Bileez da wahn konchri eena Sentral Amerika. Belmopan da di kyapital a Bileez. Di Bileez Flag: ih kala da fu di too politikal paati (PUP, UDP), ahn di koat-a-aamz da fu di difrant etnik groop dehn eena di konchri.
Bileez ga 22,800 kilomeetaz a lan (8,800 sq. mi), ahn sins 2015, 368,310 peepl. Eena Senchral Amerika, Bileez ga di smaalis nomba a peepl fu evri mail a lan. Di konchri di groa bai 1.87% evri yaa (2015), ahn dis da di sekan bigis eena di reejan ahn wan a di bigis eena di Westan Hemisfyaa.
Bileez da wahn impoatant plays eena di sens a di werl vyoo bowt di “Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.” Bileez ga lata difrant peepl ahn kostom eena ih sosaiyiti, plos lata langwij, ahn dis aal da paat a di rich hischri a Bileez.
Wen yu tink bowt Bileez, yu tink bowt it laik Sentral Amerikan plos Kyaribeeyan, plos ih ga schrang kanekshan wid dehnya too reejan. Bileez da wahn memba a di Kyaribeeyan Kamyooniti (CARICOM), di Kamyooniti a Latin Amerikan ahn Kyaribeeyan Staytz (CELAC), ahn di Sentral Amerikan Intigrayshan Sistim (SICA). Bileez da di oanli konchri fu bilangz tu aal chree a dehnya aaganizayshan. Pahn tap, Bileez deh eena di Kamanwelt, wid Kween Ilizabet II az di kween ahn hed a stayt.
Peepl noa Bileez fu ih Semtemba salibrayshanz, ih lata koaril reef, ahn punta myoozik.
Weh di werd Bileez kohn frahn noh soh klyaa, bot di fos rekad dehn deh eena di jernal a di Domineekan prees Fray Jose Delgado, bak eena 1677. Delgado rikaad di nayhn a chree big-taim riva weh hihn mi kraas wen ih mi-di chravl lang di Kyaribeeyan Koas: Rio Soyte, Rio Xibun, ahn Rio Balis. Da-mi Delgado chranslayta hoo mi tel hihn bowt dehnya nayhn, wich mach op wid di Sitee Riva (Sittee River), Shibun Riva (Sibun River) ahn Bileez Riva (Belize River). Yu ku nayli seh dat di werd “balis” fahn Delgado da-mi di Maiya werd “belix” (er “beliz”), wich meen “muddy-watered.” Adarels pipl moa tink dat di nayhn kohn frahn how di Spanish seh di nayhn a di bokanyaa Peter Wallace, den deh mi put da nayhn tu di erli setlment da di mowt a di Bileez Riva. No proof noh deh dat da Wallace hoo mi setl eena dis ayrya, ahn sohn peepl weh stodi dehnya hischri seh dis noh chroo, dat da loan fayritayl. Sohn moa stoari deh bowt weh di werd Bileez (Belize) kohn frahn, ahn sohn raitaz ahn hiscri peepl seh di werd chrays bak tu sohnting French er Afrikan.
Di Maiya sivilizayshan mi staat op 3 towzan yaaz abak eena di loa ayrya a di Yookatan Peninsula ahn di hai ayrya tu di sowt. Tudeh day, dis ayrya da sowtees Meksiko, Bileez, Gwatemaala, ahn westan Hondooras. Lata ting bowt dis kolcha deh rong tudeh, noh main dat Yoorop mi rool nayli 500 yaaz. Bifoa taim, op tu bowt 2500 BC, difrant groop weh doz hont mi setl eena smaal faam vilij; layta dehn laan fu groa ahn haavis kaan, beenz, skwash, pepa ahn ada ting laik dat. Wahn hoal lata langwij mi divelop, langsaid wahn hoal lata difrant groop a Maiya kolcha. Bitween bowt 2500 BC ahn 250 AD, di mayn Maiya aaganizayshan sistim mi kohn bowt. Ih reech ih hai paint joorin di klasik peeryad, wich mi staat op rong 250 AD.
Spanish invaydaz gaahn aal oava di lan ahn tek it mek Spanish kalani, bot dehn disaid noh fu-mi stay ahn divelop di plays sayka ih neva ga lata richnis ahn sayka di Yookatan Maiya mi oanli laik fait. Di Inglish ahn Skatish peepl weh mi setl ahn di pairat dehn, weh wi kaal Baymen, gaahn eena di ayrya eena di 17 senchri (di Inglish) ahn 18 senchri (di Skatish) ahn set op wahn lagwud chrayd kalani ahn poat eena wat da now di Bileez Dischrik.
Di Baymen dehn mi fos setl dong eena 1638 pahn di koas eena wat da now Bileez. Dehn mi-di luk fu wahn plays dehn kuda mi stay sayf ahn stil atak di Spanish ship dehn (si Inglish setlment eena Bileez). Di Bay peepl staat tu kot lagwud joorin di 18 senchri. Dehn set op wahn sistim a slayv layba wid Blak slayv peepl. Fahn di lagwud dehn mi geh di meenz fu mek wahn kloaz dai weh mi oanli impoatant tu di wool indoschri eena Yoorop. Di Spanish mi alow di British fu setl eena di ayrya ahn kot lagwud, ahn di British mi hafu gree fu help stap di pairat dehn.
Bileez govament da wahn sistim bays pahn di British sistim. Wi kaal dis eena Inglish wahn “parliamentary constitutional monarchy” wich meenz seh dat di leegal sistim ahn di Hows a Reprizentativz tek aafa how dehn aparayt eena Inglan. Kween Ilizabeth II da di hed a stayt, bot eena naym oanli—di Kween ga di taitl Kween a Bileez. Di Kween liv da Inglan. Wahn Govna-Jenaral reprizent di Kween eena Bileez. Di peepl weh mek palisi da di minista dehn weh deh eena Kyabinet. Dehn advaiz di Govna-Jenaral, ahn da di Praim Minista a Bileez hoo hed op di Kyabinet. Di Kyabinet ministaz kohn owta di politikal paati weh ga di majoriti eena di Hows a Reprizentativz. Ih yoozhal dat dehnya Kyabinet ministaz kohn frahn hoo di peepl mi voat fa, ahn dehn pozishan eena Kyabinet mach op wid dis.
Evri faiv yaaz Bileez mos ga jenaral ilekshan (sohntaihn Bileez kaal ilekshan erli).
Di papulayshan a Bileez mek op wit lata difrant groop weh liv tugeda, laik di Kriol weh ga Afrikan bakgrong. Eena 2010, di peepl weh mi liv eena Bileez (di papulayshan) da-mi 324,528. Eena 2009, di fertiliti rayt da-mi 3.6 pikni fu evri uman. Di bert rayt da-mi 27.33 bert/1,000 papulayshan, ahn di det rayt da-mi 5.8 det/1,000 papulayshan.
Inglish da di ofishal langwij a di konchri, bot lat a pipl taak Kriol ahn Spanish. Dehn teech Spanish eena skool aal chroo di sistim now, ahn moa ahn moa inchres di kohn bowt eena sohn paatz fu teech reedn ahn raitn eena Kriol.
Dehn ga lat a poblik skool eena di konchri, weh mek di lichrasi rayt bowt 74%. Di styoodent dehn eena praimri skool mi nomba 62,000 eena 2004 ahn 244 priamri skool mi deh den.
Wi tink seh di Maiya (eena Inglish, dis da "Maya") deh eena Bileez ahn di Yookatan ayrya sins di sekan milenyom BC. Bot lat a di fos Maiya eena Bileez mi ded owt fahn faitn mongs difrant chraib. Ada Maiya mi ded owt fahn siknis afta di Yooropeeyan dehn mi lan ya/invayd ya. Tudeh day, chree Maiya groop liv eena di konchri: Di Yookatek (Yucatec), hoo mi kohn fahn Yookatan eena Meksiko, fu geh weh fahn di 1840s Kyaas War (Caste War), di Moapan (Mopan), indijinos tu Bileez bot lata Moapan mi foas owt tu Gwatemaala wen di British mi-di rayd setlment; dehn mi kohn bak tu Bileez layta fu eskayp fahn Gwatemaala weh mi waahn mek dehn slayv eena di 19t senchri), ahn di Kechi (Q'eqchi'); di Kechi mi aalso ron fahn bikom slayv eena Gwatemaala, 19t senchri). Di laas 2 Maiya groop moasli liv eena Toleedo Dischrik.
Kriol (eena Inglish da “Creole/ Creoles”) mek op bowt 21% a di papulayshan a Bileez, ahn bowt 75% a di Bileez Kriol pipl gaahn liv da faren. Kriol kohn fahn di Baymen slayv oana dehn, fahn di slayv pipl hoo mi foas fu kohn ya fu kot lagwud. Dehnya pipl mi foas fi bee slayv, ahn mi kohn Afrikan pipl hoo da-mi fahn Wes ahn Senchral Afrika (plos fahn Miskito pipl fahn Nikaragwa). Pahn tap a dis, sohn mi baan da Afrika bot mi spen shaat taim eena Jumayka ahn Bermyooda. Bay ailan pipl ahn baan Jumaykan pipl mi kohn eena di layt 19t senchri, ahn dehn mi jain dis groop a pipl weh mi don kohn fahn aal di ada plays. Da soh dis groop kaal Kriol kohn bowt.
Di Garifuna da bowt 4.5% a di papulayshan. Garifuna da wahn miks a Wes/Senchral Afrikan, Arawak, ahn Ailan Kyarib bakgrong. Da fu chroo dehn mi geh kyapcha ahn tek weh fahn dehn hoamlan, bot hischri neva rait dong dehnya pipl az slayv. Too stoari deh bowt dis: Wan da dat eena 1635, dehn mi servaiv too shiprek weh hischri taak bowt; di neks stoari da dat, wan way er di ada, dehn mi tek oava di ship weh dehn mi kohn eena.
Di hiscri buk dehn noh karek wen dehn kaal Garifuna Blak Kyarib. Di British mi tek oava Sint Vinsint ahn di Grenadeenz afta di Chreeti a Paris eena 1763. Bot French soaljaz ahn dehn Garifuna fren ahn kompni mi fait dehn. Bai di bai, di Garifuna mi sorenda tu di French eena 1796. Di British mi separayt di Garifuna weh mi luk moa laik Afrikan fahn di Garifuna weh mi luk moa indijinos. 5,000 Garifuna mi geh eksail (push weh) fahn di Grenadeen ailan, weh ga di French naym Baliceaux. Bot oanli bowt 2,000 Garifuna mi mek it kraas tu Roatan, wich da wahn ailan aafa di koas a Handooras. Di Garifuna langwij bilangz tu di Arawakan langwij faamli, bot ih ga lat a wod ih bara fahn di Kyarib langwij dehn ahn fahn Inglish.
Sayk a how Roatan mi tu smaal ahn plaant kudn groa gud fu sopoat di papulayshan, di Garifuna mi aks di Spanish aatoriti eena Handooras fi mek dehn setl pahn di maynlan koas. Di Spanish mi haiya dehn az soalja, ahn soh Garifuna spred owt lang di Kyaribeeyan koas a Senchral Amerika. Fahn az erli az 1862, di Garifuna mi setl eena Sayn Bait, Punta Gorda ahn Punta Negra eena Bileez, ahn dehn mi kohn chroo Handooras. Bot eena Bileez, da 19 Novemba 1832 weh wi rekonaiz az di ofishal “Garifuna Setlment Day,” eena Dangriga fos, ahn now chroo aal a Bileez. Wan stodi bow di bakgrong a pipl seh dat Garifuna anseschri da, moa er les, 76% Sob Saharan Afrikan,” 20% Arawak/Ailan Kyarib ahn 4% Yooropeeyan.
Kristyaniti da di mayn rilijan eena Bileez. Di bigis deenominayshan da di Roaman Kyaatlik Cherch wid bowt 40.1% a di papulayshan (129,456 bileevaz), wichin dis da les dan di 49.6% bak eena 2000, er di 57.7% eena 1991, ahn 61.9% eena 1980. Stil, absoloot nombaz yu ku seh gaan op. Ada mayja groop inklyood Pentikaastal wid 8.4% a di papulayshan op fahn 7.4% eena 2000 ahn 6.3% eena 1991, Sevent-day Adventis wid 5.4% a di papulayshan op fahn 5.2% eena 2000 ahn 4.1% eena 1991. Di bileevaz a di Anglikan Cherch di goh dong stedi wan, wid oanli 4.7% a di papulayshan eena 2010 kompyaa tu 6.95% eena 1991. Bowt 12,000 Menonaitz (3.7% a di papulayshan) liv moasli eena di konchrisaid paat a di dischrik dehn a Kaiyo ahn Areenj Waak. Pipl hoo seh dehn bilangz tu no rilijan mek op 15.5% a di papulayshan (jos anda 50,000 pipl) eena 2010, moa dan dobl di 2000 sensos nombaz.[1] 11.2% deh wid ada rilijan, wich inklyood di Maiya rilijan, Afro-American rilijan (Garifuna rilijan, Oabya ahn Myalism), Mormonz, Hindooz, Boodis, Mozlim, Bahai, Rastafaryan plos adaz.
Christianity is the dominant religion in Belize. The single largest denomination is the Roman Catholic Church with about 40.1% of the population (129,456 adherents), a reduction from 49.6% of the population in 2000, 57.7% in 1991 and 61.9% in 1980, although absolute numbers have still risen.[1][2] Other major groups include Pentecostal with 8.4% of the population up from 7.4% in 2000 and 6.3% in 1991, Seventh-day Adventists with 5.4% of the population up from 5.2% in 2000 and 4.1% in 1991. The following of the Anglican Church has been steadily declining, with only 4.7% of the population in 2010 compared to 6.95% in 1991.[1][2] About 12,000 Mennonites (3.7% of the population)[1] live mostly in the rural parts of the districts of Cayo and Orange Walk. People who declared they belong to no religion make up 15.5% of the population (just under 50,000 people) in 2010, more than double their 2000 census numbers.[1] 11.2% adhere to other religions which include the Maya religion, Afro-American religions (Garifuna religion, Obeah and Myalism), Mormons, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Bahá'ís, Rastafarians and others.
Di food a Bileez da wan big pulaali mek fahn aal di kolcha dehn eena Bileez ahn di food eech groop eet. Yu ku tink a Bileez food sayhn way laik Meksikan/Sentral Amerikan food ahn laik Jumaykan/Inglish-Kyaribeeyan food.
Brekfas da yoozhali bred, flowa torteeya, er frai jak weh yu mek yuself. Yu eet frai jak wid difrant kain a cheez, frai beenz, eg mek difrant kain a way; er yu eet seeryal, lang wid powda milk, kaafi, er tee. Twelv aklak food da eniting fahn rais ahn beenz wid er wiidowtn kuknat milk, er tamaales, panaades (frai kaan shel wid beenz er fish), er meet pai, er eskabaych (oanyan soop), blak dina (chimole: wahn kaina soop), kaldo, schoo chikin, garnaaches (frai torteeya wid beenz, cheez, ahn saas), tu difrant kain a dina, weh ga sohn kain a rais ahn beenz, meet ahn salad er koalslaa.
bail-op,
bondiga, eskabaych fish
kongkanteh, meet er fish wid rais ahn beenz er schoo
beenz ahn rais ahn salad.
Punta da wahn papyula kaina Garifuna myoozik, plos da now di moas papyula myoozik eena Bileez. Ih klayr klayr dat punta da Afro-Kyaribeeyan myoozik, ahn pipl tink seh dat da don wahn papyula myoozik da faren, sayhn way laik regeh, kalypso, merengeh, ahn soh.
Pahn tap, brokdong da wahn kaina Bileez myoozik weh papyula. Brokdong kohn owta di myoozik ahn daans a di lagwud taim, speshali di brokdong weh wi kaal buru brokdong. Regeh, daans-haal, ahn soaka kohn fahn Jumayka ahn di res a di Wes Indiz. Rap, hip-hop, hevi metal ahn rak myoozik da fahn Staytz, ahn dehnya aalso papyula wid di yong pipl a Bileez.
Di mayja spoatz eena Bileez da futbaal, baaskitbaal, valibaal ahn saikln. Pahn tap bot noh az mayja, boat rays, chrak-ahn-feel, saafbaal, ahn krikit papyula. Pahn tap, fishin papyula lang di koas a Bileez.
Moas Bileezyan chravl kraas di konchri bai bos. Eena di biga tong dehn ahn siti, laik Bileez Siti er Belmopan, dehn ga bos terminal. Eena smaala plays, dehn ga bos stap. Bot di moas kaman way fi kech bos da fi flag it dong pahn di road. Pahn di Naadan ahn Jaaj Prais Haiway, moa bos saavis deh dan pahn di smaala haiway dehn ahn road. Eena sohn plays, laik wahn smaal tong, bos mait ron oanli wan taim a day. Bos klasifai eeda az Regula ron (yoozhal prais) er Ekspres ron (faasta, fi lee moa moni). Sohn Bileezyan prifa raid baik sayka chrafik, er di taim a day. Lata bos da Greyhounds er skool bos, bot moa nyoo ekspres bos chravl di too mayn haiway.
Most Belizeans travel the country using public buses as their primary form of transportation. In the larger towns and cities, such as Belize City or Belmopan, there are bus terminals. In smaller places, there are bus stops. However, the most common way of catching a bus is by flagging it down on the road. On the Northern and George Price Highways, bus service is more frequent than on smaller highways and other roads. In some locations, like small towns, buses may run only once a day. Buses are classified as either Regular runs (usual prices) or Express runs (faster, for slightly higher prices). Some Belizeans prefer riding bikes due to traffic, or the time of day. Many buses are Greyhounds or school buses, although newer express buses travel the two main highways.
