, Belize City; APO: Unit 7401, APO AA 34025

telephone:

[501] (2) 77161 through 77163

• blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;
• centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms;
• the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

agriculture:

30%

industry:

NA

services:

NA (1995 est.)

• bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane;
• lumber;
• fish, cultured shrimp

• transshipment point for cocaine;
• an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
• minor money-laundering center

total:

2,560 km

paved:

336 km

unpaved:

2,224 km (1987 est.)

total:

89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 311,731 GRT/470,272 DWT

ships by type:

bulk 9, cargo 60, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

males age 15-49:

52,290

males fit for military service:

31,086

males reach military age (18) annually:

2,390 (1996 est.)