Indicators Of Belize's Lack Of Development example essay topic

Belize is currently an underdeveloped country-underdevelopment due to the negative effects of the British colonial rule over Belize. In order to understand the causes and effects of Belize's current situation, a definition of development in necessary. The term "sustainable development" was introduced in a 1987 report, Our Common Future, where the World Commission on Environment and Development defined it as "development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Nagual 1995). Therefore, it makes sense to define a developed country as a country whose citizens' needs are met.

Belizeans' needs are unfulfilled as evidenced by deficiencies in Belize's health and welfare, education, political dependency, economic status, and emigration patterns. Belize is a country the size of Massachusetts and is located on the Yucatan Peninsula of Central America. It is home to over 240,000 people of Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna and Mayan descent, and is by far the least densely populated country in the Central American realm (Famighetti 1997). The country's Gross National Product is $2,700, just $155 below the realm's average but $2000 below world averages (Muller 1999). One other important fact is that 50% of the population is rural-a statistic that has remained steady since 1921 (Woods 1996). These are just one of the many indicators of Belize's lack of development.

The country's official language is English, an anomaly on the Central American mainland where all other countries are Spanish-speaking. The major economies of Belize are tourism, international banking and agriculture crops of citrus, wood and sugar. The Belizean government has taken great strides in improving the health and welfare of its citizens since independence in 1981. According to U.S. researcher Tim Merrill, life expectancy rose, and the death rate dropped considerably. Yet, many hurdles remain before healthcare meets the comprehensive needs of the society.

Merrill reports of statistics that indicate at least 40 percent of infants suffered from moderate malnutrition, while at least 61 percent of children under three suffered from some form of malnutrition. He suggests than more accurate surveying would reveal even worse malnutrition of the children in Belize. This significant problem indicates Belize's lack of development-as adequate nutrition is a need of any society. The country also lacks central sewer systems in all areas except Belize City-posing what Merrill calls, "significant health risks" (Merrill 1993). One other potential risk to the Belizean population is the growing threat of AIDS. According to Merrill, "by August 1990, ninety-four Belizeans had tested positive for HIV (up from an estimated three in 1986) and twenty-four persons had dies of AIDS" (Merrill 1993).

While this number may not sound that significant, one must remember that Belize's total population is only 240,000, Belize does not have the monetary resources to pay for expensive "drug cocktails" that are necessary for treating the disease, and that it is increasing at an alarming rate-posing a significant threat to the Belizean society. Belizeans' healthcare needs are not being met-which shows the social ramifications of underdevelopment. These health and welfare issues are indirect results of previous British policies- legislation protecting the health of citizens was weak and poorly enforced, and poor education has caused an extreme shortage of doctors in Belize (Merrill 1993). This poor education is another aspect of Belize's underdevelopment. On the surface, Belizean educational efforts have been impressive; opportunities for all levels of schooling have greatly increased in the last thirty years. The number of schools grew enrollment rates rose, and a record number of students graduated in 1990 (Merrill 1993).

However, this is only part of the picture, as enrollment rates have increased more slowly than the population growth and large numbers of children are not completing their primary education. The U.S. Federal Research Division reports that "between one-quarter and one-third of students enrolled in primary education left school before they reached fourteen" (Merrill 1993). Some may argue that more education is not necessary in such an agriculturally based society, however the Federal Research Division also found that "without primary school credentials, these individuals faced the continued prospect of lifelong underemployment or unemployment" (Merrill 1993). From this, it becomes clear that Belize has an underdeveloped educational system, as the citizens needs are not being met in this area either. The education system is also failing when children do attend school.

Diane C. Haylock, a Belizean who holds a master's degree in developmental studies, writes, "education in Belize must surely be at its lowest ebb if we are to judge by the recently released results of the national teacher's exams. A less timid communications medium could very well have headlined that... the education system in Belize is on the brink of collapse" (Haylock 1991). The educational slump of the 1990's is attributed to the Belizean education system implemented by the British that retains what Paulo Frieze refers to as the "banking concept of education" where teachers pour information into students only for the students to regurgitate the information back out "without perceiving what the words or concepts really mean (Freire 1987). The Minister of Education in Belize also attributes the poor education to this concept (Haylock 1991). Without critical thinking, one wonders if culture can progress. Belize's underdevelopment is also apparent in its political-economic dependency on other countries, mainly the United States.

Immediately following its independence, Belize's president Pierce made "an agreement between Belmopan and Washington [that] provided for the training of members of the Belizean Defense Force by U.S. military advisors in the United States, Panama and in Belize itself" (Schoenhals 1988). By 1982 it had become apparent that the United States would gradually replace Great Britain as grantor of Belizean sovereignty and by 1986 U.S. military assistance to Belize amounted to $1.1 million (Schoenhals 1988). Its dependency on outside sources is also apparent in direct monetary aid provided by Reagan's Caribbean Basin Initiative which allocated Belize a $10 million dollar loan, of which half was for public projects, with the remainder to aid the private sector. While it may seem that Belize is benefiting from all this external aid, the US can use this aid to its own advantage as President Pierce discovered in 1982. Kai Schoenhals reports: In early 1982, the Price government reluctantly agreed to an all-out campaign to eradicate marijuana from Belize... Price's increased cooperation with the Reagan administration to be rewarded in a variety of ways.

In addition, Price was able to sign a $4 million agreement for housing improvement with the U.S. Agency for International Development (Schoenhals 1988). Belize's dependence on the economic aid of the United States has led to the influence of U.S. motives on Belizean policies. This shows the lack of independence of Belize-a lack of independence that could lead the country into abuse similar to the British use of Belize. Donald Simmons, who holds a Ph. D. in History and International Studies from the University of Denver, tells of an oxymoron that on an individual level, "Belizeans believe that they must remain faithful allies to Britain and the United States in order to retain their status as an independent entity" (Simmons 1996).

This oxymoron exemplifies the dependent situation of Belize. While globalization and international trade are essential aspects of today's world, countries still need to retain independent identities in order to create and retain control of their own policies. Belize's dependency on foreign aid is because its own economy is under-diverse, inadequate and unstable. This view may seem to contradict some economists who applaud Belize for its improvements.

For instance, researcher Tim Merrill writes: "The Belizean economy entered the 1990's in much better condition than it had entered in the 1980's. The economy was more diverse, export biases had been removed... and most important of all, the government had successfully completed a process of fiscal consolidation" (Merrill 1993). Admittedly, the economic situation in Belize has improved as the economy has diversified: bananas and citrus fruits have supplemented the sugar exports, international banking has increased, and tourism has risen from a 4% to a 9% share of the economy from in the past ten years (Moberg 1992). However, this diversification is still not enough for a stable economy. In the early 1990's banana production was "hampered by cold weather and black sigatoak disease" and citrus is "extremely susceptible to cold weather and high winds" (Merrill 1993). This shows how Belize's economy is not diverse enough to withstand uncontrollable forces.

Belize's economic woes are rooted in the British colonial control of the economy. O. Nigel Bolland writes, One way of ensuring the continued dependence of the laborers upon their employers was through monopolization of land ownership, a feature of the Belizean political economy that, leading to the under utilization of both land and labor, perpetuated the dependence of the entire economy upon the metropole... The development of [Britain] is structurally linked with the underdevelopment of [Belize] (Bolland 1977). The structural link between the development of Great Britain and the underdevelopment of Belize is apparent in the late nineteen hundreds when half of Belize's private land was held by the British firm, the Belize Estate and Produce Company. Anthropologist Mark Moberg writes: "Due to the disproportionate political influence of the Belize Estate and other absentee landowners, the British Colonial office ignored proposals to diversify the colony's economy with agriculture even as the mahogany industry slumped into prolonged crisis" (Moberg 1992). The British monopolization of the Belizean economy is the foundation for the current economic problems of Belize. The Belizean economy underwent a drastic change in 1981, when Britain relinquished control over Belize.

During this transition, the Citrus Growers Association was given more reign over the citrus economy-which led to the increase in the orange producer's price per box from $3.75 in 1979 to $12.00 in 1985. This economic growth shows how the British government's control over the Belizean economy kept the rural farmers from producing agricultural crops, allowing for importation of British agricultural goods. When the British relinquished control in 1981, Belizeans were able to increase their production and profits significantly. However, this economic growth is still not enough to create an economy that satisfies the Belizean people.

Belize's current population situation is key in proving that Belize is underdeveloped. Thousands of English speaking Creoles have emigrated to the United States only to be replaced by Spanish speaking refugees from neighboring countries (Muller 230). Louis Woods reports that this has "resulted in an erosion of Belize's stock of human capital". He also observed that "Belizean emigrants have higher levels of educational attainment than those that remain behind, while the Central American immigrants have much lower educational levels. This brain drain imposes substantial social costs on Belize, as investments in human capital and the resulting potential future productivity gains are transferred into other countries" (Woods 1996).

This mass emigration indicates that the needs of the Creole population are not being met, as many are moving to America in search of better jobs. This seeking of better jobs is an indication that Belize is underdeveloped for the needs of its citizens. However, this brings up and interesting point. As the demographics change its needs change as well. The mass influx of immigrants shows how Belize's political development must compare to neighboring countries.

The immigrants are coming in search of a better life they feel they can find in Belize. This reveals Belize's development is above that of the neighboring countries, but does not prove that it is a developed country. Some may argue that the relatively high life expectancy and low infant mortality rates indicate that Belizeans needs are being met. The facts remain that Belizeans are fleeing their own country in droves, indicating that in the minds of Belizeans, their homeland is an inadequate place to live. Belize's health and welfare, educational system, political dependency, economic situation, and current population emigrations reveal that Belize is an underdeveloped country. Belize is still overcoming the negative effects of its colonial power.

The future of Belize depends upon keeping educated citizens from fleeing the country. A stable workforce, combined with the currently improving social and economic conditions have the potential to bring Belize up to par with developed countries, while providing for the needs of its citizens.