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Belize is a country situated in the Central America. Until 1973 it was known as the British Honduras, and became a independent nation in 1981. Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Sistema de Integracion Centroamericana (SICA), and the Commonwealth of Nations. Belize is situated in between the Guatemala and Mexico bordering the Caribbean Sea. The costal lines extend upto 386 km.
Belize claims a territorial sea of 12 nm in the north and 3 nm in the south .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 rationale of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala.
The geographical terrain is flat with swampy coastal plain and low mountains in south. The lowest point in Belize is Caribbean Sea and the highest is the Doyle's Delight at1,160 m. The natural resources found in the Belize are arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower.
The climate is generally tropical, very hot and humid. The rainy season is form May to November and dry season from February to May.
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| People |
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Colonization, slavery, and immigration have had an important effect in ethnic composition of the population.The total population sums upto 301,270. The chief ethnic groups are mestizo comprising 48.7% of the total population, Creole with 24.9%, Maya with 10.6%, Garifuna comprising 6.1% and other 9.7%.
The chief religious groups are Roman Catholic followed by 49.6%, Protestant comprises 27% inclusive of Pentecostal with 7.4%, Anglican with 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5% and Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%, other comprises of 14% and none 9.4%.
The major languages are Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% which is the official language, Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4% and unknown 0.2%.
The current birth rate of Belize is approx. 25/1000. Round about 6 people die every year out of 1,000 members of the population. Belize has a relatively young and growing population with the highest birth rate in the world.
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| Government |
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Belize follows a political framework of parliamentary democracy. Since 1952 Queen Elizabeth II is the chief of the state represented by Governor General. Prime Minister is the head of the government. The cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Prime Minister. The monarch is hereditary and the governor general is appointed by the monarch. Following the legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed as the Prime Minister by the governor general. Belize is administratively divided into 6 districts Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange,Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo.
The Belizean legal system is modeled on the common law of England.
Capital : Belmopan
Independence Day : 21 September,1981
Governor General : Sir Colville Young
Prime Minister : Dean Barrow
Deputy Prime Minister : Gaspar Vega
The national flower of Belize is the black orchid |
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| Economy |
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Belize is a essentially a private-enterprise economy and tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner. The second major economy booster is exports, chiefly of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments.
The chief occupational sector is Service industry with 62.3% of the labour force, followed by agriculture with 22.5% and thirdly the industrial sector with 15.2% of the labor force.
9.4% of the total population is still unemployed which is the highest in the central America and about 33.5% lives under poverty line.
The chief agricultural products to be found in Belize are bananas, citrus, cacao sugar, cultured shrimp, fish, lumber and garments. The major industrial products are garment production, food processing, tourism, construction and oil |
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