Country Information & Lifestyle A rare and treasured jewel |
Formerly known as British Honduras the name was changed to Belize in 1973 in anticipation of independence, granted in 1981. Belize is a democracy operating under the British parliamentary system and is a member of the British Commonwealth with English as its first language and Spanish and Creole widely spoken.
Located south of Cancun on the east side of the Yucatan Peninsula bounded by Mexico to the north, south and west by Guatemala and on the east the Caribbean Sea, the climate is sub tropical with the capital city, Belmopan, the smallest capital city in the world.
The barrier reef is world renowned and extends 190 miles from north to south and has been dedicated a World Heritage UNESCO site. This small, peaceful country in Central America is simply beautiful from the Caribbean Sea to the jungle interior, with hundreds of exotic cays, pristine inland rain forests where you will see parrots and toucans, crystal clear, blue waters and deserted beaches, Belize has it all.
The interior hides Mayan ruins, tall waterfalls, rivers and near to Sittee Point is the jaguar reserve where you will see these graceful, elusive animals, along with the scarlet macaw, in their natural habitat.
Belize is famous for its virtually unspoiled coast and just off the shore is a 176 mile barrier reef, the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere, and second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The Belize-ans are generally bright, friendly and talkative and still smile, wave and greet each other eagerly on the street. The night skies are absolutely dazzling and the sounds of the creatures who inhabit the night are a stunning symphony you won't forget, it is an experience that will be indelibly etched on your mind and soul, a special place, special people and you will return again and again.
A Belize tale from the 1700s'- Morning Shore was likely born in the morning at the Mosquito Shore. Her father was Williams Tucker and she was born into slavery as was her brothers and sisters. She came to Belize in 1786 with the Mosquito Shore people and she met a man named John Clark and Morning Tucker became Morning Clark. They were jointly charged with murder in 1791 and the jury let her off as she argued that she had been acting under her husbands influence. Clark was convicted and ordered to give up his property he was fined and banished from Belize for life. He died soon after and Morning Clark married a man named John Frost so became Morning Frost and got a license to run a grogshop called Frost´s Tavern at a place called Rogue´s Point now the site of the House of Culture possibly.
Morning attracted a number of unattached girls to the place and Frosts Tavern became a notorious dive. During the war of 1797 and 1798 the sailors and soldiers frequented the tavern for its good times, bad girls and bar-room fights. Morning was on good terms with many officers and got a contract to supply the HMS Merlin with wet and dry rations in 1798.
John Frost died and Morning married a British soldier named Rampfdolph. How long she stayed with him is unknown. In 1802 a ship called the Leda wrecked on the reef and the magistrate ordered the goods salvage to be sold at public auction for the benefit of the settlement. Word soon came to the authorities that Morning was intercepting the goods and when her slaves told the provo marshal where to find the stolen goods she was arrested. Later that day came word came that Morning was going to kill her servants and a search of her premises disclosed her servants tied up and in a dory.
One man testified that Morning had told him she was going to cut their throats and feed them to the alligators. At her trial she cursed so often the magistrate told he she would be fined four postoles for every curse word she uttered, at the end of the trial she owed hundreds of postils to the court. She died in 1806 and her will showed she did not leave much besides eight slaves each one was worth more than her plantation at Muscle Creek which was assessed at 25 pounds.
Belize welcomes foreign investment, offers economic stability, good value cost of living, adequate health care, and Belize City has a new modern hospital with the medical staff having been trained in the USA.
Belize has a top flight off shore banking structure and to entice people to into the country the law allows you to import your car as well as personal and household effects duty free. |
