conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras

BH

parliamentary democracy

Belmopan

6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange
Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

21 September 1981 (from UK)

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

21 September 1981

English law

18 years of age; universal

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 27 August 1998);
Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
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; governor general appoints the member of the House of
Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime
minister

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate
(eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister,
two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the
governor general; members are appointed for five-year terms); and the
House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998 (next
to be held NA August 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP
26, UDP 3

Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the
governor general on advice of the prime minister

People's United Party or PUP [Said
MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP

Society for the Promotion of
Education and Research or SPEAR ; United Worker's Front

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

chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:  (202) 332-9636
FAX:  (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

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
telephone:  (2) 77161 through 77163
FAX:  (2) 30802

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