Belize’s Arduous Road to Independence

September 5, 2024
by denidimchev@webohub.com +

It’s a question asked by historians and scholars alike: When writing a history of this small Central American nation, where do Belize’s roots begin? Archaeologists cite the first evidence of human life between 11,000 and 9,000 years ago. Permanent villages harken back to around 2500 BC when a sophisticated Maya civilization created a network of city-states based on tribal law and religion while making impressive advances in mathematics and astrology.

Speculation about why this remarkable civilization began to collapse around 900 AD run the gamut from drought to overpopulation, but by the time European explorers arrived on the shores of what is now Belize, they found the spectacular remains of cities and a culture that remains as mysterious as it was enlightened.

While conquistador Hernan Cortes passed through Belize in 1525, his interest in subjugating the people he found wasn’t keen, thus Belize was left to morph into a refuge for indigenous peoples. Nature was on their side. Spanish explorers encountered too many challenges to consider Belize worthy of conquest due to risks associated with offshore coral reefs and teeming jungles — the natural wonders that have proven to be the nation’s biggest assets.

The years of turmoil

It was bound to happen: Belize became the epicenter of a 17th-century rebellion by a new generation of Mayas who had been exiled to the Yucatan, but a greater threat arose than incursions by Spain: British, French, and Dutch pirates seeking enclaves in which to hide, were protected within the safety of the barrier reef, allowing these outlaws safe haven and a base from which to destabilize Spaniards.

When the British established a foothold in Jamaica they were emboldened, continuing to push east, laying claim to Belize as well. British settlers were aided and abetted by pirates who became legitimate merchants after realizing the nation’s hardwood forests could provide a permanent revenue stream for England.

While geological boundaries remained unclear, Britain’s investment and reliance upon Belize timber gave the nation a reason to prioritize the area throughout the 18th century. In one last attempted power grab, Spain attacked Belize in 1796 during what is now known as the Battle of St. George’s Caye. Victory for England established Belize as an official British colony.

A melting pot of cultures

Few neighboring nations experienced the diversity for which Belize remains known as England set about plundering Belize forests. To undertake this Herculean task, African slaves were brought to Belize to provide labor for the logging industry.

Ultimately, these slaves outnumbered their masters, becoming a majority within the land that was now known as British Honduras by 1862. Between that era and the 1950s, a yearning for independence grew as the people of Belize watched every nation in Central America gain independence.

While given some autonomy by 1964, responsibility for security, defense, and foreign affairs didn’t satisfy the citizens of British Honduras who had grown angry over everything from the name to the control exerted over the society by England. As a token of appeasement in 1973, Britain agreed to return the nation to is former name, Belize. Two years later, negotiations for independence were launched.

No easy transition

In addition to having to deal with British conquerors, Belize was also beleaguered by an ongoing claim by neighboring Guatemala whose government insisted that they, not the Brits, were entitled by treaty to govern Belize. These were difficult times. While focused on independence, the ongoing battle for control by Guatemala forced people to divide their attention between breaking free of both colonization and territorial claims by the neighboring nation.

Fortunately, the United Nations took a position on the unofficial war between the two countries, passing a resolution that mandated Belizean independence. The UK complied and while Guatemala still refuses to acknowledge Belize’s independence, England did, ushering in a new era of freedom that began on September 21, 1981.

Intense diplomatic activity surrounding independence did not come easy, even after activist George Cadle Price was named Belize’s first prime minister, but his rule was upended three years later when he lost re-election to opposition leader Manuel Esquivel in 1984. Price wasn’t about to bow out of politics, however. He remained a leading force of opposition until 1989 when he was returned to office – only to again be replaced by Esquivel for the next five years.

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A clear path to independence at last

With Britain no longer controlling Belize’s affairs, all the accouterment required of an emerging nation had to be reinvented. There was a constitution to write, emblems and logos to design and an appropriate flag was required that came to represent the diversity for which Belize society is now known. There were ambassadors to appoint that would become the nation’s voice in foreign lands. The U.S. established its first embassy on October 29, 1981, headed by Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Principal Officer Malcolm R. Barnebey.

Given so fascinating and eclectic a history, the people of Belize take pride in being part of a populace made up of a colorful patchwork of cultures as reflected in the number of languages spoken in Belize today. While English remains the primary one, traces of other languages are woven into the nation’s fabric: Spanish, African-based Garifuna, Maya-Kekchi, Maya Mopan, Mandarin, and German, to name a few.

While the heart of this nation is found within its cultural mix, rather than cross-cultural strife, Belize is considered one of the most peaceful nations in Central America. The population continues to grow as ex-pats choose this blended country as their second home. Belize remains a powerful symbol of a nation willing to fight for its hard-fought independence and that freedom is never taken for granted by its citizenry.