style="font-size:15px;"> Type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Belmopan
Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:
21 September 1981 (from UK; formerly British Honduras)
Constitution:
21 September 1981
Legal system:
English law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower
house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Dame Elmira Minita GORDON (since 21 September 1981)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4 September 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA;
United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW;
Belize Popular Party (BPP), Louis SYLVESTRE
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held 4 September 1989 (next to be held September 1994); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 15, UDP 13; note - in
January 1990 one member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count
PUP 16, UDP 12
Other political or pressure groups:
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR) headed by former
PUP minister; United Workers Front
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador James V. HYDE; Chancery at 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-9636
US:
Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street,
Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize City); telephone [501]
(2) 77161; FAX [501] (2) 30802
Flag:
on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
:Belize Government
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto RA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade)
:Belize Economy
Overview:
The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and
merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance.
Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export
earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard
currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in
efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification
program.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $373 million, per capita $1,635; real growth rate
10% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (1988)
Budget:
revenues $126.8 million; expenditures $123.1 million, including capital
expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$134 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and wood products
partners:
US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987)
Imports:
$194 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals
partners:
US 56%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1991)
External debt:
$142 million (December 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 9.7% (1989); accounts for 16% of GDP
