Belmopan

Belmopan, estimated population 3,900 (1993), is the capital of Belize.

Belmopan is located at 17° 15' N, 88° 46' W, at an altitude of 76 meters above sea level. Belmopan was constructed just to the east of Belize River, 80 km inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by a hurricane in 1961. The government was moved to Belmopan in 1970. The National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple.

History

After Hurricane Hattie with winds of up to 300 km/h, and following the destruction of approximately 75% of the houses and business places in Belize City, the government of the day in its manifesto for the year 1961, entitled "PUP for Progress", proposed to encourage and promote the building of a new capital city. This new capital would be situated on better terrain, would entail no costly reclamation of land and which would also provide for an industrial area. In 1962 a committee chose the sight now known as Belmopan, located 82 km west of the old capital of Belize City. Belmopan is 76 m above sea level, near the Belize River Valley, with an imposing view of the majestic Mountain Pine Ridge foothills. It boasts cool climate conditions at night. In 1964, since Belize was still a colony (known as British Honduras) Premier George Price led a delegation to London in the United Kingdom to seek funds to finance the new capital. Although they were not ready to commit to funding such a large project the British government showed interest due to the logic of locating the capital on high ground safe from tidal waves. In order to encourage financial commitment from the British Government, Premier Price and the PUP government invited Mr. Anthony Greenwood, Secretary of State for the Commonwealth and Colonies to visit Belize.

One of the highlights of this visit was the unveiling of a monument at mile 49 on the Western Highway. The monument records that Lord Greenwood dedicated the sight for the new capital on October 9, 1965. Thus in a fashion there was a commitment. The name chosen for the new capital -Belmopan -is derived from of two words "Belize" the name of the longest river in the country and "Mopan" one of the rivers in this area, which empties into the Belize River. The initial estimated cost for building this new city was forty million Belize dollars (twenty million U.S. dollars), however only twenty million Belize dollars (ten million U.S. dollars) were available, but 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 24,000,000 Belize dollars (12,000,000 U.S. dollars). From 1970 to 2000 the administration of Belmopan was managed by the Reconstruction and Development Corporation, known as Recondev". Recondev was vested with the power and authority to provide or cause to be provided, the municipal functions necessary for the smooth running of the City's business and infrastructure.

Social and Community Activities

The City Council is promoting Belmopan as "The Garden City". The idea is to beautify and make aesthetic our environment with flowering shrubs and trees. This will include placing the necessary signs strategically at the entrance of the City to make it look inviting to visitors. Driveways into the City and business and entertainment zones will be brightly lit. Parks and recreational areas will be developed making them more attractive for residents and visitors. The Council intends to embark on a privatization scheme for the maintenance of parks, playgrounds and greens as a way to create a greater ownership of the assets of the City by its residents. The areas around the hills will be developed as scenic areas. There will be provisions to attract more libraries, hospitals, health centers, dental clinics, etc. Security is a priority for the City Council. The Council recognizes that security is vital for investor confidence. A Crime Prevention Initiative has recently been introduced by the Council in conjunction with Belize Police Department introducing a Special Constable/Community Policing Programme. It is the current policy of the Council that all our efforts in this area should he hinged to ongoing work by social organizations like the Lions Club, the Scout Association, Rotary and the NGO Community as well as the residents of Belmopan.

Educational Institutions

The City of Belmopan boasts 3 Pre-Schools, 3 Primary Schools and 2 Secondary Schools as well as a modern Regional Language Centre (RLC) where: students from neighboring Spanish speaking countries come to study English. The University of Belize is housed in Belmopan and comprises the following faculties: Education, Business, Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and Nursing. The Church/State system works very well in Belize especially where Pre-School. Primary and Secondary School education is concerned.

Cultural

This is an area in which much assistance is needed in projecting and promoting the cultures of the different ethnic groups comprising the Belmopan population. There are five (5) zones around Belmopan proper comprising of the following:

Salvapan - population , 751- mostly of Central American origin.

San Martin - population 1,694 -mixed origins (Creole & Central American Mayan).

Las Flores - population 453 -mostly Central American origin.

Maya Mopan - population 241- mostly Ketchi/Mopan Maya.

Riviera -

Some noteworthy activities are presentations by the Belmopan Choral Society, Festival of Arts for school children and National Day Activities. The Council is seeking assistance from the Diplomatic Community to fund a major refurbishment of the Civic Centre Auditorium.

Commercial and Industrial

Commercial: Belmopan currently boasts approximately two hundred and two business establishments ranging in dry goods/grocery, furniture and appliance, restaurants and other commercial activities. The last census (1997) revealed the presence of 373 businesses in Belmopan.

Since the University of Belize has relocated to Belmopan, it is expected that commercial activity should experience phenomenal growth in the above mention sectors and in particular the goods and service industry. A modern Bus Terminal and market complex was constructed in the year 2003.

Industrial: Within the zoning regulations, Belmopan has set aside approximately 200 acres (800,000 m²) of land made up mostly of one acre (4,000 m²) parcels within City limits. There is very little industrial activity at the present time. However the Council has embarked on an innovative scheme to attract local and foreign investments to the City. Plans are underway to create an Industrial Park of l00 acres (400,000 m²) close to the Municipal Airstrip (This is a paved strip with no control tower or hangers). The necessary funds for infrastructure (roads, lights and water) can be more readily identified and justified once Industries have signed on to the Council Investment incentives.

Government

As of 2004, the Mayor of Belmopan is Anthony Chanona.