GeographicalArea: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Terrain and Climate: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south, tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Government: Parliamentary democracy, English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches
Major Languages: Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census)
Major Religion: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
Life Expectancy: 68.19 years
Monetary Unit: Belizean dollar (BZD)
Exchange Controls and Taxation:
Stamp Tax:
Main Exports: sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Compulsory Education: To age 13
GDP: $7,900 (2007 est.)
Annual Growth Rate: 2.2%
Major Industry: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
Communication: Broad Spectrum Evaluation, above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of 12 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 40 per 100 persons
Internet: .bz
International dialing code: 1 + 501
Known as “tax-haven” for qualified individuals
Number of Banks: 5 Domestic Commercial and 8 Private
Head of State:Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Colville Young, Sr. (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Dean Barrow (since 8 February 2008);
Radio: AM 1, FM 16
Television: 5 Stations
Time Zone:
Airport: 4 with paved runways
Banks – Partial List (5 Domestic Commercial)
Commercial
Alliance Bank of Belize Limited
Atlantic Bank Limited
Belize Bank Limited
Scotiabank (Belize) Limited
First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited
Private
·Atlantic International Bank Limited
·Investment & Commerce Bank Limited
·Inter Bank & Trust Limited
·Handels Bank and Trust Limited
·Market Street Bank Limited
·The Oxxy Bank Limited
·Provident Bank & Trust of Belize Limited
·Caye International Bank Limited.
Belize
Full Name: Belize
GeographicalArea: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Terrain and Climate: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south, tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Government: Parliamentary democracy, English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches
Major Languages: Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census)
Major Religion: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
Life Expectancy: 68.19 years
Monetary Unit: Belizean dollar (BZD)
Exchange Controls and Taxation:
Stamp Tax:
Main Exports: sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Compulsory Education: To age 13
GDP: $7,900 (2007 est.)
Annual Growth Rate: 2.2%
Major Industry: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
Communication: Broad Spectrum Evaluation, above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of 12 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 40 per 100 persons
Internet: .bz
International dialing code: 1 + 501
Known as “tax-haven” for qualified individuals
Number of Banks: 5 Domestic Commercial and 8 Private
Head of State:Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Colville Young, Sr. (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Dean Barrow (since 8 February 2008);
Radio: AM 1, FM 16
Television: 5 Stations
Time Zone:
Airport: 4 with paved runways
Banks – Partial List (5 Domestic Commercial)
Commercial
Alliance Bank of Belize Limited
Atlantic Bank Limited
Belize Bank Limited
Scotiabank (Belize) Limited
First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited
