Long-form name: none

Type: parliamentary

Capital: Belmopan

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK; formerly British Honduras)

Constitution: 21 September 1981

Legal system: English law

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September

Branches: bicameral legislature (National Assembly--electoral redistricting in October 1984 expanded House of Representatives from 18 to 28 seats; eight-member appointed Senate; either house may choose its speaker or president, respectively, from outside its membership); Cabinet; judiciary

Leaders: @m5Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Elmira Minita GORDON (since 21 September 1981); @m5Head of Government--Prime Minister Manuel A. ESQUIVEL (since 17 December 1984)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections: parliamentary election held December 1984; next national election 1989

Political parties and leaders: United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel Esquivel, Curl Thompson, Dean Lindo; People's United Party (PUP), George Price, Florencio Marin, Said Musa; Belize Popular Party (BPP), Louis Sylvestre

Voting strength: (December 1984) National Assembly--UDP 21 seats (25,785--54.1%), PUP 7 seats (20,971--44.0%)

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: United Workers Union, which is connected with PUP; Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR) also associated with PUP

Member of: CARICOM, CDB, Commonwealth, FAO, GATT, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, G-77, ISO, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Edward A. LAING; Chancery at Suite 2J, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 363-4505; US--Ambassador Robert G. RICH, Jr.; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize City); telephone �501� 77161 through 77163

Flag: 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 with a mahogany tree at the top and the related motto @m5SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

NOTE: The information regarding Belize on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belize Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belize Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.