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NAVIGATION
Belize
former: British Honduras
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Belmopan |
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Administrative divisions:
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6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo |
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Independence:
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21 September 1981 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21 September (1981) |
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Constitution:
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21 September 1981 |
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Legal system:
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English law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM] |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636 chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025 telephone: [501] 227-7161 FAX: [501] 230-802 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.4% in 1999 and 10.5% in 2000. Growth decelerated in 2001 to 3% due to the global slowdown and severe hurricane damage to agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Major concerns continue to be the rapidly expanding trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $830 million (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,250 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 18%
industry: 24% services: 58% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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33% (1999 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.7% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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11.5% (2000) (2000) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $186 million
expenditures: $253 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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garment production, food processing, tourism, construction |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4.6% (1999) (1999) |
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Electricity - production:
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192 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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178.56 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp |
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Exports:
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$239.6 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood |
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Exports - partners:
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EU 45% (UK 33%), US 42%, Caricom 6%, Canada 1% (1999) |
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Imports:
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$505 million c.i.f. (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods; food, beverages, tobacco; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals |
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Imports - partners:
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US 51%, Mexico 12%, Central America 5%, UK 4% (1999) |
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Debt - external:
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$500 million (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA |
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Currency:
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Belizean dollar (BZD) |
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Currency code:
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BZD |
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Exchange rates:
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Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |