North & Central America and Caribbean
Belize
Last reviewed: 27 June 2008
Country information
BELIZE TODAY
Country Facts
Area: 22,965 sq km (8,867 square miles)
Population: 291,600 (June 2005). Source: Belize Central Statistics Office.
Capital City: Belmopan (population: 8,130 at census of 12 May 2000)
People: Mestizos (Maya/Spanish) 49%, Black Creoles (of African descent) or Caribbean (25%), Maya 11%, European, East Indian and Chinese 9%, and Garifuna 6%.
Language(s): Officially English; however, over half the population speak Spanish and Creole is also widely spoken. There are a number of indigenous languages, such as Garifuna, Maya and Ketchi.
Religion(s): Predominantly Christian; the Roman Catholic Church is the largest denomination. Small groups practice Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Bahai.
Currency: Belizean Dollar (BZ$). BZ$2 equates to US$1.
Major political parties: The People's United Party (PUP), United Democratic Party (UDP).
Government: 2-Chamber National Assembly. Senate of 13, 7 appointed by the Prime Minister, 3 by the Leader of the Opposition and 1 each by the National Trade Union Congress of Civil Society, the Belize Council of Churches and Belize Chamber of Commerce. The Lower House, the House of Representatives, has 31 (not including the Speaker) directly elected members serving a 5-year term. The last Government elections were held on 7 February 2008.
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a Governor-General.
Prime Minister: Dean Barrow
Governor-General: Sir Colville Young
Foreign Minister: Wilfred Elrington
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Belize is a member of the United Nations and WTO (World Trade Organisation) and the regional groupings of CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market), SICA (Central American Integration System), OAS (Organisation of American States), Commonwealth, ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific), NAM (Non-Aligned Movement), San Jose Group, Association of Caribbean States (ACS), CDB (Caribbean Development Bank), the World Bank Group, IMF (International Monetary Fund) and IADB (Inter-American Development Bank)
HEALTH
Overall health conditions in Belize compare favourably with neighbouring Central American countries, though still poor. The government is the main provider of health services which include the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, a national referral hospital in Belize City, 3 regional and 3 district/community hospitals, approximately 40 health centres, 30 health posts and a mental health facility. A major reform of the health sector, including reorganisation of services, infrastructure development and financing is currently underway. Services provided by these facilities are complemented by national programmes for maternal and child health, environmental public health and water safety inspection, health promotion education and nutrition, dental health, communicable disease control and HIV/AIDS. The leading cause(s) of death in Belize is (are) heart disease, secondary to diabetes, hypertension and road traffic accidents, followed by high blood pressure and HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS was first diagnosed in Belize in 1986. Since then, there has been an increase in incidence (rates) every year, and has now reached epidemic proportions. UNAIDS estimate there is a 2.01% prevalence rate of HIV in Belize which would rank the country as one of the highest in Central America and ninth in the Caribbean. The national AIDS Commission estimates that there are approximately 7,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Belize producing a 4% infection rate.
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contacts
Belize, Belmopan, British High Commission
Address:
British High Commission
PO Box 91
Belmopan
Telephone:
+ (501) 822 3146 - Consular direct
+ (501) 610 1045 - Duty officer
Fax:
+ (501) 822 2761
Email: brithicom@btl.net
Office hours:
GMT:
Mon-Thurs: 1400-1800/1900-2200
Fri: 1400-2000
Local Time:
Mon-Thurs: 0800-1200/1300-1600
Fri: 0800-1400
Consular section opened 9 am to noon and 1-3 pm Monday through Thursdays and 10 am to 2 pm on Fridays