Belize
One of the worlds action packed countries: motaunins, rainforests with abundant wildlife, subtropical foothills, beaches, diving, ice age caves, Mayan ruins dating to around 1000BC, tropical islands and festivals and carnivals. There is something for everyone here, but outdoor enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice.
- Highest Point Victoria Peak 1160m
- Over 40% of the country is protected in some way
- hundreds of Cayes (sand islands) are off the coast of Belize
- some of the world best diving including one of the only ice age caves
- Tropical rainforests with spectacular wildlife and bird species
- Mayan culture and ruins around the entire country
Total Area:22,966 sq km Land Borders: Guatemala, Mexico
Population: 287,730
Life Expectancy: 68 years HIV % Total Poulation:2.4%
Ethnic Groups: mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Languages:English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Prime Minister:Said Wilbert MUSA GDP - Per Capita: $6,800
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. Current concerns include high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increasing urban crime.
- 200 - 800 A.D. -Maya cities flourish all through Belize.
- 900 - 1000 A.D. -Maya cultural decline in Southern and Central Belize.
- 1520s -Cortez crosses Southern Belize.
- 1530s -Montejo attempts to conquer Belize for Spain.Nachankan and Belize Maya defeat Spanish.
- 1650s -British buccaneers begin to settle Belizean coast.
- 1660 -Bartholomew Sharpe, famous British pirate, makes Belize his base and begins to harvest logwood for sale to U.K.
- 1670 -Godolphin (Madrid) Treaty opening all of the Americas to British colonization.
- 1717 -Spanish force from Peten drives out Baymen.
- 1720s -First record of African slaves in Belize.
- 1754 -Spanish drive out the Baymen who return within a year.
- 1763 -Treaty of Paris: Spain permitted British settlers to cut logwood; no boundaries defined.
- 1765 -Admiral Burnaby codified Settlement's Regulations, known as "Burnaby's Code". Public meeting passed resolutions regulating boundaries of logwood works.
- 1765/68/73 -Slaves revolt.
- 1779 -Spanish forces capture Belize and take Baymen and slaves to Yucatan. Slaves freed after declaring loyalty to Spain. Baymen sent to Cuba.
- 1783 -Treaty of Versailles: Spain recognized British rights to cut logwood in Belize between the Hondo and Belize rivers.
- 1784 -Settlers return to Belize; Despard appointed first Superintendent of the Settlement.
- 1786 -Convention of London expands British rights in Belize to the Sibun and permits mahogany cutting.
- 1787 -British evacuate Mosquito Shore and 2,214 "Shoremen" and their slaves came to Belize. Public Meeting determined qualifications for owning mahogany works.
- 1788 -Maya attacked mahogany works on New River.
- 1798 -Battle of St. George's Caye.
- 1802 -150 Garifuna already settled at Stann Creek.
- 1807 -Abolition of slave trade.
- 1817 -Superintendent takes away power of settlers to issue lands; large body of runaway slaves reported in the interior.
- 1820 -Slave Revolt
- 1821 -Mexican and Central American Independence.
- 1831 -Act passed to give equal rights to "colored subjects" as to whites.
- 1832 -Large number of Garifuna arrive in Belize (Garifuna Settlement Day)
- 1834/38 -Slavery abolished. Land ordered to be sold and no longer issued free.
- 1847 -War of the Castes in Yucatan sends thousands of refugees into Belize.
- 1856 -Northside of Belize City destroyed by fire.
- 1859 -British-Guatemala Treaty over Belize. British Honduras Company (later B.E.C.) formed.
- 1862 -Belize becomes Colony of "British Honduras".
- 1865 -Labourers brought from West Indian islands and China, especially for work on sugar estates of B.H. Co.
- 1866 -British troops routed by Maya in Yalbac Hills.
- 1867 -Reinforced British Troops destroy Maya villages and crops in Yalbac.
- 1871 -Belize declared Crown Colony after Assembly dissolved itself in 1870. Three of the four unofficial members in new Legislative Council represent landed interests.
- 1894 -Constables mutiny. Belizean workers riot for better pay.
- 1906 -Belize City gets electricity.
- 1914 -World War I - Many Belizean volunteers served.
- 1919 -Belizean troops riot upon return home.
- 1922 -Marcus Garvey visits Belize.
- 1929 -Great Depression begins.
- 1931 -Great Hurricane - over 2,000 dead.
- 1933 -Guatemala re-asserts claim to Belize
- 1934 -Antonio Soberanis leads workers protests.
- 1939 -World War II
- 1949 -B.H. dollar devalued.
- 1950 -Founding of the P.U.P.
- 1952 -National strike led by General Workers Union.
- 1954 -Vote for all adults.
- 1964 -Self Government.
- 1968 -The "Webster Proposals": draft treat presented by U.S.A. mediator for Anglo-Guatemalan dispute, rejected by government and people.
- 1970s -Internationalization of Belize's cause.
- 1971 -Belize joins CARIFTA. Belmopan becomes Capital of Belize.
- 1973 -Country's name legally changed to "Belize". Aliens Landholding Ordinance passed.
- 1975 -First pro-Belize resolution passed by General Assembly of United Nations.
- 1976 -Belize given "special status" in Non-Aligned Movement.
- 1981 -Independence Belize joins Commonwealth, United Nations and Non-Aligned Movement.
- 1984 -P.U.P. is defeated for the first time in 30 years. Manuel Esquivel of the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) becomes the second Prime Minister of Belize.
- 1986 -Belize's first university opens.
- 1989 -P.U.P. wins elections.
- 1990 -12 years after its formation, three Belizeans take command of the Belize Defence Force (B.D.F.) as Commandant of BDF, Guard Commander, Commander of Air & Maritime Wing.
- 1991 -Guatemalan President Jorge Serrano Elias recognizes Belize's right to self determination ten years after independence. Belize is admitted into the Organization of American States (OAS).
- 1992 -Guatemalan Constitutional Court upholds President Serrano's decision to recognize Belize as an independent state and to establish diplomatic relations.
- 1993 -U.D.P. has a second term in office after the P.U.P. government calls elections 18 months early.
- 1994 -Responsibility for Belize's defence changes from British Forces to the Belize Defence Force as the British garrison withdraws from the country.
- 1996 -Hon. George Cadle Price steps aside after 40 years as leader of the P.U.P. Said Musa becomes the new Party Leader.
- 1998 -U.D.P. leader Manuel Esquivel resigns after losing his seat in elections; Dean Barrow becomes U.D.P.'s new Party Leader. Belizeans return P.U.P. to power, making Said Musa the third Prime Minister of Belize.
- 2001 -Mayas in Belize sign Declaration of Ancestral Rights. UNESCO proclaims The Garifuna Culture as a Masterpiece of an Intangible and Oral Heritage.
- 2003 -P.U.P. becomes the first government to serve two consecutive terms since Independence.