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more about belize
belize |
2 definitions found From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Belize n : a country of Central America on the Caribbean; formerly under British control [syn: {Belize}, {British Honduras}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Belize Belize:Geography Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 22,960 sq km land area: 22,800 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts Land boundaries: total 516 km Guatemala 266 km Mexico 250 km Coastline: 386 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 miles; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala International disputes: border with Guatemala in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are stalled Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February) Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 44% other: 52% Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping Note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean Belize:People Population: 214,061 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (female 45,812; male 47,618) 15-64 years: 53% (female 55,630; male 57,230) 65 years and over: 3% (female 3,970; male 3,801) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 2.42% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 33.71 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 5.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: -3.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 34.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.32 years male: 66.37 years female: 70.36 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.25 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean Ethnic divisions: mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8% Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980) Languages: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib) Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 91% male: 91% female: 91% Labor force: 51,500 by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3% note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985) Belize:Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras Digraph: BH Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Belmopan Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day 21 September (1981) Constitution: 21 September 1981 Legal system: English law 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 (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice from the prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly Senate: consists of an 8-member appointed body; 5 members are appointed on the advice of the prime minister, 2 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 after consultation with the Belize Advisory Council (this council serves as an independent body to advise the governor-general with respect to difficult decisions such as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.) National Assembly: elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA seats - (28 total) PUP 13 UDP 15 Judicial branch: Supreme Court 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; National Alliance for Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON Other political or pressure groups: Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN; United Workers Front, leader NA Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM CDB, ECLAC FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, UN UNCTAD UNESCO, UNIDO UPU, WCL, WHO WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dean R. LINDO chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador George Charles BRUNO embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City; APO: Unit 7401, APO AA 34025 telephone: [501] (2) 77161 through 77163 FAX: [501] (2) 30802 Flag: 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 Economy Overview: The small essentially private enterprise 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. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $575 million (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $2,750 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1991) Unemployment rate: 10% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $126.8 million expenditures: $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY90/91 est.) Exports: $115 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood partners: US 51%, UK other EC (1992) Imports: $281 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 57%, UK 8%, other EC 7%, Mexico (1992) External debt: $158 million (1992) Industrial production: growth rate 3.7% (1990); accounts for 12% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 34,532 kW production: 110 million kWh consumption per capita: 490 kWh (1993) Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction Agriculture: commercial crops: bananas, coca, citrus fruits, fish, cultured shrimp, lumber Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade minor money-laundering center Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Belize:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 2,710 km paved: 500 km unpaved: gravel 1,600 km improved earth 300 km unimproved earth 310 km Inland waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable Ports: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol Punta Gorda Merchant marine: total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 170,002 GRT/270,893 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 25, container 4, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 1 Airports: total: 46 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 35 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9 Belize:Communications Telephone system: 8,650 telephones; above-average system based on microwave radio relay local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA Belize:Defense Forces Branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 50,499; males fit for military service 30,040; males reach military age (18) annually 2,285 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11 million, 2.2% of GDP (FY93/94)
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