 |
|
INSIDECENTRALAMERICA
| Wednesday 22 September 2010 |
 |
|
|
|
Belize
Celebrates
29th
Independence
Anniversary
BELMOPAN
-
Belize
today
celebrates
the 29th
anniversary
of its
independence
with a
national
fiesta
that
includes
a
military
parade,
cultural
events,
catering
fairs
and
sport
events
throughout
September.
The
Central
American
country's
territory
is
22,960
sq. km.
and is
bounded
on the
north by
Mexico,
on the
west by
Guatemala
and on
the east
by the
Caribbean
sea,
where it
boasts
the
longest
coral
reef in
the
western
hemisphere.
It's
economy
depends
largely
on
agriculture
and
tourism,
and is a
favourite
destination
because
of its
ancient
Maya
temples,
its
rainforest
and its
many
small
islands
nestled
in a sea
with 430
unique
species
like the
Lemon
shark,
and the
Blue
Hole, a
popular
site
among
scuba
divers.
The
original
inhabitants
of
Belize
were the
Maya,
who
resisted
Spanish
rule for
two
centuries.
The
British
began to
settle
the land
in the
seventeenth
century
and
eventually
established
the
colony
of
"British
Honduras",
although
there
were
disputes
over
sovereignty
with
Mexico
and
Guatemala.
The
latter
country
still
maintains
a
territorial
claim
that
both
countries
have
agreed
should
be
submitted
to the
International
Court of
Justice,
provided
their
peoples
agree to
do so in
a
referendum..
On
September
21,
1981,
Belize
became
independent
after a
30-year
peaceful
struggle
against
Britain
and
Guatemala's
claims.
Its
population,
apart
from the
indigenous
Maya,
consists
mainly
of
descendants
of
African,
Asian
and
European
peoples.
As both
a
Caribbean
and
Central
American
country,
with
some
330,000
inhabitants,
Belize
is a
member
of
CARICOM
as well
as SICA,
in
addition
to the
OAS and
the
Non-Aligned
Movement.
It is
also a
member
of the
Commonwealth,
with the
British
Queen as
the
titular
head of
state,
but with
an
elected
parliament
and a
prime
minister
who
appoints
a
cabinet
of
ministers.
Belize
recently
approved
the
Caribbean
Court of
Justice
as the
ultimate
court of
appeal,
replacing
the
Privy
Council
of
Britain.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join
our Facebook page
