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City of Belmopan
Belmopan, looking from the National Assembly Building Belmopan, looking from the National Assembly Building
Nickname: The Garden City
Motto: City of Promise
Map of Belmopan metropolitan area Map of Belmopan metropolitan area
Coordinates:
Country	Belize
District	Cayo
Foundation	1970
Government
- Mayor	Simeon López
Elevation	76 m (250 ft)
Population (2004)
- City	12,300
Time zone	Central (UTC-6)

Belmopan (IPA: [ˌbelməʊˈpæn]), estimated population 12,300, is the capital of Belize.

Belmopan is located in Belize, Central America at ,^[1] at an altitude of 76 meters (250 ft) above sea level.^[2] Belmopan was constructed just to the east of Belize River, 80 km (50 miles) inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by a hurricane in 1961.^[3][2][5] The government was moved to Belmopan in 1970,^[5] and its National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple.^[7]

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 proposed to encourage and promote the building of a new capital city.^[5] This new capital would be situated on better terrain, would entail no costly reclamation of land, and would also provide for an industrial area, and in 1962, a committee chose the site now known as Belmopan, located 82 kilometres (51 miles) west of the old capital of Belize City.^[5] In 1964, since Belize was still a colony (known as British Honduras), Premier George Cadle Price led a delegation to London in the United Kingdom to seek funds to finance the new capital.^[10] 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 site 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 union of two words: "Belize," the name of the longest river in the country, and "Mopan,"^[11] 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.^[12] 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."^[13] 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. There was a reluctance initially amongst foreign governments to relocate their embassies to Belmopan,^[14] as there was some doubt as to whether this inland area would really become the functioning capital of Belize. In February 2005, the United States government broke ground and started building a new United States Embassy in Belmopan, 43 years after Belmopan was chosen as the new capital city.^[15] The Embassy was officially opened on Monday, December 11, 2006.^[16]

Geographic setting

Belmopan is 50 miles inland from the Caribbean sea and 76 metres (250 ft) above sea level, located near the Belize River Valley with an imposing view of the majestic Mountain Pine Ridge foothills. It boasts cool climate conditions at night. The city is located off of the Hummingbird Highway, one of the most picturesque highways in all of Central America. Two and a half hours south of Belmopan, by road, is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.^[17]

Educational institutions

The City of Belmopan boasts 3 Pre-Schools, 3 Primary Schools and 2 Secondary Schools^[18] as well as a modern Regional Language Centre (RLC), located on the central campus of the University of Belize,^[19] where students from neighboring Spanish speaking countries come to study English. University of Belize's campus in Belmopan comprises the following faculties: Education and Arts, Management and Social Sciences, Science and Technology, and Nursing and Allied Health.^[20] The Church/State system prevails in Belizean education^[21] especially where Pre-School, Primary and Secondary School education is concerned,^[22] and nearly all schools in Belmopan are sustained by churches.^[5]

Local missionaries and non-profit organizations also provide practical educational opportunities for Belizeans.

Culture

Ethnic composition

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. Belmopan proper is a mix of ethnicities including Belizean Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Maya and more historically recent immigrants from Asian countries such as China and Taiwan.^[24]

There are five (5) zones around Belmopan proper^[25] comprised of the following:

• Salvapan - population, 3000 - mostly of Central American origin.^[26]
• 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 - population unknown - mix of C.A. immigrants and locals

Local and regional events

Some of Belmopan's noteworthy events include 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.

Belmopan residents enthusiastically support local area teams in basketball and football. UB's "Black Jaguars" squad have won two national championships playing out of Belmopan. Nearby communities including Roaring Creek, Camalote, Esperanza and Georgeville play a softball tournament in the early part of the year.

Social and community activities

The City Council promotes Belmopan as "The Garden City." This emphasizes the city's physical environment with flowering shrubs and trees in abundance and scenic vistas at almost every turn. This includes strategically placing the necessary signs 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 their efforts in this area should be hinged to ongoing work by social organizations like the Lions Club, the Scout Association, Rotary International and the NGO Community as well as the residents of Belmopan.

Economy

Commercial

Belmopan currently boasts approximately five hundred eighty nine business establishments. There are five international banks along with several other local financial institutions. Other businesses include dry goods/grocery shops, coffee shops, internet cafés, electronics/appliance stores, restaurants, hotels, and apartment complexes. 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 (81 ha) of land made up mostly of one acre (4,000 m²) parcels within city limits. While there is very little industrial activity at the present time, the council has embarked on a scheme to attract local and foreign investment to the city. Plans are underway to create a 100 acre (40 ha) industrial park close to the municipal airstrip (This is a paved strip with no control tower or hangars). 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

From its inception, Belmopan was governed by a corporation answering to the government, called RECONDEV (Reconstruction and Development Corporation).^[13]

Residents of Belmopan voted in a referendum held in 1999 to switch to direct election of a city council. In 2000, Belmopan was incorporated as a city and held its first City Council election.^[5] Anthony Chanona of the People's United Party was elected mayor with a six-man slate, and reelected in 2003.^[29] Following the UDP's municipal victory of 2006, the Mayor of Belmopan is Simeon López.^[30]

References

External links

• Map of Belmopan
• * Maps and aerial photos for Coordinates:
• Maps from Google Maps, Live Search Maps, , Yahoo! Maps, or MapQuest
• Topographic maps from TopoZone
• Landuse survey from GlobalGuide