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National Pride:- Anthem,
Prayer & Symbols
Reprinted from the Government of Belize
website, http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz
National Anthem
LAND OF THE FREE
Click here to listen to the
National Anthem!
O, land of the free
by the carib Sea,
our manhood we pledge to thy liberty!
No tyrants here linger, despots must flee
This tranquil haven of democracy
The blood of our sires which hallows the sod,
Brought freedom from slavery oppression's rod,
By the might of truth and the grace of God.
No longer shall we be hewers of wood.
Arise! ye sons of the
Baymen's clan,
put on your armour, clear the land!
Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee-
Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!
Nature has blessed
thee with wealth untold,
O'er mountains and valleys where praries roll;
Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and bold
Drove back the invader; this heritage hold
From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon'
Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;
Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon;
For freedom comes tomorrow's noon.
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National Prayer
The
Belizean Prayer
Almighty
and Eternal God, who through Jesus Christ
has revealed your glory to all nations, please protect and
preserve Belize, our beloved country.
God of
might, wisdom and justice, please assist our
Belizean government and people with your Holy Spirit of
counsel and fortitude.
Let the
light of your divine wisdom direct their plans
and endeavours so that with your help we may attain our
just objectives. With your guidance, may all our
endeavours tend to peace, social justice, liberty, national
happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful
knowledge.
We pray,
O God of Mercy, for all of us that we may
be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the
observance of your most holy law, that we may be
preserved in union and in that peace which the world itself
cannot give. And, after enjoying the blessings of this life,
please admit us, dear Lord, to that eternal reward that you
have prepared for those who love you. Amen.
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National Motto
"Sub Umbra
Floreo" = "Under the tree I flourish"
National Flag
The red, white and blue flag of
Belize is a symbol of the unity of our nation. Prior to Independence
the People's United Party (PUP) proposed a blue flag with the Coat
of Arms in a white circle. Because of the close association of the
flag with the PUP, public opinion was divided as to its suitability
to act as a unifying symbol.
The United Democratic Party (UDP)
did not propose a flag, but called for a flag that could rally all
citizens, regardless of their political affiliation. As a
consequence, the bi-partisan National Symbols Committee invited
citizens to submit designs for a National Flag.
The design selected by the
Committee is a royal blue flag with one horizontal red stripe at the
top, one at the bottom, and a white circle with the Coat of Arms in
the centre.
The Coat of Arms
The shield of the Coat of Arms
is divided into three sections by a vertical line and an inverted V.
The base section represents a
ship in full sail on waves of the sea. The two upper sections show
tools of the timber industry in Belize: a paddle and a squaring axe
in the right section and a saw and a beating axe in the left
section.
Supporting the shield are two
woodcutters, the one on the right holding a beating axe over his
shoulder in his right hand, and the one on the left holding a paddle
over his shoulder in his left hand.
Above the sheild rises a
mahogany tree. Below the sheild is the motto scroll. A wreath of
leaves encircles the Coat of Arms.
The Coat of Arms embodies an
important aspect of the history of Belize, as the mahogany industry
formed the basis of our economy in the 18th and 19th centuries.
NATIONAL MOTTO: "Sub Umbra
Florero" - These latin words me, "Under the shade I flourish."
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National Flower
The Black Orchid (Encyclia
Cochleatum) is the National Flower of Belize. This orchid grows on
trees in damp areas, and flowers nearly all year round.
Its clustered bulblike stems
vary in size up to six inches long and carry two or three leaves.
The black orchid flower has
greenish-yellow petals and sepals with purple blotches near the
base. The "lip" (one petal of special construction, which is the
flower's showiest) is shaped like a valve of a clam shell (hence the
name Encyclia Cochleatum) and is deep purple-brown, almost black,
with conspicuous radiating purple veins.
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National Tree
The Mahogany Tree (Swietenia
Macrophilla) is one of the magnificent giants of the forest. Rising
straight and tall to over a hundred feet from great buttresses at
the roots, it emerges above the canopy of the surrounding trees with
a crown of large, shining green leaves.
In the early months of the
year, when the leaves fall and new red-brown growth appears, the
tree can be spotted from a great distance.
The tree puts out a great flush
of small whitish flowers - the blossom for dark fruits, which are
pear-shaped capsules about six inches long.
When the fruits mature they
split into five valves, freeing large winged seeds which are carried
away by the wind. They fall on the shaded protection of the forest
floor and germinate to begin a new life cycle. The mahogany tree
matures in 60 to 80 years.
British settlers exploited the
forest for mahogany, beginning around the middle of the 17th
century. It was originally exported to the United Kingdom in the
form of squared logs, but shipment now consits mainly of sawn
lumber.
The mahogany tree forms part of
Belize's Coat of Arms. The motto "Sub Umbra Florero" means: Under
the shade (of the mahogany tree) I flourish.
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National Bird
The
Keel Billed Toucan (Ramphastos Solfurantus) is the National Bird of
Belize. It is noted for its great, canoe-shaped bill, brightly
colored green, blue, red and orange feathers
The bird is about 20 inches in
overall length. It is mostly black with bright yellow cheeks and
chest, red under the tail and a distinctive white patch at the base
of the tail.
Toucans are found in open areas
of the country with large trees. They make a monotonous frog-like
croak. Toucans like fruits, and eat by cutting with the serrated
edge of their bills.
Toucans nest in holes in trees,
using natural holes or holes made by woodpeckers, often enlarging
the cavity by removing soft, rotten wood.
They lay two to four eggs which
are incubated by both parents. The nesting stage lasts from six to
seven weeks.
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National Animal
 The
Tapir or Mountain Cow (Tapirello Bairdii) is the largest land mammal
of the American tropics.
The tapir is a stoutly built
animal with short legs, about the size of a donkey and weighs up to
600 pounds.
Its general color is dusty
brown with a white fringe around the eyes and lips, white tipped
ears and occasional white patches of fur on the throat and chest.
In spite of it's local name,
the tapir is not a cow. It is closely related to the horse and is
also kin to the rhinosceros.
The tapir is a vegetarian. It
spends much of its time in water or mud shallows, and is a strong
swimmer.
The National Animal is
protected under the wildlife protection laws of Belize, thus the
hunting of the tapir is illegal.
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More About Belize
Reprinted from the Government of Belize website,
http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz, (c) 2006.
Physical Features:
Belize (formerly British Honduras
until the name of the country was changed in 1973) lies 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 are
shallow and are sheltered by a line of coral reefs, dotted with
islets called 'cayes', extending almost the entire length of the
country.
There is a low coastal plain,
much of it covered with mangrove swamp, but the land rises
gradually towards the interior. The Maya Mountains and the
Cockscomb Range form the backbone of the southern half of the
country, the highest point being Doyle's Delight (1124 meters
above sea level) in the Cockscomb Range. The Cayo District in
the west includes the Mountain Pine Ridge, ranging from 305 to
around 914 metres above sea level. The northern districts
contain considerable areas of tableland. There are many rivers,
some of them navigable for short distances by shallow-draught
vessels. A large part of the mainland is forest.
The area of the mainland and cayes is
8,867 square miles. The country's greatest length from north to
south is 280 kilometres and its greatest width is 109 kilometres.
The climate is subtropical, tempered by trade winds.
Temperatures in coastal districts range from about 10 °C (50°F)
to about 35.6°C (96°F); inland the range is greater. Rainfall
varies from an average of 1,295 millimetres in the north to
4,445 millimetres in the extreme south. The dry season usually
extends from February to May and there is sometimes a dry spell
in August.
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Population:
Today Belize's population is estimated to be at approximately
300,000 The country is a melting pot of many races and over the
years the muliti-racial make-up has risen through the influx of
many people of Central America, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.
Males outnumber the female population only by 1%.
The population census shows that the
main ethnic groups: Mestizo, Creole, Ketchi, Yucatec and Mopan
Mayas, Garifuna and East Indian maintains a large percent of
Belize's population. Other ethnic groups: German and Dutch
Mennonites, Chinese, Arabs and Africans accounts for a small
percentage of the population. The ethnic groups, however, are
heavily intermixed.
Languages:
English is the official language of Belize. However, English
Creole is widely spoken and remains a distinctive part of
everyday conversations for most Belizeans. Spanish is also
common and is taught in primary and secondary schools in order
to further develop bi-lingualism.
Spanish is spoken as a mother tongue by
the majority of the people in the Orange Walk and Corozal
Districts, north of Belize and the Cayo District in the west, In
the southern Districts: Stann Creek and Toledo, there are people
whose first language is Garifuna or Maya.
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Capital:
Belmopan is the capital of the country. Built
in 1970, it is the seat of Government and has been classified as
the Garden City of the country. It was created following
extensive damage to the former capital Belize City, caused by
Hurricane Hattie in 1961. Belmopan is geographically located at
the centre of the country, some 80 kilometers to the south-west
of Belize City on higher ground. It serves as a hurricane refuge
for Belizeans and has the largest number of hurricane shelters
in the country. Its population today is estimated at 11,100 and
is increasing as more people relocate to the Capital. However,
Belize City still remains the hub of commercial activity and one
of the most urbanized centers of Belize with a population of
78,000 people.
Brief History
Numerous ruins indicate
that for hundreds of years Belize was heavily populated by the
Maya Indians, whose relatively advanced civilization reached its
height between A.D. 250 and 900. Eventually the civilization
declined leaving behind small groups whose offspring still exist
in Belize contributing positively to the culturally diverse
population.
In 1502, Columbus sailed
through parts of the Caribbean, but did not actually visit the
area later known as British Honduras.
The first reference to
European settlement in the colony was in 1638. These were later
augmented by disbanded British soldiers and sailors after the
capture of Jamaica from Spain in 1655. The settlement, whose
main activity was logwood cutting (logwood was used in the past
to produce dye), had a troubled history during the next 150
years. It was subjected to numerous attacks from neighbouring
Spanish settlements (Spain claimed sovereignty over the entire
New World except for regions in South America assigned to
Portugal).
 It
was not until 1763 that Spain in the Treaty of Paris allowed the
British settlers to engage in the logwood industry. The Treaty
of Versailles in 1783 reaffirmed those boundaries and logwood
concession was extended by the Convention of London in 1786. But
Spanish attacks continued until a decisive victory was won by
settlers, with British naval support, in the Battle of St.
George's Caye in 1798. After that, British control over the
settlement gradually increased and in 1871 British Honduras was
formally declared a British Colony.
From an early date the
settlers had governed themselves under a system of primitive
democracy by Public Meeting. A set of regulations referred to as
Burnaby's Code was effected in 1765 and this, with some
modification, continued until 1840 when an Executive Council was
created.
In 1853 the Public Meeting
was replaced by a Legislative Assembly (partly elected, on a
restrictive franchise), with the British Superintendent, an
office created in 1786 at the settlers' request, as Chairman.
When the settlement became a colony in 1871 the Superintendent
was replaced by a Lieutenant Governor under the Governor of
Jamaica.
 The
Crown Colony System of Government was introduced in 1871, and
the Legislative Assembly by its own vote was replaced by a
nominated Legislative Council with an official majority presided
over by the Lieutenant Governor.
An unofficial majority was created in 1892, and this
constitution, with minor changes, continued until 1935 when the
elective principle was once again introduced on the basis of
adult suffrage with a low-income qualification. The
administrative connection with Jamaica was severed in 1884, when
the title of Lieutenant Governor was changed and a Governor was
appointed.
Further constitutional
advances came in 1954 with the introduction of Universal Adult
Suffrage and an elected majority in the Legislature, the
Ministerial System was adopted in 1961 leading up to Self
Government in 1964. The country's name was changed on 1st June,
1973, from British Honduras to Belize.
Independence was achieved
on September 21, 1981 and a new independence constitution
introduced. Belize was then admitted as a member of the United
Nations, the Non-Alligned Movement and the Commonwealth of
Nations.
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Constitution
and Government:
Belize achieved full independence on September 21, 1981. It is
now a member of the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the
Nonaligned Movement, the Organization of American States and the
Association of Caribbean States. Diplomatic relations have been
established with many countries. Belize is also a member of the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and related institutions.
The Government of Belize is operated on the principles of
Parliamentary Democracy based on the Westminster System. The
country is a sovereign, democratic state.
A Prime Minister and Cabinet make up the Executive Branch, while
a 31-member elected House of Representatives and a twelve-member
appointed Senate form a bi-cameral legislature.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the constitutional Head of
State. She is represented in Belize by a Governor-General, who
must be a Belizean.
The Cabinet consists of a Prime Minister, other Ministers and
Ministers of State who are appointed by the Governor-General on
the advice of the Prime Minister, the person commanding the
support of the majority party in the House of Representatives.
Six Senators are appointed by the Governor-General on the advice
of the Prime Minister, three on the advice of the Leader of the
Opposition, one on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches
and Evangelical Association of Churches, one on the advice of
the Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Belize Business
Bureau and one on the advice of the National Trade Union
Congress and Civil Society Steering Committee.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of
the Senate are elected either from among the members of these
Houses (providing they are not ministers) or from among persons
who are not members of either House.
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Elections and
Political Parties:
General Elections are held at
intervals of not longer than five years. The voting age is 18.
The Prime Minister has the right to advise the Governor-General
to dissolve the National Assembly and so determine the date of
the general elections.
The most recent elections took place on 7th February 2008. The
United Democratic Party (UDP) won 25 of the 31 seats in the
House of Representatives; the remaining six were won by the
People’s United Party (PUP). A recent re-districting created two
more constituencies, increasing the number of seats from 29 to
31.
Administration
and Local Government:
There are six administrative
districts: Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek and
Toledo. With the abolition of the posts of District Officers,
the district administration is now jointly run by a number of
Government functionaries, namely Finance Officers, the Officer
commanding the District Police and the Heads of various
Government departments based in the districts.
Each district town has a locally elected Town Council of seven
members. The Cayo district has two Town Councils, namely, San
Ignacio and Benque Viejo.
Belize City is administered by a nine-member City Council. There
is also a Town Council in the Belize District, namely San Pedro
Town Council in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
The Capital city of Belmopan is administered by the Belmopan
City Council.
A Village council Act (SI No. 100 of 2003) was enacted to
formally establish Village Councils.
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Belize's Missions
Abroad
 UNITED
NATIONS
-
Permanent Mission of
Belize to the United Nations - New York, U.S.A;
-
Permanent Mission of Belize
to the United Nations - Geneva, Switzerland;
-
Permanent Mission of Belize to UNESCO -
Paris, France.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CANADA
MEXICO
GUATEMALA
-
Embassy of Belize in Guatemala - multiple
accreditation to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras,
Nicaragua, Panamá.
UNITED KINGDOM
BELGIUM
Honorary
Representatives
 NORTH
AMERICA
Canada (Montreal,
Quebec);United States (San Francisco, Chicago, Florida,
Louisiana, Michigan, Puerto Rico and Texas); Mexico (Chetumal,
Quintana Roo)
CENTRAL AMERICA
El Salvador,Honduras,
Nicaragua, Panamá,Costa Rica.
CARIBBEAN
Jamaica, Dominican
Republic.
SOUTH AMERICA
Chile.
EUROPE
Austria, Germany,
Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.
EASTERN EUROPE
Romania.
ASIA
Republic of China, Hong
Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan.
MIDDLE EAST
Israel, Lebanon.
Foreign
Resident/Non-resident Representation
There are 11 foreign
Embassies resident in Belize:
-
Republic of China
-
Colombia
-
Costa Rica
-
Cuba
-
El Salvador
-
Guatemala
-
Honduras
-
Mexico
-
United Kingdom
-
United States of America
-
Venezuela
 45
non-resident Representatives accredited to Belize, of these
non-resident representatives 22 have Honorary Consulates
appointed in Belize:
Presently there are several
International Organizations represented in Belize. These
include:
CARDI
- Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute.
CFRAMP -
CARICOM Fisheries Resources Assessment and
Management Programme.
EU -
European Union.
FAO -
Food and Agriculture Organization.
IDB -
Inter-American Development Bank.
IICA -
Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture.
OAS -
Organization of American States.
PAHO/WHO
- Pan American Health Organization/ World Health
Organization.
UNDP -
United Nations Development Programme.
UNICEF
- United Nations Children's Fund.
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Agriculture
Agriculture currently
provides some 71% of the country's total foreign exchange
earnings, and employs approximately 29% of the total labour
force.
Although about 1,998,230
acres or 38% of the total land area are considered potentially
suitable for agricultural use, only perhaps 10 to 15% is in use
in any one year. About half of this is under pasture, with the
remainder in a variety of permanent and annual crops. The
traditional system of "milpa" (shifting cultivation) involves
the annual clearing of new land for crop production, however,
there is an increasing number of farmers making permanent use of
cleared land by mechanical means. A tax is levied on the
unimproved "value" of the land.
 The
expansion and improvement of agriculture is one of the principal
aims of national development planning. The Department of
Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries maintains
an Extension Service with officers posted in all districts.
Agricultural research is conducted at the Central Farm Research
Station into a variety of tropical crops, livestock and pasture.
Agricultural research is also done by other non-governmental
bodies, such as the Caribbean Agricultural Research and
Development Institute (CARDI) and the Taiwanese Mission, within
the country. The Ministry provides mechanical, veterinary and
quarantine services to farmers and an agricultural training
college at Central Farm. Other government services include the
Belize Marketing Board, which operates in the buying and selling
of producers' rice from the Toledo District, and the Development
Finance Corporation, which offers credit to farmers, among
others.
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Fisheries and Forestry:
 Belize
has a viable fishing industry. During 1996, Bz $24.3 million of
marine products were exported. There are laws to protect the
rock or spiney lobster to avoid over fishing. There is a closed
season between March and July. Export markets for scale fish are
mainly in the United States, Mexico and Jamaica.
There has been a resurgence
in forestry. Reforestation and natural regeneration in the pine
forest (mainly in the Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo Districts)
and artificial regeneration of fast-growing tropical hardwood
species are in progress.
THE BELIZE FISHING
INDUSTRY - THE ROAD TO EXPANSION
The Belize Fisheries
Department was established in 1965 and has been mandated to
manage a sector that has been in existence for several
generations - the Fisheries Sector. Belize's fisheries are
exploited for commercial, as well as for subsistence purposes,
and are one of the most heavily exploited natural resources. In
an effort to maximize the benefits obtained from the fishing
industry, while ensuring its long-term viability, fisheries
managers are promoting an expansion in production through
diversification of this resource base.
Belize's fishing industry
is small and growing; it is an industry with great potential for
development.
List of Fisheries
Export Products:
-
Lobster
-
Conch
-
Finfish
-
Aquarium Fish (NOS)
-
Stone Crab Claws
-
Shrimp
-
Shark
-
Dry Sea Farine
-
Smoked Fish
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Industries:
 The
main industries are sugar, citrus, fisheries and bananas. Sugar
accounts for more than 33.4% of the country's foreign exchange
earnings. Because of the uncertain future of these traditional
exports, major efforts are being made towards agricultural
diversification. Industrial development is encouraged through a
number of incentives which include the awarding by government of
tax holidays and import duty exemption on inputs of up to a
maximum of 25 years to qualifying companies.
Belize is home to a number
of growing enterprises which include, but not limited to, the
manufacture of metal doors and windows, furniture, concrete
blocks, bricks, clothing, boat building, soft drink bottling,
brewing, cigarette manufacture, tyre recapping, the production
of flour and animal feed, wire and paper products, an
agricultural fertilizer plant, matches, plywood and other wood
products, a meat packing plant, food processing operations and
the manufacture of rolled steel bars for the construction
industry and a host of other manufacturing activities.
INCENTIVE SCHEMES:
Several incentive schemes have been instituted to encourage and
promote investment. The investment schemes are contained in the
following legislations:
1. Fiscal Incentives Act
No. 6 of 1990
2. Mines and Minerals Act 1988
3. Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Act 1990
4. Commercial Free Zone (CFZ) Act 1994
5. International Business & Public Investment (IBC)
Act 1990
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Communications
Roads:
Belize has four major highways, the Northern Highway
connecting Belize City with Orange Walk and Corozal Towns
and to Chetumal on the Mexican Border; the Western Highway
connecting Belize City with Belmopan and continuing to Santa
Elena/San Ignacio and Benque Viejo del Carmen then to the
border with Guatemala; the Southern Highway linking the
Stann Creek and Toledo Districts and the Hummingbird Highway
which links Cayo with the Stann Creek District. All
principal towns and villages are linked by roads to Belmopan
and Belize City.
Regular bus services
operate to and from all main towns.
Inland Waterways:
Several rivers and lagoons are navigable by shallow draught
vessels. The Belize River was once used for logging.
 Air:
The main airport, Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, is
situated 10 miles from Belize City, and is owned by the
Government and operated by the Belize Airports Authority.
Regular international services are maintained by five airlines
to and from the United States of America, Central America and
Mexico. There are numerous Government owned aircraft. Domestic
air services provide connections to all main towns and to four
of the offshore islands.
A modern weather radar
system, part of the World Meteorological Network, gives early
warning of approaching hurricanes. The Belize Weather Bureau is
now equipped with satellite communication facilities to assist
in weather forecasting.
Sea:
The main port is in Belize City, now equipped with a modern
deep-water port which is capable of handling containerized
shipping. Nine major shipping lines move cargo to and from
Belize to Central and North America, Europe and Japan. The
second largest port, Commerce Bight just South of Dangriga, has
been improved to accommodate the medium sized vessels required
to handle increased exports of bananas and citrus products. A
new port has been built at Big Creek. Coastal services are
operated between towns and villages on the mainland to some of
the offshore islands, and to Puerto Barrios in Guatemala.
Telecommunications:
The Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL), a private company,
owns the automatic telephone service which covers the entire
country. BTL operates a regional service to Mexico, Guatemala
and Central and South America, as well as all other external
services. A recent expansion programme has doubled the capacity
of the telephone system. A satellite earth station in Belmopan
provides high quality telecommunications with the outside world.
The Office of
Telecommunications acts on behalf of the Government in
monitoring and regulating all telecommunication services within
Belize, including the assignment of frequencies.
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Social Services
Health:
 The
basic structure for health care delivery is
provided by a network of seven district
hospitals which are divided into four regions
(Northern Region - Orange Walk and Corozal
Districts, Central Region - Belize District,
Western Region - Cayo District and Southern
Region - Stann Creek and Toledo Districts) with
the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital being the
national referral hospital.
There is
also an infirmary for the care of geriatric and
chronically ill patients. Local training for
nurses and midwives is provided at the Belize
School of Nursing. A new offshore medical
University is presently operating in the
country. To date, most physicians and
physician-specialists have been trained either
at the University of the West Indies or at one
of the Latin American Universities (Guatemala,
Costa Rica or Mexico).
Education:
 Education
is compulsory for children aged between 6 and
14. Primary and Secondary education is free. In
1997 there were 53,110 pupils enrolled in 280
primary schools (Gov't & Gov't aided), 10,912 in
30 secondary school and 2500 in 11 post
secondary institutions. Government runs some of
the schools but most schools are run by the
churches. The Government maintains one special
school for mentally disabled children and
another for children with physical disabilities.
A Centre
for Employment Training (CET) has been
established in Belize City to provide a
mechanism to reach the student population that
has not had the advantage of completing
secondary school. The CET has also opened a
branch in San Ignacio, Cayo District. Training
is based on employment trends, as well as on the
nature of changes in the labour market.
Specialized training is available at other
institutions. The Belize Technical College
offers craft and technical courses, the Belize
Teachers College runs a two-year diploma course
leading to trained teacher status.
The Belize
Vocational Training Centre in Belize City
provides courses for primary school-leavers,
while the Belize Youth Development Centre and
the Belize College of Agriculture offer training
for those interested in entering the field of
agro-industry.
Advanced
training is provided to Belizeans in the
professional and technical fields at Belize's
first university, the University College of
Belize, which opened in 1986. The University of
the West Indies maintains a School of Continuing
Education (SCE) in Belize City. This
institution's work includes organising adult
education classes and lectures. In addition, it
offers courses in social anthropology,
constitutional law and conversational Spanish
and Garifuna. The SCE encourages creative arts
and sponsors an annual festival of dance, music
and drama.
There is a
well-equipped library service. It has its
headquarters in the Baron Bliss Institute in
Belize City and 74 service points scattered
throughout the country. Remote areas are
serviced by a mobile library. The Bliss
Institute is maintained and operated by the
Government in order to encourage cultural
activities.
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Tourism
The
Government's manifesto asserts that Tourism is
one of the twin pillars of the economy, along
with agriculture.
With Public
and Private sectors working together, Tourism
will become a truly sustainable Eco-cultural
tourism product that will provide economic
growth while preserving our god given gifts for
the future of our children and society.
The Key
executing agency in the ministry of Tourism is
the Belize Tourism Board.
The Belize
Tourism Board is a statutory board within the
Ministry of Tourism which functions as a
strategic partnership between government and the
private sector to develop, market and implement
tourism programs that will fulfill the emerging
needs of our local industries and the
international tourism market place for the
benefit of Belize and Belizeans.
With its
many natural, archaeological and cultural
attractions, Belize takes pride in conservation
and has adopted the concept of Eco cultural
tourism. It explores nature in a manner that
will protect the environment, which is enjoyed
and appreciated by all.
We invite
you to come and catch the adventure in Belize…
Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret!
Contact us
at:
Belize Tourism Board
Level 2, Central Bank Building
P.O. Box 325
Belize City, Belize
Tel: 501-2-31913 / 31910
Fax: 501-2-31943
Website:
www.travelbelize.org
Reprinted from the Government of Belize
website, http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz
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