The question is... is Belize any less safe than any other latin american country? I doubt it. I bet it is one of the safer ones.

-troy

The fact that belize's biggest interest is the tourism industry and to keep thatalive they will do their best to keep the crime down,I know that belize city has a large drug trade and so crime is high there .ive also heard that in southern belize has a bit of a drug problem so beware ...all in all I dont think belize is going to be any more dangerouse than some American cities.

I appreciate the replies.

I guess I'm more interested in the socio-political events and the impact of tourism on the dichotomy between the native Belizans and foreign interests.

That was my real question.

I never once felt like I was in danger when I was there.

Too deep for this board?

Bridget:
I live in the Cayo district, and tend to agree with Dj B that it's the Guatemalan banditos that are illegally crossing the border and causing most of the fuss(meaning the tourist robbings - heck, one happened a couple days ago at one of the biggest ruins here). Yeah, no doubt that it's illegals doing that damage. You would think that with the amazing amount of political corruption here - ironically done in the name of capitalism - that there would be quite a few assassination attempts on the government officials. But, Belizeans just don't care enough to raise arms against the govt, which has sold off everything, and keeps monopolies in place - costing the populace a lot of money. The phone monopoly gouges us, Sacred Heart, a school, for internet access. I mean they stick it to us, hard! And the govt made our owning a private staellite dish to circumnavigate the telephone monopoly a crime! Irony at it's finest. They continue to block Voice over IP(of course, we're good with computers, and we have found a way to avoid their blocking, but every other school(and business) is at a loss since they have to pay $2 a minute to BTL, while BTL uses VoIP themselves and only pay 8 cents a minute - wish I could have a 1200% markup on product!!! All this is just the way here of short term thinking, just like Dj B mentioned. I hate to say it, but the future of Belize looks to be in everyone else's hands but Belizeans(of course, I think Belize is just as much of a melting pot now as the u.s. - and that's a good thing)
At the same time, it appears that Belize is pricing itself out of the tourism market. Sure, we have our own Cancun(San Pedro on Ambergris Caye) where prices are astronomical, as they should be, but most every couch surfer I host(and I host quite a few), says they will only stay in Belize a couple of days, and will spend months in Guatemala due to Belize being the 3rd most expensive country in the America's(behind the u.s. and Canada) As many say, the Belizean nada-economy relies on tourism that won't be there in a decade unless something is done. This year was the worst year for tourism from what I've heard. And that does come from the u.s. and Canadian embassies declaring Belize 'very dangerous.' But I feel safer here than in the u.s. At school, for sure!!!
Now the crime in Belize City's ghetto is just like any ghetto in the world. Crime begets crime there. They have bike drive by shootings all the time there. Yeah, I know, it's hilarious and sad at the same time, but it's very true. Just don't find yourself in the ghetto at dark, and you'll be fine there too. Just like L.A. and Dallas, and Houston, and every big city you can think of. That's just how ghettos work - just like they should. When people ask me if there are any setbacks to living in paradise, I simply say that Belize, just like every other country on earth, has rampant crime, political corruption, scam artists, assholes, and people making problems. The key is to remember that this is 2007, and the world is in a bad state...and why should that affect me negatively when I'm doing my best to do my part to fix it??? It doesn't. I know that the asshole rate in this world is quite high, but that doesn't stop me from befriending people. I decided to stop lending money out, unless it's a really close friend. That strategy, I'm sure, has saved me thousands...
Funny you mention indentured servitude! So many of my students want to go to the states to find a job there. I tell them, ad nauseum, that yes, they will make more there, possibly a lot more(if the average Belizean here makes $75us a week, they are doing good), but they cost of living up there, and the rent alone, will make them "indentured servants." I also tell them that they shouldn't leave a paradise just so they can make a little more cash because it's just not worth it. Some listen, some don't, but those that stay have a life with more fun and less stress for sure. I read the Amandala article, and I disagree on the grounds that I bet that close to 100% of the college grads here will have good jobs within a month or so after graduating. Of course, high school only grads are in less and less demand because high school is only intended to be a stepping stone(and many people stop at high school). When we meet with the business community they say more and more that they would rarely if ever hire someone with just a high school degree.
I wonder how the economic landscape will change now that Belize has scores of subdivisions - american style. Yes, there are tens of thousands of quarter acre lots from Corazol to Cayo. There is so much construction going on here that the prices of building materials have increased quite a bit in the last couple of years. We even have a few 'Gold Coast' style subdivisions like up on Long Island, where the lots have names, and are 10 or more acres each, and will have mansions on them. One can only hope that this infusion of richer people(and retirees) can help sustain the economy here. I hope that the next political party winner later this year actually decides to do something with the infrastructure instead of lining their own pockets...hahahahaha! It's always good to end a long, boring essay with a good laugh!
God be with,
-MM