About Belize
The Location
Belize is located on the Central American Mainland and is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west and south by Guatemala. Even though it is geographically a part of Central America, Belize has very close ties to the Caribbean and is often described as a Caribbean country. The weather can be described as tropical, and the country has two seasons, a dry season and a rainy season.
The People
Belize is a melting pot of Mestizo, Maya, Creoles, Garifuna, East Indian, Mennonite and Chinese. Persons from other countries have also made their home in Belize. The Mestizo make up the majority of the population, followed by the Creoles, then the Garifuna. While English is the official language of the country, Belizeans also speak Spanish, Creole, Garifuna, and a number of Mayan dialects. At the middle of July 2008, the population of the country was estimated at approximately 301,000 persons; Belize also has a relatively young population.
Governance and Administration
The system of Governance in Belize is based on a Parliamentary Democracy model, and features the Governor General as the Head of State (representing the Queen) the Prime Minister as the Head of the Country, A National Assembly made up of two Houses, namely the House of Representatives, and the Senate.
Members of the House of Representative are elected in Elections held every five years, while members of the Senate are appointed to serve in the Senate. Belmopan is the capital of the country, and administratively, the country is divided into six areas, namely Belize District, Orange Walk District, Corozal District, Cayo District, Stann Creek District, and Toledo District.
The Economy
Tourism is the number foreign exchange earner for Belize. The major exports include citrus, sugar, bananas and marine products. An interest has also being developed in non-traditional crops such as papayas and hot peppers. Oil in commercial quantities has also been found in the country and is currently being exported.
