Corruption: Any meaningful reform on this front is unlikely over the coming years, regardless of a potential change in ad- ministration. The ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) and the main opposition Peoples United Party (PUP) have both refused to sign the UN Convention Against Corruption whilst in power, making Belize the only country in Central America to remain outside the convention s purview. ...Corruption: Any meaningful reform on this front is unlikely over the coming years, regardless of a potential change in ad- ministration. The ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) and the main opposition Peoples United Party (PUP) have both refused to sign the UN Convention Against Corruption whilst in power, making Belize the only country in Central America to remain outside the convention s purview. Prime Minister Dean Barrow was elected on an anti-corruption platform in ----, pledging to work with the international community to reduce graft in Belize, yet progress has been extremely slow. ...Immigration: Immigration will pose a risk to Belize s social stability over the next -- years, but is unlikely to boil over into ethnic conflict or result in repressive policies from the ruling party. Nevertheless, -- of the Belizean population are foreign- born, with many having emigrated from other Central American - Business Monitor International Ltd www.bmiresearchcom
...Source: Statistical Institute Of Belize countries in recent years. As such, mestizos have long since overtaken creoles (of mixed African ancestry) to become the country s largest ethnic group, making up half the population. ...However, political parties in Belize are not divided along ethnic lines, and politicians have courted the newcomers votes in recent elections, which will be positive for social stability in the long run. Policy Continuity: Belize s political system has been charac- terised by peaceful and democratic transitions of power since the country gained independence from Britain over -- years ago, and we believe that most major political actors will remain committed to constitutional transference in the next decade. Governance continues to be dominated by two major political parties and the constitution, which was ratified in September ----, has remained broadly intact since. ...Governance continues to be dominated by two major political parties and the constitution, which was ratified in September ----, has remained broadly intact since. While the UDP and PUP differ over policy details, transitions of power between the two parties have failed to drastically alter the country s policy direction, and have been done within the established constitutional framework.
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