2019 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Belize
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A Study of the Garifuna of Belize's Toledo District Alexander Gough
Indigenous identity in a contested land: A study of the Garifuna of Belize’s Toledo district Alexander Gough This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2018 Lancaster University Law School 1 Declaration This thesis has not been submitted in support of an application for another degree at this or any other university. It is the result of my own work and includes nothing that is the outcome of work done in collaboration except where specifically indicated. Many of the ideas in this thesis were the product of discussion with my supervisors. Alexander Gough, Lancaster University 21st September 2018 2 Abstract The past fifty years has seen a significant shift in the recognition of indigenous peoples within international law. Once conceptualised as the antithesis to European identity, which in turn facilitated colonial ambitions, the recognition of indigenous identity and responding to indigenous peoples’ demands is now a well-established norm within the international legal system. Furthermore, the recognition of this identity can lead to benefits, such as a stake in controlling valuable resources. However, gaining tangible indigenous recognition remains inherently complex. A key reason for this complexity is that gaining successful recognition as being indigenous is highly dependent upon specific regional, national and local circumstances. Belize is an example of a State whose colonial and post-colonial geographies continue to collide, most notably in its southernmost Toledo district. Aside from remaining the subject of a continued territorial claim from the Republic of Guatemala, in recent years Toledo has also been the battleground for the globally renowned indigenous Maya land rights case. -
Case of Maya Indigenous Communities of Belize, Inter-Am
REPORT Nº 96/03 CASE 12.053 MAYA INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES OF THE TOLEDO DISTRICT BELIZE October 24, 2003 I. SUMMARY 1. This report concerns a petition presented to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (the "Commission”) against the State of Belize (the "State" or “Belize”) on August 7, 1998 by the Indian Law Resource Center and the Toledo Maya Cultural Council (the “Petitioners”). The petition claims that the State is responsible for violating rights under the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (the “American Declaration”) that the Mopan and Ke’kchi Maya People of the Toledo District of Southern Belize (the “Maya people of the Toledo District” or the “Maya people”) are alleged to have over certain lands and natural resources.1 2. The Petitioners claim that the State has violated Articles I, II, III, VI, XI, XVIII, XX and XXIII of the American Declaration in respect of lands traditionally used and occupied by the Maya people, by granting logging and oil concessions in and otherwise failing to adequately protect those lands, failing to recognize and secure the territorial rights of the Maya people in those lands, and failing to afford the Maya people judicial protection of their rights and interests in the lands due to delays in court proceedings instituted by them. According to the Petitioners, the State’s contraventions have impacted negatively on the natural environment upon which the Maya people depend for subsistence, have jeopardized the Maya people and their culture, and threaten to cause further damage in the future. 3. The State has indicated before the Commission that applicable law and the facts presented by the Petitioners are unclear as to whether the Maya people may have aboriginal rights in the lands under dispute, although at the same time it has recognized in negotiations outside of the Commission proceedings that the Maya people have rights in lands in the Toledo District based upon their longstanding use and occupancy of that territory. -
Private Lands Conservation in Belize
University of Colorado Law School Colorado Law Scholarly Commons Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Books, Reports, and Studies Resources, Energy, and the Environment 2004 Private Lands Conservation in Belize Joan Marsan University of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies Part of the Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Estates and Trusts Commons, Land Use Law Commons, Legislation Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Law Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Property Law and Real Estate Commons, and the Tax Law Commons Citation Information Joan Marsan, Private Lands Conservation In Belize (Natural Res. Law Ctr., Univ. of Colo. Sch. of Law 2004). JOAN MARSAN, PRIVATE LANDS CONSERVATION IN BELIZE (Natural Res. Law Ctr., Univ. of Colo. Sch. of Law 2004). Reproduced with permission of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (formerly the Natural Resources Law Center) at the University of Colorado Law School. AVAILABLE ONLINE ====================; • •~ ~ ...... ~ ~ ~ .~ PRIVATE LANDS CONSERVATION IN .~ BELIZE •_. -~ • ~ .. A Country Report by the Natural Resources Law Center, ...... University of Colorado School of Law ~ 4 .~ September 2004 ~ Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy Primary Author: Joan Marsan, NRLC Research Assistant KGA [email protected] 576 • M37 2004 Private Lands -
The Effects of Teacher Certification and Experience on Student
THE EFFECTS OF TEACHER CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ON PRIMARY SCHOOL EXAMINATION IN BELIZEAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS By CARMEN JANE LOPEZ Bachelor of Science in Biology Education University College of Belize Belize City, Belize 1997 Master of Arts in Educational Leadership University of North Florida Jacksonville, Florida 2002 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION July, 2012 THE EFFECTS OF TEACHER CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ON PRIMARY SCHOOL EXAMINATION IN BELIZEAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS Dissertation Approved: Dissertation Adviser’s Dr. Ed Harris Dissertation Adviser Committee Member Dr. Mwarumba Mwavita Committee Member Dr. Stephen Wanger Committee Member Dr. Jesse Mendez Committee Member Dr. Pasha Antonenko Dr. Sheryl A. Tucker Dean of the Graduate College ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................1 History of Teacher Education in Belize ...................................................................3 Problem Statement ...................................................................................................4 Purpose of Study ......................................................................................................5 Research Questions and Hypotheses………………………………………………5 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................7 -
Educating Belize: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future
The University of Texas at Austin IC2 Institute Madison Weigand Dr. David Gibson UT Bridging Disciplines http://ic2.utexas.edu/ z EDUCATING BELIZE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE August 2015 BELIZE IC2 2 “Belize is paying a lot for education but getting little. More youth are outside the school system than in it and many fail to make the transition to the workforce. … Action is needed if Belize is not to lose a whole generation of youth.” - Inter-American Development Bank, “Challenges and Opportunities in the Belize Education Sector”, 2013 Belize: why we’re here Belize is a small nation in Central America, bordered to the north by Mexico, by Guatemala to the west and south, and by the Caribbean Sea to the east. Estimates of the national population vary from 340,000 – 360,0001, with population density averaging at 15 people per square kilometer2. In consideration of these low figures, Belize is often the forgotten nation of the Caribbean region. The small country, approximately the size of the state of Massachusetts, is occasionally omitted on regional maps and periodically has its sovereignty threatened by threats of invasion from the neighboring Guatemalan government (Rodriguez-Boetsch 6). In spite of its status as a sidelined nation, Belize is a haven of natural resources that have long been underestimated and underutilized. The country contains a broad spectrum of ecosystems and environments that lend themselves well to agricultural, fishing, and logging industries, as well as tourism—particularly ecotourism—contributing to the Belizean economy’s heavy dependence upon primary resource extraction and international tourism and trade. -
Belize | Freedom House
6/5/2020 Belize | Freedom House FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2020 Belize 86 FREE /100 Political Rights 35 /40 Civil Liberties 51 /60 LAST YEAR'S SCORE & STATUS 86 /100 Free Global freedom statuses are calculated on a weighted scale. See the methodology. https://freedomhouse.org/country/belize/freedom-world/2020 1/13 6/5/2020 Belize | Freedom House Overview Belize is a democracy that has experienced regular rotations of power through competitive elections. Civil liberties are mostly respected. Government corruption is a concern, as is the high rate of violent crime. Authorities have been slow to address persistent problems of police brutality and human trafficking within the country’s borders. Key Developments in 2019 In March, the opposition People’s United Party (PUP) filed a Supreme Court claim against Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dean Barrow and an aide, for allegedly spending $645 million from Petrocaribe without parliamentary authorization. The court heard the case in November, with a ruling due in January 2020. The US State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report noted two new human trafficking prosecutions, the first in four years. A long-running border dispute with Guatemala remains unresolved. In March, three Guatemalan gun boats blocked a Belize Coast Guard patrol from accessing the Sarstoon River, which is part of Belizean territory. Political Rights A. Electoral Process A1 0-4 pts Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 4 / 4 The prime minister, usually the leader of the largest party in the parliament, is head of government. -
In the Supreme Court of Belize, A.D. 2007
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BELIZE, A.D. 2007 CONSOLIDATED CLAIMS CLAIM NO. 171 OF 2007 BETWEEN: AURELIO CAL in his own behalf and on behalf of the MAVA VILLAGE OF SANTACRUZ and BASILIO TEUL, HIGINIO TEUL, MARCELINA CAL TEUL and SUSANO CANTI Claimants AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF BELIZE and THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Defendants CLAIM NO. 172 OF 2007 BETWEEN: MANUEL COY in his own behalf and on behalf of the MAYA VILLAGE OF CONEJO and MANUEL CAAL, PERFECTO MAKIN and MELINA MAKIN Claimants AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF BELIZE and THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Defendants University Of Hawaii School of Law Library - Jon Van Dyke Archives Collection BEFORE the Honourable Abdulai Conteh, Chief Justice. Ms. Antoinette Moore for the claimants. Ms. Nichola Cho with Mrs. Andrea McSweeney McKoy for the defendants. JUDGMENT 1. The Claimants and the Nature of their case This judgment relates to consolidated claims which raise essentially the same issue. All the claimants have in common the fact that they are members of Maya communities in Southern Belize. The first set of claimants in Claim No. 171 of 2007, live in the Maya village of Santa Cruz; and the first-named claimant Aurelio Cal is the elected Alcalde of the said village of Santa Cruz and he brings this claim on his own behalf and that of the claimant village. The other co-claimants are all members of the said village of Santa Cruz. The second set of claimants in Claim No. 172 of 2007 live in the Maya village of Conejo, and the first-named claimant, Manuel Coy, is the elected Alcalde of Conejo Village and he has brought this claim on his own behalf and that of the said Conejo Village. -
Belize CARIBBEAN EMERGENCY LEGISLATION PROJECT (CELP)
CELP PROFILE Belize CARIBBEAN EMERGENCY LEGISLATION PROJECT (CELP) Legal Framework Constitution of Belize, 1981 Section 18 of the Constitution provides for the Declaration of a State of Emergency in Belize. According to the Section, ‘period of public emergency’ means any period during which - (a) Belize is engaged in any war; or (b) there is in force a proclamation by the Governor-General declaring that a state of public emergency exists; or Further, according to Section 18(9) the Governor- (c) there is in force a resolution of the National General may make such regulations as are Assembly declaring that democratic institutions in necessary or expedient for securing public safety, Belize are threatened by subversion. the defence of Belize, the maintenance of public According to Section 18(2) the Governor-General order and the suppression of mutiny, rebellion and may, by Proclamation which shall be published riot, and for maintaining supplies and services in the Gazette, declare that a state of public essential to the life of the community. Any such emergency exists. This power to proclaim a state regulations may empower such authorities or of emergency is effective only in circumstances persons as may be specified in the regulations where the Governor- General is satisfied that, inter to make orders and rules for any of the purposes alia, a public emergency has arisen as a result of for which such regulations are authorised by this the occurrence of any earthquake, hurricane, flood, subsection to be made and may contain such fire, outbreak of pestilence, outbreak of infectious incidental and supplementary provisions as are disease, or other similar calamity. -
General Assembly Distr
UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/WG.6/5/BLZ/1 18 February 2009 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Fifth session Geneva, 4-15 May 2009 NATIONAL REPORT SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 15 (A) OF THE ANNEX TO HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL RESOLUTION 5/1 * Belize _________________________ * The present document was not edited before being sent to the United Nations translation services. GE.09- A/HRC/WG.6/5/BLZ/1 Page 2 I. INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 1. Belize is firmly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights as evidenced by its Constitution, domestic legislation, adherence to international treaties and existing national agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 2. Belizean culture, democratic history and legal tradition has infused in Belizean society and government a deep respect for those fundamental human rights articulated in Part II of the Belize Constitution. Such fundamental freedoms as the right to assembly, the right to free speech and the right to due process are vigilantly guarded by Belizeans themselves. 3. As a developing country Belize views development as inextricably bound to the fulfilment of human rights making the right to development a fundamental right itself as asserted by the Declaration on the Right to Development. Thus, the Government of Belize has consistently adopted a human rights based approach in development planning, social services and general policy formulation and execution. 4. Belize’s national report for the Universal Periodic Review has been prepared in accordance with the General Guidelines for the Preparation of Information under the Universal Periodic Review, decision 6/102, as circulated adopted by the Human Rights Council on 27 September 2007. -
Trevor Vernon Just Waiting for a Despotic Leader
Friday, June 29, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 1 The dependent IN Reformer Belize’s Rebel Paper Vol. 2 No. 25 Friday, June 29, 2007 $1.00 YYYankankankeeeeee RippaRippaRippa BushBush SerSerenadesenades CARICOMCARICOM It was a swell party, President George Bush inviting the heads of Caribbean governments to Washington, finally, as his days in the White House wind down. The regional leaders, seldom consulted even though they represent what some in the Beltway call the “soft underbelly” of the Americas as far as homeland se- curity is concerned, were given the chance to present their views, and needs. The conference, convened just a month after CARICOM heads ex- pressed some reluctance over pushing through a free trade agreement with the US, had that trade agreement as a cen- terpiece, although it was deftly sur- OAS top brass, Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, flanked by Permanent Representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Elsworth John (left) and Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Albert Ramdin of Guyana (right) welcome Caribbean rounded by a host of issues including journalists to a seminar on June 18, the day before the opening of the Conference on the Caribbean violence in the region, health, tourism, education and investment. One key such as in the suggestion that a portion Bush at the US State Department, congress “review the Caribbean Basin component of the Conference on the of remittances should be used for in- Belize’s Prime Minister Said Musa at- Initiative Act and trade arrangements Caribbean was face to face meetings vestment rather than just to meet daily tended a question and answer session with the Caribbean. -
IN the SUPREME COURT of BELIZE, A.D. 2007 Claim No. 171 Of
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BELIZE, A.D. 2007 Claim No. 171 of 2007 BETWEEN AURELIO CAL in his own behalf and on behalf of the Maya VILLAGE OF SANTA CRUZ and BASILIO TEUL, HIGINIO TEUL, MARCELINA CAL TEUL, and SUSANO CANTI Claimants and THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF BELIZE and THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT Defendants Claim No. 172 of 2007 BETWEEN MANUEL COY, in his own behalf and on behalf of the Maya VILLAGE OF CONEJO and MANUEL CAAL, PERFECTO MAKIN AND MELINA MAKIN Claimants and THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF BELIZE and THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT Defendants SKELETON ARGUMENT OF THE CLAIMANTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ISSUES PRESENTED AS AGREED UPON BY THE PARTIES ............................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 3 SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT........................................................................................................... 3 ARGUMENT .................................................................................................................................. 4 ISSUE I: Maya customary land tenure exists in southern Belize, as confirmed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights .................................................................... 5 ISSUE II: The Members of Conejo and Santa Cruz villages have interests in lands based on Maya customary land tenure, and the nature of those interests is in accordance with the customary patterns -
In the Court of Appeal of Belize, Ad 2010
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF BELIZE, A.D. 2010 CIVIL APPEAL NO. 30 OF 2010 BETWEEN: BRITISH CARIBBEAN BANK LIMITED Appellant AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF BELIZE First Respondent THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC UTILITIES Second Respondent CIVIL APPEAL NO. 31 OF 2010 BETWEEN: DEAN BOYCE Appellant AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF BELIZE First Respondent THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC UTILITIES Second Respondent BEFORE: The Hon. Mr Justice Morrison Justice of Appeal The Hon. Mr Justice Alleyne Justice of Appeal The Hon. Mr Justice Carey Justice of Appeal Eamon Courtenay SC and Mrs Ashanti ArthursMarin for the appellant British Caribbean Bank Limited. Godfrey P. Smith SC and Mrs Magali Marin Young for the appellant Dean C. Boyce. Ms Lois Young SC and Nigel Hawke for the respondents in both appeals. __ 25, 26, 27 and 28 January 2011, 24 June 2011 MORRISON JA: An overview [1] By section 3 of the Belize Telecommunications (Amendment) Act, 2009 (‘the Acquisition Act’), which came into force on 25 August 2009, the Belize 1 Telecommunications Act (‘the Telecoms Act’) was amended to add a new Part XII (sections 63 to 74). Section 63(1) of the Telecoms Act, as amended, now provides among other things that where the Minister of Public Utilities (‘the Minister’) considers that control over telecommunications should be acquired “for a public purpose”, he may acquire for and on behalf of the Government of Belize (‘GOB’), “all such property as he may, from time to time, consider necessary to take possession of and to assume control over telecommunications, and every such order shall be prima facie evidence that the property to which it relates is required for a public purpose”.