Belize, a tiny Central American country nestled between Guatemala and Mexico, boasts a rich blend of cultures, history, and wildlife. Once occupied by the ancient Mayans, Belize was later colonized by the British and gained independence in 1981. The country now boasts a diverse population, including the descendants of the Mayans, Afro-Caribbeans, Mestizos, and Garifunas, contributing to its diverse cultural offerings. The country's geography ranges from sandy beaches along the Caribbean coastline to dense, tropical jungles nestled in the heartland. Belize is also known for its spectacular barrier reef, which runs along the coast and offers a world-class diving experience. Visitors can explore ancient Mayan ruins, hike in the lush jungles, float along rivers, or simply relax on the beach. With its mix of cultural heritage and natural beauty, Belize offers something for everyone.
"In this timely book, Assad Shoman applies his forensic skills to explain the Guatemalan claim to Belize. Uncovering material long-forgotten or previously unknown, Shoman helps us understand the origins of the claim and why it has proven so difficult to resolve through negotiation. It is essential reading for anyone interested in this dispute and it will figure prominently in all discussions on this issue."Victor Bulmer-Thomas, Professor Emeritus of London University, former Director of Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House)Guatemala has maintained a claim to the entire territory of Belize (formerly Britain's colony of British Honduras in Central America) since the 1940s, when it renounced an 1859 border treaty signed with Britain. All attempts to resolve the dispute by negotiations failed, and Belize became independent in 1981 with a British military force stationed there for its defence. Since independence, continuous incursions by Guatemalans have led to massive deforestation and loss of resources and has sometimes resulted in fatalities. More recently, attempts by the Guatemalan military to forcefully impose its territorial claims have heightened tensions and tested the resolve of an OAS Office stationed at the border since 2003. A referendum in Guatemala in April 2018 produced an overwhelming vote in favour of submitting the dispute to the International Court of Justice, and the referendum in Belize is due in April 2019. This book for the first time details the origins of the claim, the multiple attempts to reach a negotiated settlement from 1862 to 2007, and the effects the claim has had on both countries in the context of the Cold War and after. Throughout, the author examines the legal issues involved, making this an indispensable tool for a full understanding of one of the most intractable territorial claims in the region and for insights into how it might be resolved."Shoman's history of Guatemala's claim to Belize, which is thoroughly researched and clearly written, is suitable for a wide readership, general as well as academic. His analysis pays due attention to the global context of great power rivalries in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and especially to the crucial period of the Cold War. The author, a protagonist who was involved for decades in the negotiations he analyzes, is scrupulously fair and his insights are unique. Indeed, nobody else could have written this book. I recommend it to everyone interested in this particular case and also to those who want to know how a small country can negotiate its way to its independence against formidable odds. This will remain the definitive study and it should be widely read in Belize and elsewhere."Dr. O. Nigel Bolland, Charles A. Dana Professor of Sociology, Colgate University, New York.
The Ultimate Belize Bucket List is more than a compilation of exciting things to see and do in Central America’s fastest growing tourism hotspot. Offering an insider glimpse into the nation’s most coveted and awe-inspiring experiences, it goes beyond the clichés often presented in travel guidebooks and reveals the hidden gems that make this country particularly special. Get the secrets to taking your Belize adventure to the next level with local expert tips that will ensure your trip to this extraordinary destination is an unforgettable one.
A wide-ranging study that draws on local and regional research findings to provide a popular portrait of the biodiverse and resilient Chiquibul. Belize’s Chiquibul Forest is one of the largest remaining expanses of tropical moist forest in Central America. It forms part of what is popularly known as the Maya Forest. Battered by hurricanes over millions of years, occupied by the Maya for thousands of years, and logged for hundreds of years, this ecosystem has demonstrated its remarkable ecological resilience through its continued existence into the twenty-first century. Despite its history of disturbance, or maybe in part because of it, the Maya Forest is ranked as an important regional biodiversity hot spot and provides some of the last regional habitats for endangered species such as the jaguar, the scarlet macaw, Baird’s tapir, and Morelet’s crocodile. A Natural History of Belize presents for the first time a detailed portrait of the habitats, biodiversity, and ecology of the Maya Forest, and Belize more broadly, in a format accessible to a popular audience. It is based in part on the research findings of scientists studying at Las Cuevas Research Station in the Chiquibul Forest. The book is unique in demystifying many of the big scientific debates related to rainforests. These include “Why are tropical forests so diverse?”; “How do flora and fauna evolve?”; and “How do species interact?” By focusing on the ecotourism paradise of Belize, this book illustrates how science has solved some of the riddles that once perplexed the likes of Charles Darwin, and also shows how it can assist us in managing our planet and forest resources wisely in the future.
History of the Muslims in Belize is an excellent pioneering work which traces the historical background and development of the Muslims in Belize, Central America. As a chronological account of "how it all started" the book states that Islam was introduced into Belize through the missionary work of those few who had earlier embraced the teachings of the Nations of Islam that then reared its head in many communities in the Americas, mostly areas populated largely by the "Afro-American" communities. In their struggle for emancipation, Muslims in this part of the Caribbean got yet another chance-a volte face-as the book goes on to say that despite their acceptance of the Nations of Islam's teachings which centres on the "superiority" of the Black race and "Blackman is the original man" it wasn't long when these types of doctrines were discarded by the Muslims in Belize with their entry into the mainstream or rather orthodox Islam. According to the book, the community is a vibrant Muslim community. In fact it has a mosque-Masjid al-Falah-permanently built that ended the movement of the faithful from rented rooms and apartments. In 1978 the Muslims got the community incorporated and registered under the Government of Belize as the Islamic Mission of Belize which now has a school, the Muslim Community Primary School [formerly Sister Clara Muhammad School] that lays one of the contributions undoubtedly the community is making to the value system of Belize. From a relatively small and obscured community to arguably an organised one, Muslims are growing in Belize with much conviction; for their "new" found faith has ushered them into the circle of the over 400,000 Muslims scattered across the nations of the Caribbean. This book offers also an array of discussions of the major aspects of today's contemporary issues as they affect the history of the Muslims. Muslims in Belize is an excellent companion to read for readers concern with the history of Muslims in this remarkably important English-speaking country in Central America, called Belize.
The author looks at Belize and its people to provide a general picture of the country and its ethnic diversity and how different ethnic groups interact as members of a multicultural society. Some of the main subjects covered include group identity - Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna and so on - and the role it plays in determining relations between members of different ethno-cultural groups in a country which stands out probably as the most ethnically diverse in Central America. The work is also a general introduction to Belize from a historical and geographical standpoint and has previously been published under another title, "Belize and Its Identity: A Multicultural Perspective." Although it's written for the general public, some students and scholars may find it to be useful in different areas of study. It's well-documented with scholarly references and citations from many sources which go beyond the interest of the general reader and can even be used as a college text on Belize, providing useful insights into the complexities of a multicultural society.
Are you worried and anxious about the present state of the world? Are you concerned about your future and that of your family? Do you want to live better, cheaper and healthier? Without worrying about politics, war, money problems, government surveillance, keeping up with the Joneses or even the unthinkable -- nuclear Armageddon? Then consider bugging out to Belize, the little English-speaking country on the Caribbean Coast. It's so close, yet so far from most of the world's problems. Bug Out to Belize by Lan Sluder tells you how to do it: What areas are best ? How much does it costs to live in Belize? How do you get residency? What are the pitfalls to avoid? And, how to make the move! Written by a leading expert on Belize, an award-winning reporter, newspaper and magazine editor, contributor to leading publications around the world including the New York Times, Caribbean Travel & Life, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald and the Globe and Mail, and author of more than 20 books, Bug Out to Belize can guide you to a better, more worry-free future in beautiful Belize, the friendly, affordable, frost-free and English-speaking little country on the Caribbean Coast.
