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Millennium Development Goals in Belize

Progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Belize is mixed. Whilst the country is well poised to meet targets relating to education, access to clean water, child and maternal mortality, several of the other goals are presenting difficulty. The MDG report published by the government in 2005 concedes that the Goals relating to poverty are “far behind”. The National Poverty Elimination Strategy and Action Plan for 2007-2011 sets out the government’s latest plans for poverty reduction, identifying targets which are consistent with the MDGs.

Possibly the largest challenge will be overcoming income disparity; specifically, reducing chronic poverty among the indigenous population particularly in the Toledo district. Nearly 80% of indigenous Maya live in poverty, compared to a third of Belize’s population as a whole. The outlook for the Mayans has improved following a landmark Supreme Court ruling which conferred title on land occupied by the indigenous group for centuries is even in the absence of formal documents. This is believed to be the first such ruling under the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

School children in Belize © Helen Friend

Whilst gender disparities in education in Belize are almost non-existent, with more girls in post-primary education than boys, men still hold the majority of positions of economic and political power. This inequality facilitates high levels of domestic violence, an issue particularly difficult to tackle due to a reluctance to acknowledge its prevalence.
Health and HIV/AIDS in Belize

Belize has an increasing HIV/AIDS problem with prevalence rates in the country presently the highest in Central America, standing at 2.5%. Prevalence of HIV has risen at an alarming rate in recent years, and although measures are now being put in place to counteract the spread of the virus, they are often less than effective and it is highly improbable that the country will achieve the MDG for HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS mural from Belize © Helen Friend

Statistics for new infections confirm the need for significant behavioural change, improved access to anti-retroviral treatment and a continuation in the increased availability of voluntary confidential testing. Gender-power differences hamper efforts to reduce prevalence and extensive education programmes are required, in particular targeted at young women and girls as the virus is increasingly affecting these groups. Efforts to deliver effective education have repeatedly been hindered due to reluctance to teach students about the virus in schools, most of which are affiliated to churches.

Stigma and discrimination present huge challenges when promoting HIV testing. In a country of such a small population, Belizeans are often concerned that their HIV status may become known to members of their communities, being wary of assurances that testing is confidential. Testing of pregnant women is however increasing and this is reducing mother-to-child-transmission rates. Nevertheless, to achieve significant reductions of new HIV cases in future years, a cultural shift will be required including empowerment of HIV infected people.

Malaria is also present in Belize although the level of incidence has been declining or stable in recent years. Conversely, there has been increased prevalence of TB, largely associated with the increase in AIDS cases.
Environment and Climate Change in Belize

Fish and corals in Belize © WWF-Canon/Anthony B. Rath

Belize lies in the path of the annual cycle of hurricanes that sweep across the Caribbean. The country has never before experienced landfall of a Category 5 hurricane but during 2007 there were two. Belize is home to the largest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere which, in addition to suffering damage caused by storms, is also vulnerable to warming ocean temperatures. Rising sea level is also a natural concern for a country most densely occupied along its coastal region. Campaigners have petitioned the UN to rule that countries responsible for climate change are in breach of their obligations to World Heritage Sites such as the Belize Barrier Reef. Whatever the outcome it appears likely that a country which is possibly a net sink for carbon dioxide through its extensive forests will nonetheless find itself in the front line of climate change impact.

Belizeans protest against Fortis © Probe International

Belize is however far from blameless over environmental degradation of one of the most biologically diverse nations in the world. Inadequate management of waste and sewage has caused damage to the coral reef, as has the uncontrolled development of coastal areas and visits from cruise ships. Deforestation is occurring at the high annual rate of 2.3% as land is cleared for agriculture or aquaculture, as well as illegal logging. Construction of the Chalillo hydro-electric dam on the Macal River by the Canadian company Fortis has proved highly controversial, causing a rift between environmental groups and those wanting to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign energy resources. The country has a number of environmental laws and protected areas but enforcement needs to improve if priceless biodiversity is to survive the projected doubling of the population in the next 27 years.
The Economy in Belize

Tourism at Placencia, Belize © Helen Friend

As well as the substantial costs of disaster risk management, the impact of climate change on these environmental assets could be vital as the country's economy is dependent on tourism and agriculture, the latter dominated by exports of cane sugar, bananas and marine products. The economy is extremely vulnerable to external factors such as extreme weather events, changes in trade patterns and fluctuations in world levels of tourism. The banana industry in particular is a large employer in Belize but has faced much uncertainty in the last 10 years due to debate surrounding European Union (EU) preferential treatment of ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries. Under regulations of the World Trade Organisation, these trade advantages will be withdrawn by the end of this decade, threatening large numbers of small growers in both the banana and sugar industries in Belize. To smooth the transition, the EU is discussing a compensation package worth $200 million over 5 years.

Fishermen, San Pedro, Belize © People & the Planet

Another saviour may emerge from the 2006 discovery of fresh oil reserves in Belize although the potential value remains uncertain. Meanwhile the country remains under international and domestic pressure to strengthen the economy in order to clear its debt obligations which, despite innovative restructuring in 2007, remain onerous and restrict any room for maneovre to address poverty. Despite attempts by both the Belizean and international governments, the country has been unable to eliminate drug trafficking activities and there are high levels of violent crime in Belize City, much of this being drug-related youth crime.
Politics in Belize

Belize is unique in Central America in having a history free of revolution together with relative political stability in the post-independence period. Known as British Honduras prior to gaining full independence from Britain in 1981, Belize has a political system based on the Westminster parliamentary model. The British Monarch remains the constitutional Head of State, although actual power lies with the National Assembly and the cabinet headed by the Prime Minister. Nonetheless, the UK Privy Council acted as the final arbiter on the issue of the Chalillo Dam.

Two political parties dominate; the People's United Party (PUP) and the more conservative United Democratic Party (UDP). The two parties have limited ideological differences but the UDP had been out of government since 1996 until victorious in the February 2008 general election. The voters were fed up with the lack of transparency and suspected underhand dealing of the PUP’s long-serving prime minister Said Musa, handing an overwhelming majority to the new prime minister Dean Barrow. The new government promises action against corruption and lower prices of key goods.
Information and Media in Belize

The media is mainly affiliated to political parties. Radio plays a significant role and provides the main channel through which people obtain information. The country has several newspapers, but no daily papers. Many of these are controlled by the government, although there are a few independent publications.

The urban population has reasonable access to information technologies, but access is limited in rural areas. Telecommunications are often hindered by high prices as services are provided by a monopoly.
Conflict in Belize

Belize has a longstanding yet peaceful border conflict with its neighbour Guatemala which claims ownership of large areas of territory. The dispute originally caused a delay in Belize gaining full independence and the two countries established full diplomatic relations only in September 1991 when Guatemala recognized Belize as an independent state. Tensions are fuelled as Belizeans attribute blame for illegal logging on Guatemalan immigrants. Although the countries have solid trade relations, Belize is now threatening to seek arbitration at the International Court of Justice.



The OneWorld Belize Guide was first published in this format in November 2005 with a text written by Volunteer Editor Helen Friend

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