Belize

Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increasing urban crime.

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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

exclusive economic zone:

200 nm

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

• deforestation;
• water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff;
• solid and sewage waste disposal

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.93 male(s)/female

total population:

1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

noun:

Belizean(s)

adjective:

Belizean

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Belize

former:

British Honduras

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)

head of government:

Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections:

• none;
• the monarch is hereditary;
• governor general appointed by the monarch;
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general;
• prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

chief of mission:

Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN

chancery:

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 332-9636

FAX:

[1] (202) 332-6888

consulate(s) general:

Los Angeles

chief of mission:

Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN

embassy:

29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City

mailing address:

P. O. Box 286, Belize City

telephone:

[501] 227-7161 through 7163

FAX:

[501] 2-30802

• 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

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

• bananas, coca, citrus, sugar;
• fish, cultured shrimp;
• lumber;
• garments

• machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods;
• fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;
• food, beverages, tobacco

general assessment:

above-average system

domestic:

trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay

international:

country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total:

2,872 km

paved:

488 km

unpaved:

2,384 km (1999 est.)

total:

295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT

by type:

bulk carrier 25, cargo 207, chemical tanker 9, container 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned:

142 (Australia 2, Belgium 1, China 50, Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 9, Germany 4, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 3, Italy 2, Japan 5, Latvia 4, Malaysia 1, Nigeria 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 2, Russia 23, Singapore 5, South Korea 6, Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 3, United States 2) (2005)

• 18 years of age for voluntary military service;
• laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient;
• conscription has never been implemented;
• volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2001)

• Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited rain forests of Belize's border region;
• OAS is attempting to revive the 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK financial package

• major transshipment point for cocaine;
• small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
• money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector