Belize, where Britain is welcome

Press, 1 June 1984, Page 14

Belize, where Britain is welcome

This year’s visiting lecturer in the Department of Geography of the University of Canterbury, Dr GUY ROBINSON, of Edinburgh, spent last year working in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico studying agricultural change. He discusses the continued presence of British troops in Belize and the forthcoming elections there.

The withdrawal of British troops from garrisons round the world was a familiar story during the 1960 s and 19705. One country where the troops remain, and where their presence has been requested by both the Government and Opposition parties, is Belize, the small Central American, former-British colony. Belize gained independence from Britain in September, 1981, after 20 years of internal self-govern-ment. Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize had been denied independence for many years because of a long-standing territorial dispute with neighbouring Guatemala. Maps in Guatemala show Belize as a province of their country and, despite protracted negotiations between Britain and the Guatemalans, no solution to the territorial claim has been produced. British troops stationed in Belize helped to prevent a Guatemalan invasion. Eventually, Britain agreed to Belizean independence with a British garrison present to preserve Belizean sovereignty. In the two and a half years since independence, Guatemala has refused to talk to Belize. Diplomatic negotiations between Guatemala and Britain were broken off in 1981 and so the presence of British troops remains a necessary deterrent to the threat of Gua-

temalan invasion. Britain has 1800 troops, Harrier jets, Puma helicopters, and a Rapier air defence unit stationed in Belize. A British trained local militia, the Belize Defence Force, provides additional man-power, but the opposing Guatemalan army has a strength of 35,000 men and, paradoxically, some weapons supplied by the United States. During the 19705, Britain made it clear that it wished to see a negotiated settlement so that its troops could be withdrawn. Today, the British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher is prepared to say publicly only that the British troops should stay “for an appropriate period”. It is thought that on her last visit to the United States the British desire to withdraw its troops was expressed to President Reagan. American influence in Belize has grown since independence. There are about 100 Peace Corps workers in the country and the American Embassy staff has risen from five members to 33 during the last two years. American investment in the country has also risen, whilst Britain’s has decreased; but the Americans are reluctant to see the withdrawal of British troops which would promote further instability in a region already deeply troubled by conflict.

The issue may be further complicated by this year’s Belizean General Election. The People's United Party, under the premiership of Mr George Price, has been in power for more than 20 years, but it is now facing a serious threat from the United Democratic Party, led by Mr Manuel Esquivel. Although there is little ideological difference between the two parties, the United Democratic Party believes that a definite agreement must be reached confirming the presence of British troops for a long period. Mr Esquivel’s party has cause for optimism following successes in the local government elections in Belize City at the end of last year. Belize City, the principal port and largest town, contains nearly one-third of Belize’s 150,000 population. In the local elections the opposition party won all nine seats in the city with large majorities. After so long in power, the People’s United Party may fall victim to the call for new blood to solve Belize’s economic problems. Although the premier, Mr Price, is widely admired for having guided Belize peacefully towards independence and for his ability to hold together a party with both Left and Right-wing elements, his economic policies have brought little sustained growth to the country. Like many developing countries, Belize is greatly reliant upon exporting agricultural produce, especially sugar and citrus. Together these account for half of Belize’s export revenue. Because of the drop in the world price of sugar and the inability to develop a growing manufacturing sector, the Belizean economy is stagnating. The majority of the population

depend upon agriculture for their livelihood. Many farmers, especially in the south of the country, use farming methods little different from those employed ten centuries ago when the area was part of the ancient Maya civilisation. Yet during the past two years it has become common to see television aerials above the roofs of many small farmhouses. These televisions bring “Dallas” and “Dynasty” into Belizean homes and point, out the stark contrast

between the wealth of the United States and the relative poverty of Belize. The dissatisfaction created by viewing life in the United States from their own living-room has prompted many Belizeans to join the growing number of “wetbacks” or illegal immigrants to the United States from Mexico and Central America. There are now significant Belizean communities in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, and money sent back to Belize by relatives in North America is a major source of income for many Belizean families. The loss of its most enterprising young people through migration has hindered the Government’s attempts to develop alternatives to farming, but closer links with the United States are providing new sources of revenue for Belize. One is from tourism: 60,000 tourists a year, mainly from North America, visit Belize, nearly all going to the attractive coral islands, the Cays, which lie just off the Belizean coast. The country has the longest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere and hopes to persuade more foreign visitors to sample the attractions offered by the Cays. The other link with the United States is more sinister. Belize has become part of the growing international market in illegal drugs. Belizean farmers are increasing their production of marijuana which is sold to dealers from the United States. Often a middle-man is involved who exchanges the marijuana for guns to supply rebel groups in other parts of Central America. The future of the closer ties with the United States and the continued presence of British troops rests upon the results of this year’s General Election. An opposition victory may alter the status quo, but Belize will have the consolation of being a working democracy in a part of the world more associated with dictatorship and left-wing guerrilla fighters.