- Welcome to Belize
- Belize in the Commonwealth
- Belize joined the Commonwealth in 1981
- Belize became an independent country on the 21st of September 1981
- Belize has been competing in the Commonwealth Games since 1962
- Of 13 Commonwealth member countries in the Americas, only Belize, Canada and Guyana lie on the mainland; all the others are islands or archipelagos
- With population density of 13 per square km, it is among the most sparsely populated states in the Commonwealth
- Bordering Mexico and Guatemala, Belize is the only country in Central America to have English as its official language
- The country’s current prime minister, Dean Barrow, is the first of African descent
- Belize City used to be the country’s capital but it was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Hatty in 1961; the capital was later moved to the more inland Belmopan
- Almost 73% of the country is covered by forest
- According to the 2000 census, the population comprises around 48% Mestizos (Maya-Spanish) and 25% Creoles (Afro-European). The rest include Garifuna (Afro-Carib) and Mayans
Hon. Dean Barrow
Prime Minister of Belize
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Belize, a nation whose abundant natural resources are yet to be fully discovered, let alone exploited, and whose people are so culturally diverse as to represent a near perfect microcosm of our world.
With our unspoilt natural beauty, our kind and friendly people, our stable and deepening democracy, we believe Belize brings much to the table as a proud member of the Commonwealth of Nations. And with our unwavering quest for human development and economic advancement, our young nation also has much to learn and benefit from this great international brotherhood.
Warmest Greetings and Welcome to Belize.
Belize in the Commonwealth
did you know?
Commonwealth Projects
Assistance to the Judiciary (2007/08)
This Commonwealth funded project provided technical assistance to assist Belize when it was implementing the new Supreme Court (Civil Procedures Rules) 2005 and to reduce the backlog of civil cases in the Supreme Court.
Investment/WTO Compatibility (2004 – ongoing)
The Commonwealth funded a project which helped Belize when it enhanced its investment climate and competitiveness through closer integration in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). This project provided advice and technical assistance in the review, modernisation and implementation of a WTO- compatible trade and investment regime that promotes sustainable growth and development in Belize.
Post Harvest Handling Consultancy and EMDP for Belize Papayas (2003/04)
The Commonwealth Secretariat provided an expert to assist post-harvest handling of papayas and to strengthen the export market development programme for Belize into the European Union.
Consultant for Broadcasting Corporation of Belize (1997/8 – 2001/02)
A consultant was provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat to assist the Broadcasting Corporation of Belize to assess its training and technical needs and to implement changes and train local staff.
Development of Agriculture and Agro-industries (1997/8 – 1999/2000)
The Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned this project to examine and assess industries in this sector from the point of view of production methods and quality control and they then suggested a plan to improve their effectiveness.
Belize
in the Commonwealth Yearbook
The flagship publication of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the essential reference on the modern Commonwealth for
Economy | Politics | Society | Facts and Figures