The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4 September 1989)

       Political parties and leaders:

       People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA;

       United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW;

       Belize Popular Party (BPP), Louis SYLVESTRE

       Suffrage:

       universal at age 18

       Elections:

       National Assembly:

       last held 4 September 1989 (next to be held September 1994); results -

       percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 15, UDP 13; note - in

       January 1990 one member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count

       PUP 16, UDP 12

       Other political or pressure groups:

       Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR) headed by former

       PUP minister; United Workers Front

       Member of:

       ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,

       ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN,

       UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WMO

       Diplomatic representation:

       Ambassador James V. HYDE; Chancery at 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW,

       Washington, DC 20008; telephone [phone]

       US:

       Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street,

       Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize City); telephone [501]

       (2) 77161; FAX [501] (2) 30802

       Flag:

       on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

      :Belize Government

      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 RA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade)

      :Belize Economy

      Overview:

       The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and

       merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance.

       Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export

       earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard

       currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in

       efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification

       program.

       GDP:

       exchange rate conversion - $373 million, per capita $1,635; real growth rate

       10% (1990 est.)

       Inflation rate (consumer prices):

       3.5% (1990 est.)

       Unemployment rate:

       12% (1988)

       Budget:

       revenues $126.8 million; expenditures $123.1 million, including capital

       expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.)

       Exports:

       $134 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)

       commodities:

       sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and wood products

       partners:

       US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987)

       Imports:

       $194 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)

       commodities:

       machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels,

       chemicals, pharmaceuticals

       partners:

       US 56%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1991)

       External debt:

       $142 million (December 1991)

       Industrial production:

       growth rate 9.7% (1989); accounts for 16% of GDP

       Electricity:

       34,532 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 395 kWh per capita (1991)

       Industries:

       garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum, beverages,

       tourism

       Agriculture:

       accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial crops

       include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber

       and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods

       Illicit drugs:

       an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;

       eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to

       about 50 metric tons in 1991; transshipment point for cocaine

       Economic aid:

       US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US)

       countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million

       Currency:

       Belizean dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

       Exchange rates:

       Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)

       Fiscal year:

       1 April - 31 March

      :Belize Communications

      Highways:

       2,710 km total; 500 km paved, 1,600 km gravel, 300 km improved earth, and

       310 km unimproved earth

       Inland waterways:

       825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable

       Ports:

       Belize City; additional ports for shallow draught craft include Corozol,

       Punta Gorda, Big Creek

       Merchant marine:

       2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,127 GRT/5,885 DWT

       Civil air:

       2 major transport aircraft

       Airports:

       44 total, 34 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways

       over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

       Telecommunications:

       8,650 telephones; above-average system based on radio relay; broadcast

       stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth

       station

      :Belize Defense Forces

      Branches:

       British Forces Belize, Belize Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air

       Force, and Volunteer Guard)

       Manpower availability:

       males 15-49, 55,333; 33,040 fit for military service; 2,509 reach military

       age (18) annually

       Defense expenditures:

       exchange rate conversion - $4.8 million, 1.8% of GDP (FY91)

      :Benin