In 2002, Belize was a small Central American country located on the Caribbean Sea. It had a population of around 300,000 people and an economy that was heavily reliant on agriculture, tourism and natural resources. Despite this, there were still economic challenges such as high levels of poverty, particularly among young people and those living in rural areas. According to computerannals, Belize was a relatively stable democracy with strong government institutions which enabled it to address pressing issues such as crime and corruption. Furthermore, Belize also enjoyed close diplomatic ties with other countries in the region which enabled it to remain an important player in international affairs. In terms of development, the government began to focus on improving infrastructure and providing basic services such as healthcare and education which provided a glimmer of hope for a better future for Belizeans. Additionally, efforts have been made by both local and international organizations to strengthen democratic institutions within the country in order to promote stability within Belize.

Yearbook 2002

Belize. In early February, following pressure from the United States, the so-called economic citizenship program was terminated, through which foreigners were able to purchase Belizean citizenship for compensation of $ 50,000 per family or $ 40,000 per individual.

According to Countryaah website, national day of Belize is every September 21. The program was originally intended to attract capital and professional expertise to the country and has also contributed significantly to the Treasury ($ 6 million in 2001). But after the terrorist attacks against New York in 2001, it was feared that the program could lead to Belize becoming a base for international crime, especially drug trafficking, and terrorism.

The February 2008 parliamentary election was surprisingly won by the opposition, the UDP, whose chairman Dean Barrow assumed the post of prime minister. The party won 25 of Parliament’s 31 seats and the former government party had to settle for 6. The election campaign was characterized by corruption scandals both parties were involved in, but voters in particular chose to punish the former government party.

In August 2009, the state nationalized telephone and internet company Belize Telemedia Limited. In June 2011, it nationalized Belize Electricity Ltd (BEL), which had been in deep financial trouble for several years. Former principal shareholder, Canadian Fortis Inc. appealed to the nationalization, but the focus of the state was to secure the production of the country’s largest electricity producer and distributor.

The March 2012 parliamentary elections saw a staggering decline of 8 seats for the UDP government party, but with 17 seats out of 31, it still had a majority in parliament. The opposition went 8 seats up to 14.

Belize, like the other Central American countries, is a transit country for drugs from Colombia in particular, but is not as badly affected by the accompanying violence. Since 2008, the government and the police have implemented a wide range of programs aimed at young people to prevent them from joining gangs, and in 2011 the government succeeded in establishing a ceasefire between the gangs, which further reduced the violence.

Belize Country Overview

Visa A
Finn does not need a visa for a stay of less than 30 days in Belize. NOTE. The passport must be valid for 6 months from arrival in the country.

Maastapoistumismaksu
Belize maastapoistumismaksua not be charged. It is included in the flight ticket. Local authorities may change exit fees without notice.

• According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, BLZ stands for Belize.

Insurance
Everyone participating in the trip must have a valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses in the event of illness or other similar need. Please check the validity of your own insurance and the terms and conditions of the insurance cancellation cover.

Please pay attention to the special nature of your trip and check the coverage of the insurance in that respect as well. In many locations, the insurance must also be valid when moving at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, in which case it also covers mountain sickness.

Many hiking or diving trips require more extensive insurance, which covers, for example, diving or moving on a glacier. Please check the contents of your insurance with your insurance company.

Vaccinations
Make sure that your basic vaccinations under the national vaccination schedule are valid. In addition, we recommend both hepatitis A and B vaccination. Always check the vaccination requirements at the health center or the Vaccination Advice of the Tourist Clinic

Please check the yellow fever vaccination requirements of your destination well in advance of the trip, for example here. An international yellow fever vaccination certificate is required when traveling to some countries. Please also note that in some countries a vaccination certificate is required if you arrive from a country where yellow fever is considered to occur. This is important to consider especially when traveling across multiple states. We recommend that you keep a vaccination card with you when traveling far away.

Electrical current
Belize has an electrical current of 110 V. An adapter is required for devices used in Finnish sockets.

Time difference

The time difference to Belize is -8 hours in winter and -9 hours in summer.

Mobile phones
Check with your operator for the coverage of your mobile phone. The area code for Belize is +501.

The currency
in Belize is the Belize Dollar (BZD). Belize can often also be used in Belize.

Tips Tips
can be given for good service. Waiters can leave 5-10% tips on the final invoice, unless the service fee is included in the invoice price.

Security
We stay in safe areas on our travels, but pickpocketing is possible, especially in cities, and moving around at night in certain areas can be unsafe. However, general caution within common sense is desirable throughout the journey. Current security warnings for all countries can be found on the Foreign Ministry’s website

Climate
Belize’s climate is subtropical with an average annual temperature of about 29 degrees Celsius. February to May is the dry season and June to December the rainy season. Most rain in June-July. Although Belize is located in a hurricane danger zone, severe hurricane attacks are rare.

Food and drink
Belize combines many food cultures and influences, e.g. Creole, Maya, Garifuna, Spanish, British, Chinese and American culture. This is why Belize food is one of the most varied in Central America. In Belize, breakfasts include fresh fruit, eggs, cheeses, tortillas and refried beans. The food specialty of Belize is fry jack, which is a deep-fried meat pie-like cake to which, for example, ham, scrambled eggs and cheese are added. This is eaten for both breakfast and lunch. The amount of fat and oil has not been spared in this dish. Also popular are Johnycakes and Belizean biscuits, which are served with butter or jam. The usual dish is grilled chicken with rice, beans and coleslaw. Seafood is widely used, such as lobster, stump, shrimp, and local fish species.

Local delicacies include e.g. ceviche, which is raw fish, shrimp or mussels with added onions, tomatoes and coriander. Everything is mixed together and marinated in lime juice. Served with tortillas. Cassava is a toast made with cassava root and coconut milk. The desserts emphasize coconut, which is served in various forms. Banana cake is also popular as a dessert. Local drinks include e.g. Belize beer, a local wine made from blackberry, cashew fruit, sorrel and ginger. Rum Punch is a popular Belize cocktail, the drink is a blend of rum and juice. All water and beverages must be industrially bottled. Salads and vegetables should also be rinsed with bottled water. The food should be heated or cooked. Reheated foods should be avoided.