Belize
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. Belize is now a stable parliamentary democracy with a constitution enacted in 1981. Prime Minister Said Wilbert Musa was re-elected in 2003, with his People's United Party (PUP) winning 21 of the 29 assembly seats. Musa became prime minister in 1998, when the PUP won a landslide victory. Before that, he held a number of government posts over a 25-year period, including those of attorney-general and foreign minister. Musa was a key figure in drafting the constitution at independence and in the discussions leading to independence.
Belize has peoples and cultures similar to those found elsewhere in the Americas - Spanish-speaking Mestizos, who are of mixed Maya Indian and European ancestry, Creoles, who speak a Creole dialect of English and who are often of African and African-European extraction, and Garifuna, who are descendants of Carib Indians and Africans. The country’s ethnic make-up is changing and the use of Spanish is on the rise, boosted by an amnesty for many immigrants from neighboring Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
As with many Caribbean economies, the service sector has overtaken agriculture, fishing and forestry. Tourism, already a major source of foreign currency, has great potential due to attractions which include abundant wildlife, Mayan ruins and one of the longest barrier reefs in the world. Cruise ship arrivals in particular have seen a massive increase in recent years.
Belize faces the problem of violent crime, much of it drug-related, and the trafficking of narcotics to the US. In 2006 the US state department included Belize in a list of countries which it said were not doing enough to tackle human trafficking.
Political violence is not a concern in Belize.
Crime and the gradual deterioration of police services, however, are growing concerns for residents and visitors (see "Crime" below). The growing crime problem has been largely attributed to increased drug smuggling operations in Belize.
Safety issues can affect travelers. Safety precautions and emergency response capabilities are generally of a lower standard than many travelers expect. Public buses and taxis are frequently in poor condition and lack safety equipment. Boats serving the public, especially water taxis, often do not carry sufficient safety equipment, may carry be overloaded, and may sail in inclement weather. Rental diving equipment is not always properly maintained or inspected, and some local dive masters fail to consider the skill levels of individual tourists when organizing dives to some of Belize’s more challenging sites. Death and serious mishaps have occurred as a result of negligent diving tour operators and the lack of strict enforcement of tour regulations. Check the references, licenses, and equipment of tour operators before agreeing to or paying for a tour.
