Belize's Independence is Younger Than We Are

Before our trip begins on October 22, Dawn and I wanted to share some history as well as take a closer look at the people of this country.

Even though the history of Belize dates back to 600 BC where evidence shows the Maya were present, the people did not live in a democracy. Belize only recently won independence from British rule in 1981 as the Union Jack flag was lowered and the Belizean flag raised in its place.

The Spanish, British and the country of Guatemala have been fighting over this small country since the 1500s when the Spanish first arrived.

Current day Belize is a two party government with a Prime Minister the capital is Belmopan (however the town has never been too popular, workers prefer to live in Belize City).

The People of Belize.
The presence of many ethic groups is as much of a treasure as the ruins or barrier reefs.
Here are the words of creole artist Phillip Lewis, see if you can read and understand this (I bet Dawn can)
A tink a si wan new Belize weh di creole man, di mesizo, di Garifuna, an di Maya, no separate as a lis dem but instead all da Belizeans.

What he said was, "I think I see a new Belize where the creole, the mestizo, the Garifuna and the Maya are not separated as I have listed them, but united as Belizeans.

Belizeans have long described themselves as a "Caribbean nation in Central America" for they have more in common with the distant island then the neighbors of Mexico and Guatemala. This is because Belize has a British rather than Spanish heritage; English is the official language. The population is black creole, descended from African slaves and British settlers. There have always been the Maya and mestizos (mix of Indian and Spanish decent).

The mestizos live in the Orange Walk district in the north (close to Mexico), the blacks or Garifuna live in Stann Creek district in Eastern Belize. Maya are located in Mopan and Kekchi. And while in San Ignacio we will see Chinese people. The Mennonite from the US and Canada also call Belize their home.

Next week we will look at Maya history 800 Bc-AD1200. If you find some interesting facts about Belize, PLEASE SHARE THEM.