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Country Name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Belize

former: British Honduras

Administrative Divisions

6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence

21 September 1981 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution

Previous 1954, 1963 (preindependence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981; amended several times, last in 2012 (2013)

Legal System

English common law

International Law Organization Participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)

head of government: Prime Minister Dean Oliver BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from the General Assembly

elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative Branch

Bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2012 (next to be held in 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 50.4%, PUP 47.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - UDP 17, PUP 14

Judicial Branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 2 judges)

Note - in 2005, Belize ceased final appeals in civil and criminal cases to the Judicial Committee of: undefined

judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75

subordinate courts: Summary Jurisdiction Courts (criminal) and District Courts (civil)

Political Parties and Leaders

National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABRNational Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK] People's National Party or PNP [Wil MAHEIA] People's United Party or PUP [John BRICENO] United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean Oliver BARROW] Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Paul MORGAN] We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito BAUTISTA]

Flag Description

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 SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various elements of the coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahogany tree, and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry that led to British settlement of Belize note: Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts human beings; two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, also depict humans

National Symbols

Baird's tapir (a large, browsing, forest-dwelling mammal); keel-billed toucan

National Anthem

lyrics:

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Government Type

Parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital

Name
Belmopan
Geographic Coordinates
17 15 N, 88 46 W
Time Difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Chief Of Mission
Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ (since 10 July 2008)
Chancery
2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone
[1] (202) 332-9636
FAX
[1] (202) 332-6888
Consulate(s) General
Los Angeles

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Chief Of Mission
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Margaret HAWTHORNE
Embassy
Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize
Telephone
[501] 822-4011
FAX
[501] 822-4012

International Organization Participation

ACP
AOSIS
C
Caricom
CD
CDB
CELAC
FAO
G-77
IADB
IAEA
IBRD
ICAO
ICC (NGOs)
ICRM
IDA
IFAD
IFC
IFRCS
ILO
IMF
IMO
Interpol

IOC
IOM
ITU
LAES
MIGA
NAM
OAS
OPANAL
OPCW
PCA
Petrocaribe
SICA
UN
UNCTAD
UNESCO
UNIDO
UPU
WCO
WHO
WIPO
WMO
WTO

Belize