Belize (formerly British Honduras) Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Belize

Type: parliamentary; independent state; a member of the Commonwealth

Capital: Belmopan

Political subdivisions: 6 districts

Legal system: English law

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

Government leaders: Manuel A.

ESQUIVEL, Prime Minister (since December 1984); Dr. Elmira Minita GORDON, Governor General (since December 1981)

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Elections, parliamentary elections held December 1984

Political parties and leaders: United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel Esquivel, Curl Thompson, Dean Lindo; People’s United Party (PUP), George Price

Voting strength: (December 1984) National Assembly—UDP 21 seats (25,785—54.1%), PUP 7 seats (20,971—44 0%); before redistricting, PUP held 13 seats, UDP 4 seats, and independents 1 seat

Communists: negligible

Other politico¹ or pressure groups: United Workers Union, which is connected with PUP

Member of: CAR1COM, CDB, Commonwealth FAO, GATT, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, 1FC, 1LO, IMF, G-77, ISO, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

NOTE: The information regarding Belize (formerly British Honduras) on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belize (formerly British Honduras) 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belize (formerly British Honduras) 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.