CAMPBELL, RACHEL MARISSA, PhD. Transformations in the Belize Sugar Industry: From Colonial Plantations to a Vital Tourist Industry. (2013) Directed by Dr. Roy Stine 144pp.
This research explored the evolution of the sugar industry in Belize, including examining its influence on the country’s economy and its cultural and historical heritage.
As part of this exploration, it situated the information in the context of a heritage tourist application. There has been a dearth of historical lineage establishing how sugar evolved from being a ‘non-native’ crop to becoming a major source of income in Belize. This study has added to this lineage by connecting the transference of plants with parallel changes in migration and labor patterns, including those of British colonists, expatriate
Confederates, East Indians and Belizeans. It also assessed relative group influences with the industries’ transformation through the use of archival sources, GPS and ArcGIS mapping applications and technological advancements.
Results identified the locations of some important sugar mills and their associated communities, their histories and the role of various groups, which set the stage for sugar’s influence in the modern economy including heritage and industrial tourism in Belize. It shows how the use of technological advances play a vital role in ecotourism through the endorsement of the history of sugar in the country’s past and present culture.
One major product is an overview of the growth, development and economic impact of sugar in Belize. A second product is the development of a strategy for improving heritage and industrial tourism of these historic sites. The final product is a database showing sugar-related heritage site locations and their histories along with maps
as well as a downloadable application that is available for transfer to a Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA) to access history, maps and directions for the culturally inclined visitor in Belize.
Key Words: Belize, sugar, ex-Confederates, slavery, migration, heritage sites, tourism,
PDA’s, mobile application
TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE BELIZE SUGAR INDUSTRY:
FROM COLONIAL PLANTATIONS TO A
VITAL TOURIST INDUSTRY
by
Rachel Marissa Campbell
A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate School at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy
Greensboro 2013
Approved by
Dr. Roy Stine Committee Chair
DEDICATION
I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Merle and Peter Campbell, for their continued
support and faith in me that propelled me forward
throughout my college life.
I also dedicate this dissertation to God for providing the opportunity,
knowledge and ability to accomplish and
complete this doctoral program.
ii
APPROVAL PAGE
This dissertation written by RACHEL MARISSA CAMPBELL has been approved by the following committee of the Faculty of The Graduate School at The
University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Committee Chair .______
. Committee Members ______
______
______
______Date of Acceptance by Committee
______Date of Final Oral Examination
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This dissertation would not have been possible without the guidance and expertise of my committee chair, Dr. Roy Stine. He has persevered with me throughout the evolution of this dissertation from its inception to conclusion, and was always available to render the necessary advice and direction when needed.
I would like to thank my dissertation committee of Dr. Keith Debbage, Dr.
Elisabeth Nelson and Dr