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National Flag of Belize
Belize's flag is blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges. A large white disk bearing the coat of arms is in the center -- the coat of arms features a shield between two workers, before a mahogany tree with the motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland. Map of Belize

A Brief History of Belize

Numerous ruins of ancient cities and pyramid-style ceremonial centers show that for hundreds of years, Belize was heavily populated by up to a million Maya Indians, who built elaborate cities and temples, and created advanced mathematics, astronomy, engineering and art. The Mayan empire, centered in Belize, reached its height between AD 300 and 900, and then rapidly declined. Historians and archeologists have several theories--war, drought, rebellion, religious and cultural conflict are but a few--but whatever the reason, by the time the Spanish arrived in the early sixteenth century, most of the Mayans had
disappeared and their once-huge cities were covered over by the jungle.

In 1502, Columbus sailed into and named the Bay of Honduras, but did not actually visit the area later to be known as British Honduras. The first recorded European settlement was established in 1638 by shipwrecked British sailors. This settlement was later augmented by disbanded British soldiers after the the capture of Jamaica from Spain in 1655. The settlement, whose main purpose was logwood cutting (logwood was used in the past to produce a dye) had a troubled history during the next 150 years.

The woodcutters, who called themselves "Baymen," were subjected to numerous attacks by the Spanish, who claimed
sovereignty over the entire New World except for regions in South America assigned to Portugal; English pirates also fought
back by raiding passing Spanish ships.

In 1763, England and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris, which allowed the British settlers to continue cutting logwood in Belize; but did nothing to curb the mistreatment of African slaves, who had been imported into Belize beginning in the early 17th century to cut the timber; nor the increasing deforestation caused by the lumber trade.

Territorial skirmishes continued until 1798, when a small contingent of British soldiers and Baymen defeated the Spanish in a key battle on tiny St. George's Caye, putting a permanent end to Spain's claims to territorial rights in Belize. In 1821, Spain granted independence to Mexico and
Guatemala, both countries asserted claims to Belize; the claims were rejected by the British government.

In 1859, the British signed a treaty with Guatemala whereby Guatemala agreed to withdraw its claims to Belize and the British agreed to finance a road from Guatemala's capital to Belize City. (The road was never built; and Guatemala's government failed to ratify the agreement. Guatemala continued to periodically threaten to annex Belize until 1991, when its newly elected government finally agreed to recognize the independence and sovereignty of Belize.)

During the mid 19th Century, thousands of refugees fleeing civil war in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula fled to Northern Belize and developed a sugar-growing industry. Mexico abandoned its claim to Belize by signing a treaty with the British in 1897.

The British settlers had developed a primitive form of democracy called the "Public Meeting" system and had even written a constitution based on the system, which functioned until 1853, when an elected Legislative Assembly was instituted under the direction of the British Superintendent. In 1871, when the British officially declared Belize to be the Colony of British Honduras, the Superintendent was replaced by a Lieutenant Governor under the Governor of Jamaica; and the elected Legislative Assembly replaced by a nominated Legislative Counsel. The administrative connection with Jamaica was severed in
1884 when the title of Lieutenant Governor was changed to that of Governor.

Such quasi-democratic systems excluded the majority of Belizeans, who were not landowners.

The British had officially abolished slavery in Belize in 1837; in retaliation, powerful landowners stopped giving away land to settlers in order to defeat British law permitting former slaves and people of African descent to own property. While landowners prospered, most Belizeans had a low standard of living and few rights.

Creole veterans returning from World War I, labor union organizers, unemployed workers, religious activitists and others created impetus for a social and political movement that demanded universal suffrage and self-government. Workers' rights movements developed organizations to fight for better pay and improved working conditions; these organizations played a major role in the movement for Belizean independence.

In 1954, the nationalist movement achieved its goals of universal adult suffrage and a new Constitution creating an elected Legislative Assembly. In 1961, Britain agreed that Belize would be granted independence.

By 1964, Belize had achieved full internal, elected self-government, based on a parliamentary system, with Britain remaining in charge only of foreign relations, defense and internal security. In 1973, the country's name was officially changed from British Honduras to Belize.

On September 21, 1981, Belize formally became an independent nation belonging to the British Commonwealth. Belize is a parliamentary democracy with a high degree of electoral participation and a Constitution that guarantees basic rights and freedoms to all citizens.

Geography of Belize

Belize is located on the Eastern or Caribbean coast of Central America, bounded on the north and part of the west by Mexico and on the South and the remainder of the West by Guatemala. The inner coastal waters sheltered by the Barrier Reef (the 2nd largest in the world at 180 miles), and are dotted with over 200 islands, atolls and islets called "cayes" extending the entire length of the country. Belize covers approximately 8,866 miles of territory; its mainland is approximately 180 miles long and 68
miles wide at its widest point.

The Belizean mainland has a low coastal plain covered with mangrove wetlands, but the land rises gradually towards the interior.

The Maya Mountans and the Cockscomb Range form the backbone of the Southern half of the country; the highest point is Victoria Peak, at 3,699 feet in the Cockscomb Range. The Cayo District in Western Belize includes the Mountain Pine Ridge,which ranges from 305 to 914 meters above sea level. The Northern districts contain considerable areas of tableland.

There are many rivers, waterfalls, creeks, and lagoons. A large part of the mainland consists of tropical forest.

Temperatures average 79 degrees F; and can vary from 50-95 degrees F. Trade winds cool the coastal areas and cayes most of the year; except for a couple of weeks a year, typically in August or September. The dry season is typically November through May; and the rainy season June through November. However, even in the dry season, brief rains are not uncommon;
and occasionally northern storms bring rain in December and January, as occurred during the winter of 1993/94. Belize can also suffer severe droughts, especially on the Northern cayes. Rainfall averages from 60 inches in the North to 150 inches in the South. Belize is in a hurricane belt; there have been three serious hurricanes in the past 60 years.