Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BELIZEAN ETHNIC GROUPS AND LANGUAGES
Belize today has a very mixed cultural background, with thirteen recognized ethnic groups
- though the two largest, Creoles and mestizos, form 75 percent of the total population
(currently around 325,000).
THE MESTIZOS
The largest ethnic group (around fifty percent) are
mestizos
, descended from Amerindians
and early Spanish settlers, most of whom speak Spanish as their first language. Mainly located
in the north, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, with a sizeable population in Cayo, many of
their ancestors fled to Belize during the Caste Wars of Yucatán (see p.234). During the 1980s,
the arrival of an estimated forty thousand mestizos - most referring to themselves as Ladinos
- added permanently to Belize's Spanish-speaking population. Causing the greatest shift in
Belize's demography for centuries, most were fleeing conflicts and repression in El Salvador,
Guatemala and Honduras. Those granted refugee status were settled in camps, mostly in Cayo,
and allowed to farm small plots, though many, especially those undocumented, still provide
convenient cheap labour. These immigrants are tolerated, if not exactly welcomed - few
countries could absorb a sudden twenty percent population increase without a certain
amount of turmoil - and many have integrated and learnt Kriol, if not English. Most original
refugees have received Belizean nationality, and their children are Belizean citizens.
THE CREOLES
Creoles
, descended from Africans brought to the West Indies as slaves and early white settlers,
comprise just under a quarter of the population, though they make up a large proportion of
Belize City, with scattered settlements elsewhere. Kriol (from “Creole') is the common language
in Belize, a dialect of English similar to that spoken across the West Indies. Kriol underwent a
recent formalization, with a more or less standardized written language. Controversy rages
over whether or not Kriol should be taught in schools alongside English and become the
country's o
cial language.
dissuasion. The situation remained tense, but international opinion moved in favour of
Belizean independence.
Independence and the border dispute
he
UN resolution
of 1980 unequivocally endorsed Belize's right to self-determination,
with all territory intact, before the next session. Further negotiations with Guatemala
began but Belize's neighbour still insisted on territorial concessions. In March 1981,
Britain, Guatemala and Belize released the “Heads of Agreement”, which, they hoped,
would result in a peaceful solution; accordingly, on September 21, 1981, Belize became
an independent country within the British Commonwealth, with Queen Elizabeth II
as head of state. British troops remained in Belize to ensure its territorial integrity.
The new government of Belize, formed by the PUP with George Price as premier,
continued in power until 1984, when the United Democratic Party (UDP), led by
Manuel Esquivel
, won Belize's first general election. The new government encouraged
private enterprise and foreign investment, and began a programme of neo-liberal
economic reforms which privatized much of the public sector - unpopular changes
that assured the PUP's return to power in 1989.
1981
1984
1992
On September 21, Belize
becomes an independent
country within the British
Commonwealth
United Democratic Party (UDP), led
by Manuel Esquivel, wins Belize's first
post-independence election
Guatemala recognizes
Belize as a sovereign
state
