Belize
Belize, 1981 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
Belize achieved its independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981. It is the only mainland Central American country which is a Commonwealth realm, with King Charles III as its monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation because of its longstanding territorial dispute, claiming that Belize belonged to Guatemala. On 11 November 2020, the People's United Party (PUP), led by Johnny Briceño, defeated the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the first time since 2003, having won 26 seats out of 31 to form the new government of Belize.
Seat of power: Belmopan
Rulers
Elizabeth II
monarch of Belize, 1952–2022
She was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. When her father died in February 1952, she became queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries and head of the Commonwealth. She reigned as a constitutional monarch through times of significant political change.
Portrait of Elizabeth II: Donald McKague, Public domain, file
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Charles III
monarch of Belize, 2022 to today
He is King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. He became king upon his mother's death in 2022.
Portrait of Charles III: White House, Public domain, file
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Culture
- The anniversary of the battle has been declared a national holiday in Belize and is celebrated to commemorate the "first Belizeans" and the defence of their territory taken from the Spanish empire.
- The Belize Barrier Reef was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996 due to its vulnerability. In 1842 Charles Darwin described it as "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies".
- Belmopan was constructed just to the east of the Belize River, 80 km inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The government was moved to Belmopan in 1970.
- In 2023, Belize became the second Central American country to be awarded certification for the elimination of malaria by the WHO.
Picture
The National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple.
Image: CadabraPuppet, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.