Belize - British Honduras - Central America - Nations Online Project Location map of Belize Destination Belize, a country on the eastern coast of northern Central America , bordering the Caribbean Sea in east. It was known as British Honduras until 1973. Belize was granted independence on 21 September 1981, it is since then a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. Border countries are Guatemala and Mexico , and it shares maritime borders with Honduras . The country occupies an area of 22,966 km², it is about twice the size of Estonia , or slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Massachusetts . Belize has a population of just 361,000 (census 2015), making it the least populated nation in Central America. Capital city is Belmopan , largest city is Belize City. Spoken languages are English (official), Kriol, Spanish, Garifuna, and Maya. On this page you will find comprehensive information about Belize in its diversity: geography, economy, science, people, culture, environment, government, and history.

Ethnic groups: Mestizo, Creole, Ketchi, Yucatec and Mopan Mayas, Garifuna and East Indian. Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, other Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist. Languages : English (official), Creole, Spanish, Garifuna, Mayan. Literacy: 76%. Natural resources: Arable land, timber, seafood, minerals. Agriculture Products: Sugar, citrus fruits and juices, bananas, mangoes, papayas, honey, corn, beans, rice, cattle (12.7% of GDP). Industries: Garment production, food processing, tourism, construction. Imports partners: US 26.6%, Mexico 11.7%, Cuba 10.2%, Guatemala 9%, China 7.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.6% (2015) Currency: Belizean Dollar (BZD) Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Belize History of British Honduras (Belize) The Spanish History of British Honduras (Belize) This study will examine the history of the nation of British Honduras (or Belize, as it has been known since 1973, eight years before winning independence). The study will include consideration of prevailing conditions in British Honduras before the arrival of the British and during British rule up to the time of independence. As Dostert writes, the British from the beginning of their presence in Belize displayed the typical European arrogance in doing what they wanted to do and taking what they wanted to take with respect to the laws and resources of the small land on the Gulf of Honduras: Originally settled about 1638 by bands of British woodcutters illegally harvesting the timber in Spanish domains, Belize settlers managed their own affairs and government, although the Spanish tried many times to eject them" (Dostert 36). From that point, the British strengthened their hold on the nation until 1964, when colonial status was discontinued and the colony was "granted full internal self-government" (Dostert 36-37).

The name of British Honduras was changed to Belize in June, 1973, the new name having been used by Guatemalans in reference to the country. Guatemala, in fact, sought to annex Belize during the process of its winning independence, for Guatemalans had long claimed that British Honduras was a part of their country. Nevertheless, Belize won independence in September, 1981 (Dostert 37). Belize is "bounded by the Caribbean Sea [the Gulf of Honduras] on the east, Mexico on the north, and Guatemala on the west and south" (Martin and Lovett 58). Its geographical location on the Gulf is deceptive, for "its torturous coastline," guarded by dangerous reefs, made it especially attractive not to British settlers but to pirates using "the area as a base from which to attack Spanish ships" (Merrill 163). The British loggers who first began exploiting its forests in the 1630s slowly turned the still largely undevelope... Page 1 of 8 Next > More on History of British Honduras (Belize)... Loading... History of British Honduras (Belize). (1969, December 31).

In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 02:41, January 08, 2017, from Lots of Essays. "History of British Honduras (Belize)." LotsofEssays.com. LotsofEssays.com, (December 31, 1969). Web. 08 Jan. 2017. Lots of Essays, "History of British Honduras (Belize).," LotsofEssays.com, (accessed January 08, 2017) History-of-Roatan-Honduras - Roatan RE/MAX Real Estate Site Home > History of Roatan, Honduras History of Roatan, Honduras The-History-of-Roatan-Honduras – The island is rich in history including being one of the last bastions for pirates of the Caribbean. Many books have been written about Roatan and it’s rich history. The currency used primarily on Roatan is the Honduran Lempira and the U.S. dollar is widely accepted at a reasonable exchange rate.

Electricity is 110 volts, so a converter is not needed for US appliances, but a voltage regulator and/or surge protector is suggested for delicate electronics, in that power fluctuates here versus being at a steady 110v. Medical assistance is enhanced by 2 small hospitals and several smaller clinics. For more major medical problems, it is just a short 15 minute flight to La Ceiba and very top of the line medical care in San Pedro Sula, with many doctors both English speaking and educations from U.S. Universities, including Harvard and other major prominent medical schools. Brief historical and ethnographical account of the Bay Islands by David Evans (dkevans@wfu.edu) The first records indicating permanent English settlements in the Bay Islands (other than the intermittent occupations by the logwood cutters and buccaneers, and the abortive attempt by the Puritan sponsored Providence Company) show that Port Royal, on the island of Roatán, was again occupied in the year 1742.

In this year the British made an attempt to gain possession of most of the Caribbean coast of Central America, and in doing so, rebuilt the old fort on Roatán (Squier 1858:615-616). The archives at Belize record a Major Caulfield in command of Roatán as early as 1745. On August 2nd of that year, the Major wrote a letter to a Mr. Trelawry, Govenor of Jamaica, describing Spanish harassment of English settlements (Archives, vol. I: 15). These settlements appear to have been well established on the island of Roatan by 1775. A map of that year, drawn by Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to His Majesty, Clearly shows essentially all of the present older settlements, bearing their current names, with the exception of Calkett’s Hole (now Coxen’s Hole) and Falmouth Harbour (now Oak Ridge). The Spanish, as soon as the early dawn provided enough light, directed a well-coordinated attack against the English at Port Royal on the early morning of March, 2nd 1782.

After a heavy cannonade, detachments of the troops landed and opened regular trenches against the forts, which were so closely invested and hotly pressed that on the 16th of the month they surrendered at discretion. The lives of the defenders were spared, but all their dwellings, to the number of 500, were destroyed (quoted by Squier in 1858: 616-617). Six years later, in 1788, England completely evacuated all of her settlements in the Bay Islands as well as on the Miskito Shore. The islands then lay deserted of Europeans for almost fifteen years until 1797, when the English removed by force some 5,000 Black Caribs” (a mixture of African Negro and Carib and Arawak Indians) from the Windward Island of St. Vincent, and marooned them on the then empty beaches of Port Royal on Roatan (Squier 1858:172 and Taylor 1951: 36). Conzemius tells us that these unhappy people were first taken from St.

Vincent to the small island of Balliceaux, then to that of Bequia, both in the Grenadines. At Bequia they were loaded aboard H.M.S. EXPERIMENT under the command of Captain Barrett, and then shipped to Roatan. They were landed on Roatan on a stormy day of February 25, 1797 (Conzemius 1928: 189). According to the Honduran historian, Duracute, the British employed two men-of-war and a brigantine, landing the deportees in April, not February, in 1797 (Duracute;n 1927:99). My own (DKE) personal research both in Belize and in Berkeley indicates that this landing was indeed in the winter months, and most likely February. The History of the Garifuna, as well as the history of their most famous dance;La Punta;, seems to spiral outward from this day, whatever month it was in.

Except for these; Black Carib people; now known as the Garifuna, and a few Spanish attempts to settle colonists from Spain and exiles native to the Canary Islands, the Bay Islands remained unoccupied for almost thirty more years (Parsons 1956: 9), until in 1821. The newly-founded Central American Federation claimed the Bay Islands, and declared to be independent of Spain. No serious attempts were made to settle them, however, or to protect them from encroachment by other powers. Next came the British interest in 1825, when a Mr. Marshall Bennett, on a visit from Honduras to England, wrote a letter to the Colonial Office. He stressed the great strategic importance of possible British settlements on Roatan, at that time being claimed by Guatemala. Bennett felt the latter, not being a maritime nation, presumably did not regard the islands of any great importance. No immediate action followed this letter, and we know the Bay Islands were still unoccupied by Europeans when visited by Roberts in 1827 (Roberts 1827: 276).

At some time between 1827 and 1834, English settlers began arriving on the island of Roatan. A memorandum, drafted in Belize, dated November 24th, 1834, noted that at this time the islands of Roatan and Bonacca (Guanaja) were inhabited by 50 people only, mostly English (Archivesm, Vol. II: 361). At a convention held in Guatemala on April 30th, 1859, England, under a great deal of pressure from the United States, agreed to surrender the Bay Islands and the Miskito Coast of both Honduras and Nicaragua, if allowed complete freedom of action in the territory known at that time and until recently as British Honduras, now independent since 1974 and known as Belize. On July 9, 1860, in a message to the Superintendent at Belize, the British Consul at Comayagua (Honduras), acknowledged receipt of a dispatch informing him that the Colony of the Bay Islands were to be ceded to the Republic of Honduras.

In this same letter, however, he asks that this be delayed on the request of the Honduran government, because General William Walker, the American Filibuster, intended to take possession of the islands and use them for operations against the mainland. [ The islanders were alarmed about this, and one can read a copy of the letter they themselves wrote to Queen Victoria at the Museum at Anthony’s Key Museum in Sandy Bay, Roatan. Many of the names of families are still on the island were attached to this letter. Its worth your while to drop into the museum and read it. {see Roatan Activities for details} On July 14th, 1860, the Government Gazette of Belize ran a notice that the Colony of the Bay Islands had been ceded to the Republic of Honduras, and noted that an offer was included to island inhabitants of free grants of Crown Land, as well as transport of any movable property to any of Her Majesty’s Colonies in the British West Indies. There is no evidence that any Bay Islanders took up the Queen’s offer.

The Government of the Republic of Honduras took little notice, however, being heavily embroiled in troubles on the mainland, and had little interest in her newly won possessions some 10 to 50 miles off her northern shore. Honduras took no action at all until April 12th, 1861, when her Minister of Foreign Affairs sent a brief note to a Mr. Hall, then British Consul to Honduras. This note informed Hall that Honduras was not yet prepared to take possession of the Bay Islands, and requested that England remain patient a little longer (Archives vol. III: 239). On May 23rd of 1861, however, British patience ran out. Belize demanded that the Commandant of Trujillo visit Roatan in the near future to take over the sovereignty of the colony, and on June 1st, 1861, after having been a British Colony for less than nine short years, the Bay Islands became the ‘Departemente de las Isles de la Bahi’ (The Bay Islands), under the struggling Republic of Honduras.

History-of-Roatan-Honduras-More As most visitors to the islands know, English is still spoken by the majority of the old islanders over thirty years of age, and is at least a second language for the majority of the somewhat heterogeneous population, even though Spanish became the official language in the year 1872. It was not until 1902, a year after the death of their beloved Queen Victoria, that many of the islands’ English population realized that their assumed British nationality and claims to British protection were no longer valid (Strong 1935:16, from Rose 1904 : 15). Jane Houlson wrote in 1934 that many islanders were still denying Honduranian nationality (p.68); and Peter Keenagh, an Englishman visiting the islands in 1938, wrote: “Since the ratification of the Treaty of Comayagua there has been a continual struggle between Islanders and Mainlanders.

The island families, for many reasons, consider that their British stock is superior to the confusion of Spanish, Indian, and Negro blood which populates the mainland, and there has never been the slightest feeling of subjection; (1938: 57). Adams briefly visited the island of Utila in 1957, and noted that there were some residents there who still claimed British nationality, even though both Honduras and England agree that any person born in the islands subsequent to the treaty of 1861 are Honduran citizens (Adams 1957: 640). The above written by Dr.D.K. Evans who has also written two fictional novels on Roatan with the use of his extensive knowledge on the island, called. I personally have read both his works ‘Judas Bird’ & ‘Red At Dawn’. Dr. Evans has two web sites please visit them both. ~dkevans Reef out of your front door! Click Here to Belize Fact Sheet - Essential Information for Visitors Close Belize Facts Famed writer Aldous Huxley wrote in Beyond The Mexique Bay (1934) “If the world had any ends Belize would be one of them.

It is not on the way from anywhere, to anywhere else. It is all but uninhabited.” Huxley’s off-the-cuff observation is one of the most famous made by a writer about Belize. More than eighty years ago he was one of the few adventurers daring enough to visit what at that time was one of the most remote corners of the then mighty British Empire. Belize Definition Today Huxley would be amazed that the little country, while still relatively undiscovered, is a burgeoning nation-state with close to 350,000 inhabitants spread over a land area twice the size of Jamaica. On a good day four or more cruise ships pull into one of its major harbors bringing some 15,000 visitors from North America and Europe eager to get a taste of the only country in Central America with a British Colonial History and the largest Barrier Reef in the Western Hemisphere. History Belize’s relatively undiscovered status has been one of the country’s most exotic come-ons over the centuries and the inhabitants from the time of its modern history have liked it just that way. The area was the center of the vast Mayan Civilization founded about 2,000 B.C.

Dozens of pyramids and temples – most not yet excavated – can be found throughout the country once known as British Honduras. Underground Maya Ruin at Cahal Pech, Cayo District. The country has a wonderfully diverse society, made up of a multiplicity of cultures and speaking many languages. English is the official language but Spanish is widely spoken as the major ethnic group of Belize is now Latino. But most Belizeans are bilingual in English and Spanish and most everyone speaks and understands Creole which is an English derived dialect. The education system is in English and is well regarded by immigrants. Belize Geography The country is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the south and west, and the Caribbean sea to the east. With 8,867 square miles (22,960 km²) of territory and 312,000 people (2011 census), the population density is the lowest in Central American and one of the lowest in the world making for wide open spaces to explore and discover. The country’s population growth rate, 2.21% (2008 est.), is the highest in the region.

Its rich biologically significant and unique ecosystems contribute to it being designated as a bio diversity hot spot and a center for eco-tourism. Government The country gained its independence from the Great Britain on September 21st 1981 under the Peoples United Party Government led by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price now known as the Father Of The Nation. Mr. Price, along with Phillip Goldson and Leigh Richardson launched the movement for self-government with the formation of the People’s Committee on 31 December 1949 after the British Colonial rulers devalued the British Honduras Dollar bringing much economic hardship on the colony’s residents. High school cheerleader in Dangriga, Stann Creek District. On 29 September 1950 the Peoples Committee evolved into the Peoples United Party with the stated mission of “To gain for the people of this country political independence and economic independence.” Mr. Goldson broke away from the P.U.P. to form his own party and Mr. Richardson emigrated to the U.S.A. never to return. The movement to independence was opposed by the United Democratic Party – the U.D.P. The U.D.P.

is an an amalgamation of traditionally pro-colonial parties, namely the equivocally named National Independence Party, The Liberal Party, the Honduras Independence Party and the National Alliance for Belizean Rights. Belize is a member of the United Nations, the Non Aligned Movement, the Organisation of American States, PARLACEN ( the Central American parliament), SICA (the acronym in Spanish for the Central American Integration System) and the British Commonwealth of Nations. Capital: City Of Belmopan . Parliamentary democracy with two major political parties, the People’s United Party (PUP), and the United Democratic Party (UDP). The UDP currently holds power, led by Prime Minister Dean Oliver Barrow (took office 7 February 2008). The Belize Constitution (this will open a new window where you can download the document in PDF format) includes a Bill of Rights. House of parliament at Independence Hill City of Belmopan, capital of Belize. The Executive Branch of government consists of the Governor General, the Prime Minister and The Cabinet. The Governor General’s role is ceremonial. The executive authority of Belize is vested in the Queen of England as the Head of State, who appoints the Governor General to represent her.

The Prime Minister is the Head of Government and heads the Cabinet. The Cabinet is the chief policy-making body in the government. Cabinet members are appointed by the Prime Minister from members of the House of Representatives or the Senate. Judiciary The Belize Judiciary consists of the Supreme Court headed by a Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court. The country has its own court of Appeals. The lower courts are known as the Magistrate Courts. The system of law is based on English common law. Supreme Court Building, Regent Street, downtown Belize City The members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Prime Minister “in consultation” with the Leader of the Opposition. In practice this means that the Prime Minister needs to discuss his intended appointment with the Leader of the Opposition. But not obtain his approval or assent . In the final analysis the Prime Minister of Belize has the dubious distinction of being the only politician in a modern democracy to in his sole and absolute discretion appoint and remove members of the Supreme Court and the Belize Court of Appeals. Climate The weather in Belize is characterized by two seasons: a rainy and a dry season. Belize annual rainfall : most of the year’s rainfall occurs during the period June to November, that is, the rainy season.

It is noted that the transition from dry to the rainy is very sharp. Annual rainfall ranges from 60 inches (1524mm) in the north to 160 inches (4064mm) in the south. Except for the southern regions, the rainfall is variable from year to year. The onset of the rainy season begins in the early May in Toledo, (where the annual rainfall is highest) progressing north to the Stann Creek, Belize, Cayo and Orange Walk District in late May, followed by Corozal District in early June. The mean temperature varies from 81°F/ 27°C along the coast to 69°F/21°C in the hills. The coldest month is January while the highest temperatures are experienced during the month of May. Entry Requirements Citizens from the U.S.A., Canada, the European Community (E.U) and CARICOM countries do not require a visa to enter Belize. See more detailed information at our Belize Visa and Entry Requirements page. Travel to Belize and Things To Look Out For Getting here is easy, by air, sea or land. By road from north America it is usually a three day trip or longer if you want to tarry and explore Mexico.

The land border crossing with Mexico is at Corozal – popular with retirees and the immigrant community. Many visitors come to the country via their yachts. Caveat: it is recommended that mariners hire a local pilot to steer them through the Barrier Reef. Beaching your boat on the reef can be dangerous and very expensive. Belize is well-known among mariners as a mariner’s speed trap. Just having your anchor drag on a portion of the coral reef can result in detention by the ham-fisted Belize Coast Guard and heavy fines. Captains and their crew are routinely arrested and their craft seized until they can post substantial bail before a court hearing date is set. North American travelers entering Belize by road Several airline hubs in the U.S.A. offer direct connections to Belize. From Central and South America several airlines offer non-stop service or connecting flights. To find the most affordable flights, stay flexible on your dates, avoid peak holiday travel (around Christmas and Easter), and sign up for Internet specials and e-mail fare alerts. The big airlines currently serving the country are American, Continental, US Airways, Delta, and TACA. Budget. Budget airliner Southwest Airlines is the latest entrant to the Belize air transport market from its William P.

Hobby Airport in Houston. Regional airlines such as Maya Island Air and Tropic offer flights to Cancun (Mexico) as well as Guatemala and Honduras (San Pedro Sula). More on Airfare to Belize . Not a few visitors from North America fly into Cancún, Mexico, for the cheap airfares, then catch a bus (about five hours) to Belize. The country is well served by private air and Belize helicopter services for transport and aerial sight seeing. Helicopter tours of the many natural wonders of Belize are a new service and can be arranged by most resorts and travel agencies. Fascinating Facts About Belize Southern Belize is the least visited but one of the most beautiful areas of Belize. Belize’s Black Howler Monkeys, locally known as “Baboons” are one of the top 10 loudest animals in the world. Close to 1 million tourists visit Belize annually, 70% of who are North Americans. The Belizean seawater temperature averages between 79 to 83 degrees F. Whale sharks are harmless to humans – they eat plankton and fish eggs. Approximately 1,000 Mayan ruins are scattered throughout Belize.

Most are unexplored and sadly some like the famous Noh Mul have been destroyed and used for road fill. Belize’s mainland is about 180 miles long and up to 68 miles wide. If you select Gibnut from a menu, you’re about to dine on a rainforest rodent (Paca Cuniculus) which is a popular game meat in Belize also known as the Royal Rat. (The Queen of England ate it during a visit to Belize and gave it the Royal Thumbs Up). Belize’s wetlands are home for two of the 23 species of Crocodilians, the fresh water Morelet’s Crocodile and the saltwater American Crocodile.

Some of Belize’s most interesting place names include Baking Pot, Double Head Cabbage, Laughing Bird Caye, Cattle Landing, Monkey River, Gallon Jug, Bullet Tree Falls, Teakettle, More Tomorrow, Never Delay, Crooked Tree, Hummingbird Highway, Raspaculo (scrape your bottom), Sal Si Puedes (come out if you can) and Labouring Creek A typical Belizean breakfast consists of creole bread, corn or flour tortilla, cheese, fried beans, eggs, bacon and coffee, tea or milk. Like in many deeply religious countries, many Belizeans avoid swimming in the sea or rivers on Good Friday with the belief that it can bring misfortune. The least visited destination in Belize is Toledo, sometimes referred to as “the forgotten district” (1,669 square miles of rainforests, mountains, rivers and Maya Villages). Belize is the only Central American country with English as its official language. However, you will hear a variety of Spanish, Creole, and Maya in some greetings: Weh di go ahn? (Translation: Hello, what’s up?) Creole Bix a bèel? (Translation: How are you?) Maya Buenos dias!

(Translation: Good Day!) Spanish Buiti Binafi! (Translation: Good Morning) Garifuna Belize runs on the same electricity as the U.S.A. and Canada, 110-120 volts A.C. and the same plugs are used, no adapters required. Like most countries, Belize drives on the right. Like the U.S.A., Belize uses Imperial Measure, so you buy gasoline by the gallon and roads are marked in miles instead of kilometers, the speed limit is 55 miles per hour, and you buy items such as rice, beans, sugar, flour and produce at the supermarket by the pound. Belize Currency is the Belize Dollar. One U.S. Dollar is worth two Belize Dollars. Article Updated 2 July 2016 Related Articles: Punta To the Garifuna people of the Caribbean coast of Central America, it would seem as though Punta had always existed. Punta, in fact is a traditional Garifuna dance having its particular drumming and singing pattern. From listening to the music and watching the movements of the dancers one can easily conclude that Punta is undoubtedly one of several surviving cultural legacies once introduced into the early Island Carib society by Africans escaping slavery.

The escaped Africans were welcome in the Carib communities. In fact, many of them intermarried with the aboriginal Carib/Arawak population giving birth to the hybrid culture of today's Garifuna (plural Garinagu). While displaying distinctly African physical features the Garinagu speak Garifuna. This (according to anthropologists) is essentially an Amerindian language with occasional "borrowed words" which inevitably found their way into the language along with non-indigenous items and concepts from other cultures. Today, in addition to Garifuna, most Garinagu speak at least one other language (usually the official language of their native country). Traditional Punta employs various elements of contrast. There are, for instance, several very popular songs but the composers remain virtually unknown. The music is very pleasing and danceable but the themes reflected in the lyrics are not always pleasant. Topics usually include misfortune, ridicule, sexual politics and disaster among others. These songs are usually composed by persons directly involved in particular real situations. Punta is traditionally a communal exercise hence the call and response nature of the singing encourages active community participation. However it is the drumming that seems to characterize Punta.

Garifuna drums, like African drums are made from hollowed tree trunks with cured and dried animal hide stretched over one end of the cylinder, fastened by ropes or vines and tightened with pegs. There are two basic kinds of drums: There is a low-pitched bass drum designed to keep a steady beat and a high-pitched treble drum usually played with a lot more energy and skill in order to provide the musical embellishments. Drummers place their Garifuna drums between the knees and beat them with the bare hands. The maracas are the only other instruments utilized in traditional Punta. Depending on the dancers and the circumstances, punta varies from gentle and graceful hip movements of dancers propelled towards and always from each other by "plowing" their toes on the floor, to erotic gyrations and "contact" Punta reminiscent of fertility dances performed in ancient cultures. While punta continues to exist in its traditional form, innovative Belizean musicians have modified it with a modern commercial sound and dubbed it "Punta Rock. Danced in exactly the same way Punta Rock retains the aggressive beat and the vocal pattern of traditional Punta. However, Punta Rock involves more percussion, musical accompaniment and sophisticated arrangements.

This modern sound has gained wider acceptance and has consequently secured for Belize and Belizeans a unique musical identity. A new wave of Belizean composers, musicians and entertainers has emerged. What was once a traditional dance restricted to the rural Garifuna setting has now evolved into a raging dance craze burning up urban dance floors in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, having successfully transcended ethnic and geographical barriers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About Dangriga The Garinagu are a people living in St. Vincent and along the Caribbean Coast in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the main land of Guatemala. They are the descendants of Carib, Arawak and West African peoples. The history of the Garinagu can be traced to shipwrecked slaves from West Africa off the coast of Venezuela in 1635. The surviving slaves found shelter on the island of St. Vincent where they co-existed with the Carib Indians on the island. Over the next 150 years the two peoples intermarried and eventually became the Black Caribs or the Garinagu. By 1773, the Black Caribs were the majority of the population on St. Vincent.

A series of wars took placed between the French and the British ending in a final battle on June 10, 1796. The French and their Carib allies were defeated by the British and they were forced off the island by the British. The British deposited the Caribs on the island of Roatan, Honduras. Shortly after, the entire marooned population migrated to the mainland of Honduras and allied with the Spanish in the fortress town of Trujillo. Unfortunately, a brief civil war in 1832 found the Caribs on the wrong side and once again many, led by Alejo Beni, were forced to flee to neighboring British Honduras now known as Belize. That event is commemorated as Garifuna Settlement Day, a national holiday on November 19th. According to tradition, the first Garifuna arrived in then, British Honduras (Belize) and then established villages along Belize's southern coast on November 19th, 1802. This day is now a national holiday in Belize, initiated by Thomas Vincent Ramos, celebrated with drums, dancing and pageantry.

Today, there is one town in Toledo - Punta Gorda - that is considered a Garifuna town, and two Garifuna villages - Barranco (the oldest Garifuna settlement in Belize) and tiny Punta Negra. Click Punta Rock Belize - Colonial Flags of British Honduras This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Belize - Colonial Flags of British Honduras British Honduras Blue ensign 1919-1981 image by Martin Grieve, 6 August 2005 Overview This flag is a standard British Blue Ensign, with the badge of British Honduras. The badge is divided in three portions. In the first field, there is a Union Jack on a white background. This makes two UJ's on the flag. The second field displays four tools, also found on the Coat of Arms. The four tools are: a sledgehammer, a saw, an axe and an oar. The bottom field shows a ship sailing toward the hoist. The ship is flying a red flag, probably a British Red Ensign. This flag was used as the Colonial flag of British Honduras, and was then used as a state and war ensign until the 80's.

eljko Heimer, 22 July 1996 According to Crampton's The World of Flags 1990, the Coat of Arms was granted in 1907 (see above). However, Crampton does not say which of the Coat of Arms or the badge came first. A possible theory would be that the badge was designed before the arms. In effect, the ship at sail is a clear sign of late 19th century Caribbean colony designs. Thus, the 1907 coat of arms must have been an attempt to make the badge more 'heraldically correct', and so, the badge must have come before the arms. This is an educated guess, but a guess nonetheless. Which preceded which is still unclear. Roy Stilling, 22 July 1996 Belize was known as British Honduras until 1973. Badge approved 1870 and apparently displayed on a white disc until about 1920. A letter dated 12-dec-1919 was sent to the Crown Agents (who supplied flags to British Honduras), telling them that there should be no white circle on the British Honduras Blue Ensign.

This flag continued to be used until probably 1981. David Prothero, 6 March 1999 The old Coat of Arms was granted by Royal warrant on 28 Jan. 1907 . Note: this is the date for the CoA, and not the colonial badge. As Roy says ,the badge probably came earlier (perhaps 1860s). The current Coat of Arms was adopted at independence and differs only in minor details (e.g. the UJ was eliminated from the canton of the shield). Differences in the shape of the scroll etc. are probably heraldic license and not new Coat of Arms . The supporters used to be both Black. The dexter one (viewer's left) is now White/Hispanic -- I suppose that was a change at independence. T. F. Mills, 27 March 1999 Illustration of this flag appears in p. 108 (bottom) at [ zna99 ], with two rows of three Blue Ensigns each. In the first row there is "British Honduras (XIXth century - 1981)".

Ivan Sache, 25 Febuary 2001 Smith [ smi80 ] show it only as ---/-SW ensign (that is probably on state ensign, as I doubt that Belize had a navy). The matching civil ensign is simple undefaced British red ensign. eljko Heimer, 4 March 2001 British Honduras used a circular seal in ornamental frame on 1870 flag. David Prothero, 8 April 2005 The badge that defaced the blue ensign of British Honduras Colony was one of the more attractive designs of it's time. It is partitioned into three sectors, the first containing the Union flag, the second, a set of logging tools, and the third displays what was very common on British Colonial flags in the Caribbean at that time. This is a sailing ship which represents the transportation of mahogany wood which British Honduras was famous for.

Gordon and Gordon's 1920's classic flag book, "Flags of the world" tell us: "British Honduras is the mahogany colony and it announces the fact in it's badge, a third of which is occupied by the mahogany feller's tools including the cross-cut saw; while at the base is a barque with a red ensign and in the other third is the Union Jack which in the seal is replaced by the more appropriate mahogany tree" It is most unusual for a very pro-British empire flag book to utter the words that the Union Jack was replaced by anything more appropriate! An extract from the "Flag Bulletin" pertaining to the new flag of Belize on page 143 of vol. XX:5 dated September-October 1981 reads: "The different elements combining to form the national flag may be dated back as far as the early nineteenth century. At that time the local population was self-governing, since the territory was claimed by Spain and the British did no more than to insist on the right to cut timber. A public meeting in 1819 saw the creation of the coat of arms for use on the seal, the die for which arrived from London two years later.

In 1907 the design was confirmed by the College of Arms as the official Armorial bearings of what was then called British Honduras." On the graphics side, we decided to look into a great many flag books which depicted the badge detail, and settled on three sources. These were: 1.) Flags of Maritime Nations, 1912 2.) Das Grossen Flaggenbuch, 1939 (1992 facsimile) 3.) BR20, Flags of all Nations 1958. There are some noticable differences between these three publications, although it could be said that these are very minor. The greatest cause for concern is the proportions of the Union flag in the first sector, which has the ratio of 2:3, 3:5 and 1:2 in the respective sequence from the publications listed above. What is the best? That depends on what you prefer of course, but Das Grossen Flaggenbuch will form the base image of our badge detail with the logging implements from Maritime Nations.

There should be a sunset between the clouds and the sea, coloured pink but strangely omitted from Flaggenbuch, and so we shall add this detail as both BR20 and Marime Nations depict this. David Prothero informs me that the badge was used from 1870 to 1981, one of the longest, if not the longest use of the same colonial badge. The white disc was supposed to have been removed in 1919. That is a time span of 111 years, and I cannot find anything here to beat that. Martin Grieve and David Prothero, 6 August 2005 British Honduras became Belize on 1 June 1973, and so this flag became the state ensign of Belize from 1973-1981. Martin Grieve and David Prothero, 6 August 2005 Flag of Lieutenant Governor/Governor - Presumably from 1870-1981? image by Martin Grieve, 6 August 2005 General Governor of British Honduras.

The badge in the middle is used since at least end of 19th century (approved 1870 according to David Protero) when this flag might have been inftroduced, too, and the flag was used until presumably 1981. eljko Heimer, 4 March 2001 No Governor-General until independence. The defaced UJ was for the Lieutenant-Governor from 1870 until 1884 when British Honduras ceased to be a dependency of Jamaica, and the Lt-Governor became a Governor. The badge is recorded in the Colonial Office Record Book, [Public Record Office document CO 325/54] with an 1870 reference number and a note, "Shield on circle with garland of mahogany leaves filling the space between edges of shield and circle." At some point it would have been changed to a standard laurel leaf garland. Doubtful whether any flag was actually made with a mahogany leaf garland.

David Prothero, 5 March 2001 British Honduras was governed by Superintendents (subordinated to the governor of Jamaica) from 1749-1862, Lieutenant Governors from 1862-1884, and by Governors fom 1884-1981. The flag was a Union defaced with the badge within a laurel garland. Martin Grieve and David Prothero, 6 August 2005 Unofficial Red Ensign of British Honduras image by Martin Grieve, 6 August 2005 Here is a photo of a badge on red ensign taken by me at a flag display in ICV 19 (York, July 2001). The origilal flag is from Bruce Berry collection. According to the display catalouge: "The tools show the forestry trade, the mainstay of the colony's economy." This version may have been unofficial or its origin is not clear.

Dov Gutterman, 31 July 2001 Merchant vessels flew a red duster, undefaced although it appears that red ensigns defaced with the badge of the colony were manufactered, as Bruce Berry has on in his collection. Martin Grieve and David Prothero, 6 August 2005 Red Ensign for Ceremonial Use (?) image by Martin Grieve, 4 September 2005 There was never any official warrant granted to that former Colony to fly this flag, but I had decided to go ahead simply for the reason that Bruce Berry had one in his collection. The first thing that struck me was that this flag had a gold fringe around it! David Prothero reckons that this may just have been a ceremonial flag. and I am tempted to go along with his conclusion. Martin Grieve, 4 September 2005 I was the one who gave Bruce said ensign. In 1993, I bought several British Honduras' red ensigns in various (American) sizes and one blue ensign from a flag company in Chicago who was looking to get rid of all their old flag stock.

I reckon that Bruce's flag was already in stock as a 4x6 ensign and someone special ordered the fringe only to back out of the deal after the fringe was sewn on. I venture this guess because the ensign has what we in the US would call an outdoor heading, being a canvas heading with brass grommets. Most likely, the original order was made in order to compliment a 4x6 American flag already in someone's possession. Out of the 4 or 5 I ordered, Bruce's was the only one with fringe. To comment on Martin's remark concerning British Honduras red ensigns, they were in fact made in 1 to 2 proportions and were utilized as per so many other unwarranted British ensigns. A 3x6 British Honduras red ensign with the badge on a disk sold on E-bay recently. Clay Moss, 4 September 2005 Spanish in Honduras | Learn Spanish online for free with VeinteMundos More VeinteMundos’ articles here . Other languages spoken There are 10 individual languages listed in Honduras. Some of the Amerindian languages include Garifuna, Miskito, Tol and Pech.

Bay Islands English– over 10,000 people speak an English-based Creole along the Caribbean shore of Honduras. It shares similarities with Belizean Creole language. Arabic – there is a large Arabic population living in Honduras, most of them are of Palestine descent (over 150,000 inhabitants). They are fully integrated in the country and played an important role in the country’s economic development. Today there are over 40,000 Arabic speakers in the country. Other important immigrant groups that have maintained their language are Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) and Armenians. Spanish dialects and variations The Spanish spoken in Tegucigalpa is the norm for Honduran Spanish; however this Spanish has many influences from more rural forms of Spanish due to strong migrations to the city. Northern Honduran coastal Spanish has developed with influences from the British (that occupied the surrounding area), local tribes, as well as the large population of people of African descent. In some cases in the north, Spanish is only spoken as a second language. Spanish in the interior of the country has a less pronounced accent. The aspiration of ‘s’ , for example, is less pronounced.

Geography and Climate Honduras has most of its coast in the north on the Caribbean sea and small opening to the Pacific in the south through the Gulf of Fonseca. The interior of the country is made up of tropical lowlands and mountains where the weather is temperate to cool and marked by a rainy and dry season. The tropical north is much hotter and has rainfall year-round. Destinations in Honduras Islas de la Bahía Beaches and coast – Bay Islands, Cayos Cochinos, Roatan Island (scuba-diving, coral reefs, fishing), Gulf of Fonseca Cities, towns, and folklore – Comayagua, Garifunda Communities, Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, Trujillo (local customs, museums, music, gastronomy) Lowland and Jungles – Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Cacao Lagoon, Pico Bonito National Park Historical Heritage – Copan, Omoa Fortress Highlands – Lake Yojoa, Celaque National Park, Ocotepeque (thermal baths, hiking, bird watching…) History & Politics Colonization was difficult for the Spaniards because of local resistance as well as rival European forces in the Caribbean.

In the 17th century the northern coast of Honduras was taken by the British and controlled up until 1860. Honduras only became fully independent and sovereign in 1840 and thereafter quickly became dominated economically and influenced politically by the United States, whose interests lay in banana exports with companies such as the Standard Fruit Company and the United Fruit Company. US backed anti-Sandinista forces were based in Honduras to bring down neighboring Nicaragua’s Marxist government. In 1988, the right-wing Honduran government was declared guilty of human rights violations against Honduran citizens. In 1998 Honduras was hit by hurricane Mitch, greatly affecting the economy. ¿Sabías qué….? ‘Lluvia de Peces’ (Fish rain) is a natural phenomenon that allegedly occurs in the Yoro region of the country between May and July. It happens once or twice a year and it is said that after a 2–3 hour storm hundreds of live fish are found flopping around on the ground.

Famous People Salvador Moncada (scientist, husband of Princess Marie-Esmeralda of Belgium) David Suazo (football/soccer player) Carlos Campos (designer) Media Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the constitution in Honduras but there are strong laws on defamation that restrict topics. Violence against journalists is rated high in Honduras, and corruption and censorship are prevalent, causing the accuracy of news reports to be questioned. All news agencies are privately owned and concentrated in the hands of influential political figures and powerful businessmen. History of Roatan Island by David Evans Brief historical and ethnographical account of the Bay Islands by David Evans ( dkevans@wfu.edu ) The first records indicating permanent English settlements in the Bay Islands (other than the intermittent occupations by the logwood cutters and buccaneers, and the abortive attempt by the Puritan sponsored Providence Company) show that Port Royal, on the island of Roat�n, was again occupied in the year 1742.

In this year the British made an attempt to gain possession of most of the Caribbean coast of Central America, and in doing so, rebuilt the old fort on Roat�n (Squier 1858:615-616). The archives at Belize record a Major Caulfield in command of Roat�n as early as 1745. On August 2nd of that year, the Major wrote a letter to a Mr. Trelawry, Govenor of Jamaica, describing Spanish harassment of English settlements (Archives, vol. I: 15). These settlements appear to have been well established on the island of Roat�n by 1775. A map of that year, drawn by Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to His Majesty, Clearly shows essentially all of the present older settlements, bearing their current names, with the exception of Calkett's Hole (now Coxen's Hole) and Falmouth Harbour (now Oak Ridge). The Spanish, as soon as the early dawn provided enough light, directed a well-coordinated attack against the English at Port Royal on the early morning of March, 2nd 1782.

"After a heavy cannonade, detachments of the troops landed and opened regular trenches against the forts, which were so closely invested and hotly pressed that on the 16th of the month they surrendered at discretion. The lives of the defenders were spared, but all their dwellings, to the number of 500, were destroyed" ( quoted by Squier in 1858: 616-617). Six years later, in 1788, England completely evacuated all of her settlements in the Bay Islands as well as on the Miskito Shore. The islands then lay deserted of Europeans for almost fifteen years until 1797, when the English removed by force some 5,000 "Black Caribs" (a mixture of African Negro and Carib and Arawak Indians) from the Windward Island of St. Vincent, and marooned them on the then empty beaches of Port Royal on Roat�n (Squier 1858:172 and Taylor 1951: 36). Conzemius tells us that these unhappy people were first taken from St.

Vincent to the small island of Balliceaux, then to that of Bequia, both in the Grenadines. At Bequia they were loaded aboard H.M.S. EXPERIMENT under the command of Captain Barrett, and then shipped to Roat�n. They were landed on Roat�n on a stormy day of February 25, 1797 (Conzemius 1928: 189). According to the Honduran historian, Dur�n, the British employed two men-of-war and a brigantine, landing the deportees in April, not February, in 1797 (Dur�n 1927:99). My own (DKE) personal research both in Belize and in Berkeley indicates that this landing was indeed in the winter months, and most likely February. The History of the Garifuna, as well as the history of their most famous dance, "La Punta", seems to spiral outward from this day, whatever month it was in.

Except for these "Black Carib" now known as the Garifuna, and a few Spanish attempts to settle colonists from Spain and exiles native to the Canary Islands, the Bay Islands remained unoccupied for almost thirty more years (Parsons 1956: 9), until in 1821, the newly-founded Central American Federation claimed the Bay Islands, and declared the independent of Spain. No serious attempts were made to settle them, however, or to protect them from encroachment by other powers. We next hear of British interest in 1825, when a Mr. Marshall Bennett, on a visit from Honduras to England, wrote a letter to the Colonial Office. He stressed the great strategic importance of possible British settlements on Roat�n, at that time being claimed by Guatemala. Bennett felt the latter, not being a maritime nation, presumably did not regard the islands of any great importance. No immediate action followed this letter, and we know the Bay Islands were still unoccupied by Europeans when visited by Roberts in 1827 (Roberts 1827: 276).

At some time between 1827 and 1834, English settlers began arriving on the island of Roat�n. A memorandum, drafted in Belize, dated November 24th, 1834, noted that at this time the islands of Roat�n and Bonacca (Guanaja) were inhabited by 50 people only, mostly English (Archivesm, Vol. II: 361). At a convention held in Guatemala on April 30th, 1859, England, under a great deal of pressure from the United States, agreed to surrender the Bay Islands and the Miskito Coast of both Honduras and Nicaragua, if allowed complete freedom of action in the territory known at that time and until recently as British Honduras, now independent since 1974 and known as Belize. On July 9, 1860, in a message to the Superintendent at Belize, the British Consul at Comayagua (Honduras), acknowledged receipt of a dispatch informing him that the Colony of the Bay Islands were to be ceded to the Republic of Honduras.

In this same letter, however, he asks that this be delayed on the request of the Honduran government, because General William Walker, the American Filibuster, intended to take possession of the islands and use them for operations against the mainland. [ The islanders were alarmed about this, and one can read a copy of the letter they themselves wrote to Queen Victoria at the Museum at Anthony's Key in the IMS building, Roat�n. Many of the names of families still on the island were attached to this letter. Its worth your while to drop into the museum and read it]. {see Roatan Activities for details} On July 14th, 1860, the Government Gazette of Belize ran a notice that the Colony of the Bay Islands had been ceded to the Republic of Honduras, and noted that an offer was included to island inhabitants of free grants of Crown Land, as well as transport of any movable property to any of Her Majesty's Colonies in the British West Indies. There is no evidence that any Bay Islanders took up the Queen's offer.

The Government of the Republic of Honduras took little notice, however, being heavily embroiled in troubles on the mainland, and had little interest in her newly won possessions some 10 to 50 miles off her northern shore. Honduras took no action at all until April 12th, 1861, when her Minister of Foreign Affairs sent a brief note to a Mr. Hall, then British Consul to Honduras. This note informed Hall that Honduras was not yet prepared to take possession of the Bay Islands, and requested that England remain patient a little longer (Archives vol. III: 239). On May 23rd of 1861, however, British patience ran out. Belize demanded that the Commandant of Trujillo visit Roat�n in the near future to take over the sovereignty of the colony, and on June 1st, 1861, after having been a British Colony for less than nine short years, the Bay Islands became the "Departemente de las Isles de la Bah�a", under the struggling Republic of Honduras.

As most visitors to the islands know, English is still spoken by the majority of the old islanders over thirty years of age, and is at least a second language for the majority of the somewhat heterogeneous population, even though Spanish became the official language in the year 1872. It was not until 1902, a year after the death of their beloved Queen Victoria, that many of the islands' English population realized that their assumed British nationality and claims to British protection were no longer valid (Strong 1935:16, from Rose 1904 : 15). Jane Houlson wrote in 1934 that many islanders were still denying Honduranian nationality (p.68); and Peter Keenagh, an Englishman visiting the islands in 1938, wrote: "Since the ratification of the Treaty of Comayagua there has been a continual struggle between Islanders and Mainlanders. The island families, for many reasons, consider that their British stock is superior to the confusion of Spanish, Indian, and Negro blood which populates the mainland, and there has never been the slightest feeling of subjection" (1938: 57).

Adams briefly visited the island of Utila in 1957, and noted that there were some residents there who still claimed British nationality, even though both Honduras and England agree that any person born in the islands subsequent to the treaty of 1861 are Honduran citizens (Adams 1957: 640). And as late as 1961, when my wife and I first set foot on Roat�n off the heaving deck of the little freight boat "Edith Mc", there was a sign hanging in the tiny post office in French Harbour. It was hand-printed in red ink, the work of the local postmaster of that day. It read: "COUNT YOUR MONEY IN LEMPIRA {in lieu of U.S. currency, then called by all islanders "gold"} REMEMBER, WE LIVE IN HONDURAS ". When I asked why the sign didn't read ...

Remember, we are Honduran"..., the postmaster only smiled at me, shook his head, and said as he handed me my change...."You'll find out, when ya stays here awhile." Additional information about the history of Native peoples of the Caribbean Central Amerindian Centrelink can be found on this link. If you have questions or comments about this web site, please send an email note to: Webmaster . Please put a bookmark on your web browser to return to . This web site was last updated on Friday, February 12, 2016. Please see the web site disclaimer on the many external links that you will find on this web site.

Question: British Honduras is now known by what name?
Answer: Belize