Belmopan is a city and capital in Belize and is located in the Cayo District. Belmpoan is the capital of the Central American state of Belize. When Hurricane Hattie destroyed large parts of Belize and especially Belize City in 1961, it became clear to everyone that Belize City was a seat of government that was constantly threatened by natural forces. To prevent this danger, it was decided in 1970 to move the seat of government and to build a new facility or new city in the hinterland: Belmopan (This term is made up of the words Belize and Mopan). Most of the political life has now moved to Belmopan. One exception is, for example, the US embassy in Belize City.
Archaeological Institute, right next to the government buildings in
the heart of the city. Here you will find various finds from all over
Belize.
Belize Archive Department. On Unity Boulevard in the north of
the city, maintains an extensive collection of photographs, books,
newspapers and other documents from Belize.
There is not much to do in Belmopan itself, but the nearby Guanacaste National Park is ideal for bird watching. There is also the opportunity to go cave tubing in the Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve.
Coming by car from Belize City, take the Western Highway towards San
Ignacio and then turn south onto the Hummingbird Highway. After about 1
km, turn left towards Belmopan. After about 2 km you have reached your
destination.
Novelo's Bus Station is served by Belize City, San
Ignacio, Dangriga and Punta Gorda (Belize), among others.
James
Bus Line stops at Belize City, Dangriga and Punta Gorda (Belize).
Since the city center is only about 1 square kilometer in size, Belmopan can be easily explored on foot.
The Art Box, Mile 46 Western Highway. Tel.: + 501 822 2233, E-Mail: orders@artboxbz.com. Open: Mon - Sat 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - The largest souvenir shop in Belize. Everything related to souvenirs is offered on two floors.
Caladium Restaurant, right on Market Square. According to locals, you
can sometimes see the Cabinet of Belize having lunch here. In any case,
they have good sandwiches, burgers and fish at reasonable prices.
Food Stalls, on Market Square. Here you can buy very inexpensive
snacks.
Bull Frog Inn, 25 Half Moon Ave Belmopan (in the east of the city)
Cayo, Belize. C.A. Tel.: +501 822 2111, +501 822 3425, Fax: +501 822
3155, E-Mail: bullfrog@btl.net. Price: double room 85 US$.
BANANA
BANK LODGE & JUNGLE EQUESTRIAN ADVENTURE. Tel.: + 501 820 2020, Fax: +
501 820 2026, E-Mail: bbl@bananabank.com. Price: double room 77 to 140
US$. info edit. - A small paradise with a pool, monkey, jaguar and
guaranteed relaxation. Directions see website.
Belmopan is an acronym, formed by the name of the two rivers in the area; the Belize and the Mopán, which is its tributary. Belize derives from the Mayan Belixin, then Belix, meaning muddy water. As for Mopán, it derives from the name of a Mayan town; which is formed by a compound of "Mo'"; macaw and "pän"; toucan.
Following Hurricane Hattie, which developed winds of up to 300 km/h,
and after the destruction of approximately 75% of the homes and
businesses in Belize City, the government of the day, in its 1961
manifesto entitled "PUP for Progress" (PUP is the People's United
Party), proposed the construction of a new capital. This new capital
would be situated on better land, would not require any costly land
expropriation, and would include an industrial area. In 1962, a
committee chose the site now known as Belmopan, situated 82 kilometres
west of the old capital. Belmopan is 76 m above sea level, near the
Belize River Valley, with a commanding view of the majestic foothills of
the Mountain Pine Ridge. It boasts cool weather conditions at night.
In 1964, with Belize still a colony (known as British Honduras),
Prime Minister George Price led a Belizean delegation to London to raise
the funds needed to finance the new capital. Although not prepared to
commit to funding such a large project, the British government was
interested because of the logic of locating the capital on high ground
protected from the tides. To encourage the British government's finance
committee, Prime Minister Price and the PUP government invited Anthony
Greenwood, Secretary of State for the Commonwealth of Nations and the
Colonies, to visit Belize.
One of the most significant elements
of this visit was the unveiling of a monument at mile marker 49 on the
Western Highway. The monument records that Lord Greenwood dedicated the
site for the new capital on October 9, 1965. In this way, a commitment
was indicated. The initial estimated cost to build this new city was
forty million Belize dollars (twenty million US dollars). Although only
twenty million Belize dollars (ten million US dollars) were available,
the momentum was not to be lost.
In 1967, work began: the first
phase of the new city was completed in 1970 at a cost of 24 million
Belize dollars (12 million US dollars). The name chosen for the new
capital was Belmopan, an acronym formed from the name of the Belize
River, the country's largest, and its tributary the Mopan River, which
flows into the Belize near the capital.
Between 1970 and 2000 the
administration of Belmopan was handled by the Reconstruction and
Development Corporation, known as "Recondev". Recondev was given the
concession to supply power to the city and the authority to provide, or
cause to be provided, the municipal functions necessary for the
operation of the city's business and infrastructure.
International Support
Initially, there was some reluctance among
foreign governments to move their embassies to Belmopan as there was
some doubt as to whether this inland area would become the effective
capital of Belize. In February 2005, the United States Government took
the initiative and began building a new US embassy in Belmopan, 43 years
after it was chosen as the new capital. The US embassy was opened in
late 2006.
Some of the city's major events include performances by the Belmopan
Choral Society, the Arts Festival for school children, and National Day
Activities. The Council is seeking assistance from the diplomatic
community to fund a major restoration of the Civic Centre Auditorium.
Belmopan residents enthusiastically support local basketball and
football (soccer) teams. UB's "Black Jaguars" team has won two national
championships playing out of Belmopan. Nearby communities such as
Roaring Creek, Camalote, Esperanza, and Georgeville play a softball
tournament at the beginning of each year.
The City Council promotes Belmopan as "The Garden City," with abundant shrubs and trees and scenic views. Areas around the hills will be developed as scenic areas.
49.4% of the country's inhabitants practice the Catholic religion. The city is part of the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan. Other Christian denominations exist.
From its inception, Belmopan was governed by a corporation called
RECONDEV (Reconstruction and Development Corporation).
The
residents of Belmopan voted in a referendum in 1999 to change the form
of government to direct elections. In 2000, Belmopan was recognized as a
city and held its first City Council elections. Anthony Chanona of the
People's United Party was elected the city's first mayor and re-elected
in 2003. The UDP later won the 2006 elections and the current mayor of
Belmopan is Simeon Lopez.
Belmopan is located 31 km from the Caribbean Sea and 76 meters above sea level, located near the Belize River Valley.
Its temperature ranges from 18 to 32 °C, with June and July being the hottest months. It has between 40 and 300 mm of monthly rainfall, with June being the rainiest month. Its total annual rainfall is more than 2000 mm.
Belmopan's population is a mix of ethnicities including Creoles,
Garifuna, Mestizo, Belizean Mayans and more recent immigrants from Asian
countries such as China and Taiwan.
There are five zones around
Belmopan comprising the following:
Salvapan - population 3000 -
mainly of Central American origin.
San Martin - population 1694 -
mixed origins (Creoles and Central American indigenous).
Las Flores -
population 453 - mainly Central American origin.
Mopan Maya -
population 241 - mainly Ketchi/Mopan Maya.
Riviera - population
unknown - mix of Central American immigrants and locals.
The University of Belize has been established in the city.
Belmopan has a small airfield and little industrial activity.
Currently, it has approximately 200 commercial establishments, ranging
from grocery stores, to furniture, household appliance stores,
restaurants and hotels. The last census in 1997 reveals the presence of
373 businesses.
Since the University of Belize has relocated to
Belmopan, its commercial activity is expected to experience a large
increase in the sectors mentioned above and in particular in the service
and purchasing industries. A bus terminal and market were built in 2003.
In accordance with zoning regulations, Belmopan has set aside 81 hectares of land and about 4,000 m² in plots within the city limits. While industrial activity is minimal in 2007, the council has drawn up a plan to attract local and foreign investment to the city. These plans include creating a 40-hectare industrial park near the municipal airport (which is reduced to a paved strip with no control tower or hangars). The funds needed for infrastructure (roads, lights and water) may not be justified until industries have accepted the Council's Investment incentives.