Belize History
Physical Features of Belize
After El Salvador, Belize is the second smallest Central American country with a land mass of 8,866 sq miles, 185 miles of cayes.
The Capital Of Belize- is Belmopan
Belize is divided into six districts. It is bounded on the north by Mexico, south and west by Guatemala, and east by the Caribbean Sea. In Belize we do not experience four seasons but do have rainy and dry weather, and a hurricane season. The hurricane season is from June to November.
Temperatures in Belize range from 50°F to 95°F with an annual mean of 79°F. November to January are traditionally the coolest months with a 75°F average and May to September are the warmest at about a 81°F average. Location is a big factor for temperature as Cayo to the west can be several degrees colder then along the coast and during November at night, temperatures can fall to a beautiful 46°F in Cayo. In the mountains, the coldest days and nights might seem relatively very cold and blankets will definitely be needed at night. However, the mean annual temperatures on in the mountains is a perfectly comfortable 72°F.
JANUARY
In January, the northeast trade winds are normally established. In the Toledo District, except for a narrow coastal strip, the days are usually free from rain. On the upland Maya Mountains, the rainfall is only about 9 or 10 inches and almost all of the north of the country receives less then 3 inches of rain. In the south, the Mayan bean crops are maturing while in the north, the sugar cane harvesting is in full swing.
FEBRUARY
February is the most consistent month of the year in all districts except in Toledo. The dry easterly tradewinds blow steadily and the morning showers along the coast are gentle and infrequent. The Toledo coast gets about 6 inches of rain. Most of the northern part of the country gets only about an inch of rain. This is the month when you will see most of the clearing of forest by farmers throughout the country.
March
is another reliable month. The pattern of rainfall is similar to February and the northern parts of the country often go all month without rain.. The steady trades are beginning to fluctuate a little and thunderstorms start to form over the Maya Mountains. Toledo has its first “dry” month of the year (averaging about 4 inches) and the eager Mayan farmers are beginning to burn their “Milpas” and sow their corn – though most will wait for April.
APRIL
April ushers in the onset of the rains caused by the heating of the land. Huge thunderstorms begin to build over the hot Maya Mountains. The easterly trades are losing their force and the thunderstorms often move toward the coast. These afternoon buildups are beautiful to watch, with most of the lightening hitting deep within the Maya Mountains. Toledo has another dry month of only about 4 inches of rain, and the Mayan farmers wait till after the ground is soften by the rains to begin to plant their corn or burn the bush. In the north, the rainfall is very sporadic and go by the local name of “Iguana Rains”.
MAY
During May, every part of the country can be assured of at least 2 inches of rain. The most striking characteristics of May are the majestic towering thunderheads. Strong convection currents caused by the heated land make these thunderheads daily occurrences.. By the end of the month, stormy conditions are becoming general throughout Belize and rainstorms are frequent in the south. The rainfall in Toledo may jump to 10 inches and storms blow in from the south east often lasting for three days.
JUNE
During June, easterly winds become fairly strong and steady. Rainfall in Toledo rises to 24 inches average. The rains are fairly consistent throughout the country, though the coast may get more rain then the land immediately behind. The rains are warm and quick, with plenty of sunshine – perfect growing conditions for the vast tropical forests which cover the country. Most of the Mayan farmers stop farming operations as well as loggers. Even the north part of the country gets 7 or 8 inches of rain.
JULY
July closely mirrors June and the rainfall is similar. The extreme northern part of the country may receive a little less rain then June, but Toledo still gets about 24 inches of rain during the month. This rainfall is highly variable from year to year, but no part of the country receives less then 6 inches of rain during the month.
AUGUST
August sees the dying away of the southeasterly rains, and rainfall drops about 2 inches throughout the country. A dry westerly wind dominates the weather. Toledo still receives plenty of rain. These dry conditions around the country which may last for a couple of weeks are locally referred to as the “Little Dry”. August is a fairly reliable month and westerly winds may become quite strong. The citrus harvest begins in the Stann Creek Valley with the sweetest juices you can imagine.
SEPTEMBER
September is the month of dying breezes. North and west winds are light and variable. Most of the rains fall on the mountains where the warm moist sea breezes meet the cooling land mass at the close of the day. Evening and night rains are common. Toledo receives about 22 inches of rain and even the northern part of the country receives between 5 and 7 inches. Mayan farmers are harvesting their corn while planting early crops of beans.
OCTOBER
In October, the “northers” increase. These northers bring in cold air from the north which meets the warm tropical air over Belize, causing rainfall and heavy northern winds. Strong “northers” blow right across the Maya Mountains and dump heavy rains on Toledo. Light “northers” drop heavy rains on the northern side of the Maya Mountains in the Cayo District. The northers can often be quite cool and cause light craft warnings throughout the country. They seldom last for more then 3 days at a time.
NOVEMBER
November sees the northerly winds at their most strongest and coldest. The east winds are very light and weak. Land breezes with cold air move down toward the coast where they meet the warm moist sea breeze increase rainfall along the barrier reef. There is a long rain shadow area extending for almost the entire length of the coastal plain along the foothills of the Maya Mountain Range. Grass fires in the savannas are common during the month of November within this rain shadow.
DECEMBER
During December, the dry season should arrive and talk turns to the coming planting season. There is an increase in easterly winds and the northers are dying away. As the northers die, a slow moving belt of gentle rains move across the country and are known locally as the “mid-winter rains”. The southeasterly trades begin to blow, carrying the cycle back into January.
The main exports of Belize are citrus, sugar, bananas, and marine products.
BELIZE: A MULTI-ETHNIC NATION
The official language of Belize is English. An English based Creole and Spanish are also widely spoken. The population of Belize was about 248,800 (2000 census) comprising Mayas, Mestizo (Hispanic Indian), Creole (African-European), Garifuna (African-Indian), East Indians, German Mennonites, and also recent immigrants like Asians, Europeans and others.
THE CREOLES
The Creoles, who are of mixed Africans and European descent, are the second largest segment of the population with 25% as compared with Mestizos who constitute 48%, according to the 2000 census. The Creole are the descendants of African slaves who first arrived in Belize in the 1720’s to assist in the logging industry. They mostly settled in the Belize District. The creoles are well represented in the public service and educational institutions.
THE MAYA
There three groups of Maya. The Mopan and Kekchi settled in the West and South of Belize particularly in Toledo. The Yucatec Maya arrived at the same time with the Mestizos during the Castle War, and they likewise settled in the North.
THE MESTIZOS
The Mestizos constituted the largest portion of the population in the 2000 census. They originally settled in northern Belize after seeking refuge from the Castle War in 1849. Over a century later in the 1970’s and 1980’s there was unrest in several Central American countries. As a result, many Hondurans, Guatemalans, Salvadoreans and Nicaraguans sought refuge in Belize once again.
THE GARIFUNA
The Garifuna people began to arrive in Belize from as early as 1823 but the largest group came in 1832 after they were driven from the island of St. Vincent. They settled in southern Belize.
THE EAST INDIANS
The East Indians arrives in Belize in the mid-1800s as indentured servants. Their descendants can be found in the Toledo and Corozal districts.
THE MENNONITES
The Mennonites arrived in 1958. They signed an agreement with the Government of Belize to administer their own communities, provide for themselves and have their own schools.
Each ethnic group has contributed immensely to the development of Belize and to its rich culture.
EDUCATION
Formal education started in Belize in 1814. The first school was started by Church of England. Subsequently, the Methodist, Roman Catholics, and Baptists opened schools for their children of the members of their churches.
Pre-School education is not compulsory, however, many parents send their children to pre-school from about 3 or 4 years of age. Primary education is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 to 14 years. There are high schools in each district that students can attend to complete secondary education. Those who wish to continue studying can attend tertiary level institutions such as St. John’s Sixth Form, the University of Belize and the Ecumenical College.
HOLIDAYS
In Belize there are several religious as well as public and bank holidays. Here are the public and bank holidays.
JANUARY 1 — NEW YEARS DAY–in celebration of the new year.
MARCH 9 — BARON BLISS DAY– this holiday is in honor pf Baron Henry Edward Victor Bliss, an Englishman who bequeathed a large sum of money to Belize.
MAY 1 — LABOR DAY — in appreciation of the worker.
MAY 24 — COMMON WEALTH DAY — commemorates the Commonwealth of Nations.
SEPTEMBER 10 –ST. GEORGE’S CAYE DAY– commemorates the 1798 Battle of St. George’s Caye.
SEPTEMBER 21 — INDEPENDENCE DAY– commemorates Belize’s Independences from Britain.
OCTOBER 12 — PAN AMERICAN or COLUMBUS DAY– commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Western Hemisphere.
NOVEMBER 19 – GARIFUNA SETTLEMENT DAY– commemorates the arrival of Garifuna people in Belize in 1832.
DECEMBER 25– CHRISTMAS DAY — celebrates the birth of christ.
DECEMBER 26–BOXING DAY–
THE NATION ANTHEM -LAND OF THE FREE
O, Land of the free by the Carib Sea, Our manhood we pledge to thy liberty! No tyrants here linger, despots must flee this tranquil haven of democracy. The blood of our sires which hallows the sod brought freedom from slavery’s oppression’s rod. By the might of truth and the grace of God, no longer shall we be hewers of wood.
Arise! Ye sons of the Baymen’s clan. Put on your armor, clear the land! Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee, Land of the Free by the carib Sea!
Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold, O’er mountains and valleys where prairies roll; Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and bold, Drove back the invader; this heritage hold. From proud Rio Hondo to Old Sarstoon. Through coral isle, over blue lagoon; Keep watch with the angles, the stars and moon: For freedom comes tomorrow’s noon.
The National Flower – The Black Orchid— It grows on tree in damp areas, and blooms all year round. The pedals are greenish yellow with some purple near the base.
The National Bird – The Keel Billed Toucan — It is mostly black with a bright yellow chest. The great canoe-shaped billed of the toucan is green, blue, red and orange. the bird is about 20 inches in length. It is noisy and can be found in open areas in the country which has large trees. The toucan eats fruit.
The Nation Tree- The Mahogany Tree — The Mahogany Tree forms part of the Coat of Arms. Mahogany was exploited by the British Settlers and shipped to Britain. The tree can grow as tall as 100 feet. It is used for lumber and for making furniture.
The National Animal- The Tapir– The Tapir is the largest animal in the American tropics, and is locally know as the Mountain Cow. It has a dusty brown color, and is related to the horse and rhinoceros. Its weight can be as much as 600 pounds. The Tapir is a vegetarian and is protected under the Wildlife Act of Belize.
As a country with geographic and historical links with both Central America and the Caribbean, Belize has become the home and heaven for many displaced people over the years.
The country of Belize was a former British colony, and was known as British Honduras until 1973 when the name was changed to Belize. Belize was first settled by the Maya long before Christopher Columbus visited the Western Hemisphere. The Maya had a great civilization that flourished until it collapsed in the 1500s; however, we still enjoy the remains of their amazing architectural designs.
The Spaniards arrived in the early 1500s, but they had no intention of settling in British Honduras. they claimed that the country was too swampy and had too many mosquitoes. Nevertheless, they tried to control the Maya but were met with much resistance.
British pirates had been using Belize’s coastline as a base to plunder Spanish ships. In the 1600s, some of them arrived at the mouth of the Belize River. They were attracted to the abundance of logwood which they used for making dye. They supplied England with this wood, and eventually established permanent settlement. By the 18th century logwood had lost its popularity and was replaced by mahogany. Mahogany cutting required a larger workforce, and in the 1720s the first group of African slaves arrived to assist in the logging industry.
Although the Spaniards did not occupy the territory, they still claimed sovereignty. So the British woodcutters and Africans were under constant attack. They lived in constant conflict with the Spaniards who made at least six attempts in about 75 years to invade the settlement. The settlers and the Spaniards were constantly engaged in efforts to try and resolve the conflicts and maintain peace by signing numerous treaties. These treaties always favored the Spaniards, and they determined the extent to which the British could cut mahogany, establish plantations or fish.
Eventually, the conflict ended with the Battle of St. George’s Caye on September 10, 1798. The settlers in the British settlement claimed victory. As a result the status of the settlement was changed to colony in 1862, and crown colony in 1871. Belize gained self government in 1964, and achieved independence from Britain on September 21, 1981.
Despite these achievements, Belize has inherited a legacy from the conflict between the British and the Spaniards. In 1859, Britain and Guatemala signed the Anglo-Guatemala Treaty. Article 7 of this treaty stated that the two nations should arrange for a road to be built between the Atlantic Coast near the settlement of Belize and Guatemala City. This road was never built. Today Guatemala still maintains a claim over the country of Belize.
As an independent nation, Belizeans saw it necessary to have an identity. One way in which this was done was through the selection and use of the National Symbols. The Belizean flag colors blue, white and red are derived from the colors of the two major political parties in Belize. Red and white are the colors of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the blue and white are the colors of the People’s United Party (PUP). In the middle of the flag is a white circle with the Coat of Arms. It is divided into 3 sections. The base section represents a ship sailing. A saw and an axe are at the top right. The top left has a paddle, and a mallet. Two woodcutters, one with a paddle, and the other with an axe, stand on both sides of the shield. the mahogany rises high above the shield. Below the shield are the Latin words: SUB UMBRA FLOREO. This means
“Under the shade of the tree I flourish.” 
A wreath of 50 leaves encircle the Coat of Arms. It reminds us that the first political party, the PUP, started in 1950.
The Belize Government
When Belize was a colony of Britain, the Queen was the titular head, and her representative was an English governor. After Belize became independent, the Queen of England remained as the titular head of state, and the government was replaced by a governor-general who must be a Belizean citizen. the Governor-General is recommended for the position by the prime minister.
Belize has a democratic government based on the British parliamentary system with some adaptations of its own. There are three branches of government: Legislature, Senate, and Executive.
The Legislative Branch is made up of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The members of the House of Representatives are elected every 5 years in a general election. The laws are introduced in the House of Representatives. There are at present 29 members of this House.
The Senate Branch consist of 12 members who are appointed every 5 years. Six are appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister, three on the advice of the leader of the Opposition, one on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of Churches, one on the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau, and one on the advice of the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee.
The main function of the Senate is to consider and pass Bills passed by the House of Representatives. Other functions include authorizing the ratification of treaties, approving the establishment of foreign military bases and approving the appointment of Ambassadors, the Judges, the Contractor General and the Ombudsman.
The Executive Branch consists of the members of government who are appointed to make up the Cabinet. the Prime Minister decides the composition of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is the chief policy-making body of government.
Judiciary - The Constitution provides for a Supreme Court and a Court of Appeal. The highest court of Belize is the Privy Council in London. There are now proposals to replace the Privy Council with a Caribbean Court of Justice.
Below the Supreme Court are the Magistrate’s Courts which try less serious criminal cases and small civil cases.
The Supreme Court conducts more serious criminal trials by juries. It also hears important civil cases. An appeal from the Supreme Court can go to the Court of appeal and then to the Privy Council.
The Judiciary is the guardian of fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. It applies and interprets the law and ensures that all persons and bodies respect the Constitution and the Laws of Belize.
Local Government-For administrative purposes Belize is divided into six ditricts. there is a city council for Belize City, and town boards in the other five districts. Additionally, the villages are governed by a village council. The Alcalde system also operates in some Maya villages in the Toledo District.
The Constitution- Before the present constitution came into being, there were laws from as far back as the 1700s that governed the British settlement. In 1765, Admiral William Burnaby grafted the Burnaby’s code which has evolved to the present constitution. The Belize constitution informs Belizeans about thier rights and freedoms as it relates to citizenship, the governor-general, the three branches of government and other miscellaneous national issues.
Chapter 2 of the constitution guarantees the Belizean people basic rights as human beings regardless of race, place of origin, political opinions, color, creed or sex.
