Beachfront Properties & Real Estate In Belize

The road to Belize Independence followed the course taken by other British colonies in the Caribbean up to the early 1960's, but since then was colored by peculiar circumstances, a claim on the part of Guatemala to the territory of Belize, and firm opposition by the United Democratic Party that ironically today heads the government of Belize - a position it could not have achieved without independence.

With Independence, a serious task faced the Belizean people - not only to transform a society marked by centuries of brutal slavery and colonial domination and exploitation, but really to build unity shattered by decades of divisiveness and posturing by pro-colonial forces. These included the curiously named National Independence Party, the Honduras Independence Party, the Liberal Party and other spin-offs - all which eventually coalesced into the opposition United Democratic Party that resisted the call to independence to the bitter end. Photo: Father of Belize Prime Minister Rt. Hon. George Price.

For many years, the Belizean Government largely left matters up to the British, who were constitutionally responsible for the foreign affairs and defense of Belize. In 1975, after 14 years of negotiations, the Guatemalan Government demanded the cession of a large area of Belizean territory as the price for withdrawing its claim.

The Struggle For Belize Independence

The Belize Government under the stewardship of Premier George Price, leader of the Peoples United Party, decided that it would wage a campaign for Independence, this time on the international front, to gain support for its claim to full Independence with its territory intact and secure.

There followed six years of intensive diplomatic activity on the part of the Belize Government in an exercise that became known as "the internationalization effort" which was spearheaded by two young Belize attorneys that would later play important roles in Belize's modern history - Said Musa and Assad Shoman - the former became Prime Minister of Belize and the latter Foreign Minister of Belize.

Immediate support was received from the countries of the Caribbean Community and the British Commonwealth of Nations. In 1975, the first United Nations resolution on Belize was passed by the General Assembly by a vote of 110 in favor, 9 against and 16 abstentions.

This large initial support was made possible thanks to the undertaking by the Non-Aligned Movement, at its Foreign Minister's Conference in Peru that year, to commit its total support to Belize. Although the United Nations support was substantial, it showed up a serious weakness - none of the mainland Spanish speaking Latin American countries had voted for Belize and the U.S.A. continued to support Guatemala by abstaining. Picture: The original Independence Hall, headquarters of the Peoples United Party on Queen Street, Belize City.

It became the number one priority to win the support of these countries, and special efforts were made to gain the solidarity of the people and government of Latin America and especially of Central America, whose countries were particularly bound by economic and other historical ties with Guatemala.

Breakthrough For Belize Independence - Help From Panama

The crack in the Latin American support for Guatemala first appeared in another continent - at the Summit Meeting of the Non- Aligned Countries held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in August 1976. Belize had been invited as a special guest, and was given special status in the Movement. Present there to lobby support for the struggle to regain sovereignty over the Panama Canal for his people was General Omar Torrijos. Although Panama had been previously committed in a signed declaration of Central American countries to support Guatemala's claim, General Torrijos became convinced of the justice of the Belizean struggle for Independence, and at the next United Nation's (UN) General Assembly session, Panama voted in favor of the Belizean resolution.

General Torrijos became a formidable campaigner for Belize in Latin America, and was instrumental in securing the support of many other countries. General Torrijos became a constant source of sound advice and inspiration; he will live forever in the hearts of Belizeans who can never forget his significant contribution to our struggle for Independence. After Panama, many other Latin American countries voted for Belize in subsequent UN resolutions including Venezuela under charismatic President Carlos Andres Perez who was one of the first heads of state from South America to visit Belize. Another break in the Central American wall did not occur until the victory of the Popular Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua, which not only brought an important new vote for Belize at the UN, but also a committed ally.

Another event that considerably improved the international position of Belize was the assention of Jose Lopez Portillo as President of Mexico. Although Mexico had supported Belize in the past, President Portillo's principled and very firm stand greatly strengthened Belize's hand. By November 1980, international support for Belize was virtually unanimous. A UN resolution called for Independence for Belize without strings attached, and with security, by the end of 1981.

This time the United States of America, which had previously abstained on all the Belize resolutions since 1975, and in fact had once favoured Guatemalan control over Belize in its sponsorship of the infamous Webster Proposals, finally caved in to international pressure and voted in favour, and no country voted against.

The last bulwark of Guatemalan support to fall was the Organization of American States, traditionally controlled by and influenced by Washington, which had traditionally taken Guatemala's side in the controversy. With the emerging importance of the Caribbean states in the Organization, and with the gradually increasing Latin American support at the UN, Belize's cause won acceptance. In November 1980, the OAS by an overwhelming majority endorsed the UN resolution calling for a secure Independence in 1981.

The solid mounting support for Belize did not, however, deter the government from continuing its efforts to find a peaceful negotiated settlement to the controversy, but meetings held in 1981 proved that the Guatemalan Government, by insisting on terms that would amount to land cession, was still demanding too high a price for dropping its unfounded claim to Belize.

Decision Taken To Proceed With Belize Independence

The momentous decision was therefore taken, with the consent of a decaying British Empire undergoing the failed Thatcher macroeconomic adventurism of 1979-81, and the blessing of the international community, to proceed with Independence and to continue its efforts thereafter to develop peaceful and friendly relations with the government and people of Guatemala.

In an interview with your correspondent, Hon. Hector Silva recounted that at a meeting of the inner cabinet at Mr, Price's home on Pickstock Street in Belize City, the right wing of the party, namely Mr. Louis Sylvestre and Mr, Fred Hunter voted No to independence. The center-left wing, namely Mr. Said Musa and Assad Shoman voted Yes. Mr. Price voted Yes, setting in motion the march to independence.

Interestingly, Mr. Price and his Peoples United Party had to wage a battle on several fronts - including an unexpected battle at home. The United Democratic Party which today heads the government of Belize, waged a vicious campaign against Independence - including protests, the burning of several homes and business houses in Belize city and riots that led to a state of emergency imposed by the British Governor at the time James Patrick Ivan Hennessy.

The U.D.P. at that time was headed by Theodore Aranda, Manuel Esquivel and Dean Lindo. Mr.. Aranda was quoted on BBC television at the time as saying "We want nothing to do with independence." The U.D.P. boycotted the Belize Independence Ceremony at Government House where the Union Jack was lowered, then replaced by the Belize Flag to the joy of hundreds of Belizeans who had gathered for this historic event.

Belize became an independent nation on September 21st, 1981. Independence Day in Belize is a day that honors our struggles for a better life, a day that celebrates our triumph that has led our country and its people to freedom and a new and improved way of life. Picture: Carnival dancers celebrating Belize Independence Day.

The Father of Belize, Rt. Hon. George Price who is 91, on September 18 2010, gave an interview. Excerpts:

"We are going through difficult times, a transition if you will.

"In the end if we trust in our religion and persevere - good will triumph over evil.

"Look at our National Prayer and follow and protect our Constitution and we will overcome."

Mr.. Price also praised the late General Omar Torrijos of Panama with being pivotal in helping Belize gain its independence. He recalled when most of the world starting with the U.S.A. opposed Belize's Independence - culminating with its sponsorship of the Webster Proposals. This opposition cracked with the stand taken by General Torrijos, followed by support from Nicaragua and Mexico.