BELIZE JOTTINGS
The people of Belize wanted Marion Jones to win in the women's 100-meter final at the year 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and when she got the Gold Medal they were ecstatic. Jones' mother was born in Belize and Belizeans claim her for their own. They were overjoyed to see her recognize Belize by completing a lap around the Olympic Stadium, waving small Belize and U.S. Flags.
That, however, was the beginning. Jones, 24, was making an ambitious bid for five gold medals in Sydney. Instead she finished with three golds in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x400 meter relay and two bronzes in the 4x100 relay and long jump.
She was named one of two Athletes of the Year 2000 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).
GEORGE PRICE HONORED
The former Prime Minister of Belize, George Price, received the highest
award of the Caribbean Community, the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC)
in February 2001. He was recognized for his outstanding contributions to
the development of the Caribbean region.
George Price was Premier of Belize (formerly British Honduras) from 1964
to 1981. In 1981, he became Prime Minister on the attainment of
independence by Belize. Price was dominant in the politics of the country
for over 50 years.
His lifestyle has been a frugal one. An "austere onetime Jesuit seminarian," he typed policy papers on the reverse side of old campaign flyers, and the Land Rover in which he traversed the country was very old.
During his tenure as head of government he negotiated a settlement with neighboring Guatemala which was vigorously pressing a territorial claim against Belize and was at times seemingly prepared to take military action against the country.
He is considered the "Father of Independence" of Belize and
was honored with the first ever National Hero of Belize decoration at an
official tribute on Tuesday, September 19, 2000.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME BELIZE
There are several possibilities:
(1) The name is a corruption of the Spanish pronunciation of the
name "Wallace." (It was, in fact, the camp set up by a Scottish
captain, Peter Wallace that became Belize City).
(2) It was derived from the Mayan word "belix" which means
"muddy water."
(3) It was derived from the Mayan word "belikin" which
means "land that faces the coast."
(4) It was derived from the French word "balise" which
refers to the beacon which guided the pirates back home at night.
THE CAYES OF BELIZE
Belize's barrier reef is a natural wonder, surpassed only by the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Called "one of the richest ecosystems on the planet," it is punctuated by 200-odd beautiful islands called cayes (pronounced "keys").
The word caye is a corruption of the Spanish word cayo, which means islet.
THE BAYMEN OF BELIZE
The first recorded European settlement was established in 1638 by
shipwrecked British sailors. These settlers were later joined by disbanded
British soldiers after the the capture of Jamaica from Spain in 1655,
traders and pirates. Apart from harrassing the Spanish galleons carrying
gold, silver, and hardwoods from Central America to Europe, their main
activity was the cutting of logwood ( used in the making of a textile dye)
and the prized hardwood mahogany.
This motley group came to call themselves "Baymen" after the Bay
of Honduras. Spain often attacked the Baymen, who were, as far as Spain
was concerned, on Spanish territory. However, the Spanish signed treaties
in 1763 and 1786 allowing the British to continue to harvest timber in
exchange for protection against pirates preying on the Spanish
galleons.
In 1798, a small group of British soldiers and Baymen defeated the Spanish
in a skirmish on St. George's Caye. After this encounter, Spain ceased
claiming territorial rights to Belize.
The Baymen are celebrated in the Belize's national anthem, part of which
is as follows:
Arise! ye sons of the Baymen's clan,
Put on your armour, clear the land!
Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee -
Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!