TIMELINE # 3: BELIZE- from Colony to Independent Nation (1862 -1981)

1862 Before 1862, the territory was under the vice-regency of the Governor of Jamaica, and administered by a Superintendent. In 1862 British Honduras was established as a colony, and administered by a Lieutenant Governor, still subordinate to Jamaica.

1870 The "Masters and Servants" laws of 1852 and 1885 were very harsh. It imposed a penalty of three months in jail with hard labour for anyone who did not work according to his contract.

1894 In late 1894 when the mahogany workers returned to Belize Town from the camps, they felt the effects of a currency devaluation. Under the leadership of John Alexander Tom, they rioted. They broke store windows and looted.

1919 In 1919, when black Belizean servicemen returned from fighting in Europe during World War I, they rioted to protest the unequal, racist treatment they had received while fighting a war for the British.

1931 The 1931 Belize hurricane was a devastating Category 4 tropical cyclone that struck British Honduras on 10 September 1931, killing an estimated 2,500 people.

1934 Antonio Soberanis formed the Labourers and Unemployed Association (LUA). organized a picket of the B.E.C. sawmill to convince its workers to strike for more pay. On October 1, 1934 the picket turned into a riot.

1949 The devaluation of the Belize dollar, on December 31, 1949, resulted in the immediate worsening of the workers' situation. Formation of the People’s Committee that would become the People’s United Party (PUP) on 29 September 1950

1964 – Self Government

1971 – George Price creates the Independence Secretariat to coordinate the internationalization efforts for Belize’s Independence

1975 -at the U.N. the only Spanish-speaking Latin American country that supported Belize was Cuba.

1976 - the President of Panama, Omar Torrijos, was persuaded to support our cause. He actively campaigned among other Latin American countries. Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Peru joined the support in 1977.

1980 – USA changes its position to favor Belize’s Independence at the United Nations

1981 – September 21 Belize gains political Independence. George Price becomes Belize’s first Prime Minister.