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2005 Belize unrest

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An encounter between protesters and riot police in Belmopan on January 21.

Unrest broke out in the capital city of Belmopan in Belize during mid-January 2005, provoked by the release of a new national budget with significant tax increases and by anger at the ruling People's United Party for the worsening fiscal condition of the Belizian government.


On January 13, 2005 the government of Said Musa announced its budget for 2005-2006. The budget included major tax increased on a variety of businesses and commodities, including a 11% increase in the real estate sales tax, a 5% tax increase for financial institutions, an 8% tax increase on tobacco, and a 100% tax increase on rum. Although the government claims that these tax increases are comparable to increases instituted in 1998 under the previous government of the United Democratic Party (UDP), these taxes, on top of years of popular frustration at alleged financial mismanagement and corruption by the People's United Party (PUP) sparked protests at the National Assembly building on January 15, including confrontations between demonstrators and police. Demonstrations continued through the following week.

Crowds outside the National Assembly, with signs calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Said Musa.

On January 20, the business community and labor unions called for a two-day nationwide strike. As employees did not report to work, water service for much of Belize has been turned off. On January 21, local news reported reports of scattered demostrations in the capital city of Belmopan, including some burning of government buildings and roadblocks by protestors. As government ministers were walking towards the government building, the demonstrators threw rocks and bottles at the ministers causing the police and military had to get involved to subdue the demonstrators. The government has reportedly installed cameras on the exterior of some buildings where protestors are expected to congregate, and government buildings have been pre-emptively barricated off. A major public demonstration is planned by the opposition for January 21 in Belmopan; the ruling PUP has also planned a counter-demonstration.

This is only the third time that this kind of unrest has hit Belize. The first time in the '50s and the second time during the '80s when when there was a proposal drafted to give part of the country to Guatemala.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2005 Belizian Protests.

There was a massive protest outside the National Assembly building in Belmopan January 21, 2005 which led to violence. Protestors threw rocks at the police and the police responded with rubber bullets and riot gas. Several protestors where arrested. The gunfire and sirens are audible at a distance of at least 1km. Also, at least one larger booming sound was heard, the cause is unclear, but significantly louder than the gunfire.

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