Published 16:04 IST, September 21st 2020

Belize gained independence from UK on this day in 1981; all about former British Honduras

Belize elected George Price as its first Prime Minister and Dame Elimira Gordon as the first Governor-General and adopted an Independence Constitution.

Reported by: Zaini Majeed
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On this day in history, 21 September 1981 Belize, formerly kwn as British Honduras most sparsely populated nation in Central America gained independence from United Kingdom and elected a Prime Minister and Parliament’s Cabinet and adopted a new Constitution and emblems. Furr, nation formed its own army and issued separate passports for its citizens. Having signed treaties as an independent nation with international organizations, Belize also appointed its international Ambassadors overseas. country elected George Price as its first Prime Minister and Dame Elimira Gordon as first Goverr-General and organized ceremony where it handed Instruments of Independence Constitution in Belmopan on 21 September 1981. 

Since 1950, country had aimed for self-government and independence, while it was a British colony with large parts controlled by government of Guatemala. However, in year 1960, United Nations passed a resolution for independence of colonial territories. Under Premier George Price’s Peoples United Party, country decided to fight battle for independence in a campaign titled ‘ internationalization effort’.

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[George Price as Belize first Prime Minister. Credit: National Students' Union of Belize]

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While between years 1975 to 1979, US vetoed United Nations resolutions for Belize's sovereignty, in 1980, US policy of neutrality led to a UN resolution in vember 1980 that resulted in independence of Belize. document " Heads of Agreement” was signed by Britain, Guatemala, and Belize in year 1981 wherein countries recognized independence of Belize with its border demarcation. 

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Belize,136th Member of UN

Later, UN Security Council and General Assembly enrolled Belize as 136th Member of United Nations on  25 September1981, according to historical accounts. To this date, about 48.7 percent of population in Belize comes from European descent (Mestizo), while Spanish is native langu with over 50 percent of population speaking in it. Belize adopted parliamentary democracy and is also a member of Commonwealth with a National Assembly that comprises of House of Representatives and a Senate. 

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16:05 IST, September 21st 2020