stant 30% (Anglican 12%,
Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal
2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)

Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib),
Creole

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 70.3%

male: 70.3%

female: 70.3% (1991 est.)

note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Belize Government

Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Belize

former: British Honduras

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Belmopan

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange
Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution: 21 September 1981

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG
(since 17 November 1993)

head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August
1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; governor general appoints the member of
the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to
be prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the
Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime
minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one
by the governor general; members are appointed for five-year terms);
and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998
(next to be held by NA August 2003)

election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 59.2%, UDP 40.8%;
seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)

Political parties and leaders: People's United Party or PUP [Said
MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW,
Doug SINGH]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Society for the Promotion of
Educa