Tucked between the Caribbean Sea and the rainforest on the eastern coast of Central America, Belize is the home of a small and diverse nation. The country, formerly known as British Honduras, was the United Kingdom's last colony on the American mainland and still maintains strong ties with Britain. Today Belize, which considers itself part of both the Caribbean and Central America, is cultivating relations with Latin America and the United States, although there is a lingering conflict with neighbouring Guatemala, which has made claim to part of Belize's territory in the past.
Tourism is a major source of foreign currency. Belize's attractions include wildlife, Mayan ruins and one of the longest barrier reefs in the world. Belize has a problem with violent crime, largely drug-related, and the trafficking of narcotics to the US, however. In Belize was added to a US blacklist of countries considered to be major producers or transit routes for illegal drugs.
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state, represented by a governor general. Prime minister: Dean Barrow. Dean Barrow was re-elected for an unprecedented third, five-year term in office in November He led the party in opposition until its victory at the polls in , unseating the People's United Party PUP government of Said Musa, which had been in power for 10 years.
Mr Barrow, a lawyer, has invested much of the aid money Belize received from Venezuela in an ambitious infrastructure programme. Belize is heavily dependent on aid from Venezuela, which also offers it oil at discounted prices. One of Mr Barrow's challenges has been grappling with the country's much larger neighbour, Guatemala, whose president, Jimmy Morales, said he would pursue with renewed vigour his country's claims over more than half of Belize.
Belize compares favourably for media freedom with neighbouring countries. There are no daily newspapers. Radio and TV outlets are privately-owned. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island. Too many people get frustrated by the system here without taking time to remember Belize is a young country still.
Imagine trying to get paperwork done in the United States or Canada when it was only 37 years old. We are looking at relocating to Central America from South Africa. We are looking at agricultural land ha if possible for essential oils Aloe Vera, snails etc.
With your knowledge, which country would be best suited for us please. We are even looking at Ecuador, we just wanna get away from the crime in South Africa and get on with our lives. Rietha Crafford rietha-c ophrah. Sharon no longer lives in Belize due to medical reasons. I can only speak more so for Belize as I have not lived anywhere else in Central America. Mainland Belize has lots of farming and you would be able to buy land and start something yourself or I have seen existing land for sale that has some degree of options such as fully grown fruit trees already in existence.
Belize is very much a third world country based on the people and their mentality. This is why they will stay a third world country. Very wild west here. We do ok with internet in San Pedro, much better than when I first turned up 9 years ago.
There is truth in what you are saying. Furthermore real crime in Belize is waking up one morning with a craving for a sausage , egg and cheese biscuit and realizing that you must cross the border, check out with Belize,in with Mexico and zip on over to the mall.
Thats why Mexico has enormous ex pat numbers. However, I do think Belize has room for improvement, as I stated above, particularly in its health care and education sector. Crime exists everywhere. I think what happened to that woman is awful, but certainly not something isolated to Belize.
Having said that, Belize should have as a priority methods for keeping their country safe — for their citzens, residents, and tourists. However, I know there are many parts of town that look very much like what I imagined a third-world country to be, not to mention once you get off of Ambergris Caye.
Belize definitely has both extremes of the old and the new and wealth and poverty, and all that goes with those designations. Hi Sharon: You wanted debate yes? Some tragic sex assault incident on a gringo lady. Not good. I know a lot of these folks on the forum get fired up but it is relevant to your interests. Plus some dude says he is safe but he is on Ambergris. That is not a good example of Belize safety albeit true. Al if you tried to steal our pool inflatables and roast lamb you would get a roundhouse kick to the ass and thrown in the pool.
Some think oil discovery might be the answer to push Belize forward? Well, that is a whole other topic right there and one for debate. Think about it… I have traveled mostly to 3rd world counties and BZ is not the same. One County I use to go to a lot is Ethiopia. It is ranked 10th in Terms of their Gross National Income. I would be in REALLy romote places and people would have cell phones and wireless internet but there would be no running water and most people use donkeys but I could always get ride in a car… a nice bed, meal, internet, indoor plumbing at the hotel and pretty much anything I could get in the US but much cheaper.
Things have changed. I think using the word emerging country is better. BUT what do you want Belize to emerge too??? Thanks for commenting and the compliment! I liked you article and tell ya if I agree once I get there. VERY well-written with solid documentation.
Sharon: I just realized in my socialist ridden brain that you are in the business of relocating ex pats. As such I need to state that based on what you listed and congruent with recent AARP findings that lists Belize in the top 10 Corozal not San Pedro that your list is an accurate representation of the retiree outlook.
But for Belizeans it is a different story. Sharon: Not wanting to get into semantics but the IMF differentiates developed from developing. Using their criteria such as per capita income, exports, and industrialization then Belize is wanting.
The former is around 6K US, exports are citrus and sugar, and the economy is agrarian largely. Tourism is not a listed criteria but Belize has for 4x less visitation than Costa Rica. All that which you listed would appeal to an expat retiree because in my 4. And those that had cars were ancient and jury rigged. I also recall on more than one occasion supplying some people with water to drink.
This reminded me of time I spent in Morocco some time ago.
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