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 Said MUSA (since 2 August 1998);
Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA July 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
general
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the
Senate (eight members; members are appointed for five-year terms,
five on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the
leader of the opposition, and one 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.) and the
National Assembly (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly—last held 1 August 1998 (next to be
held NA August 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PUP
26, UDP 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: People's United Party or PUP [Said
GOLDSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Society for the Promotion
Front
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL
embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
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
Economy
Economy—overview: The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas. The new government faces important challenges to economic stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been promised, but a lack of progress in reigning in spending could bring the exchange rate under pressure.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$700 million (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 22% services: 56% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): −0.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 71,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(1997 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%,
government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%
Unemployment rate: 13% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $140 million
expenditures: $142 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism,
construction
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity—production: 145 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 145 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp
Exports: $95.3 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: sugar 46%, bananas 26%, citrus fruits, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports—partners: US 45%, UK 30%, Mexico 3%, Canada 3% (1997)
Imports: $149.7 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports—partners: US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997)
Debt—external: $288 million (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $23.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1—2.0000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 29,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1 (Voice of America relay station),
FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: