East Indian Community in Belize

Study Notes

Belize is located in Central America, bordered by Mexico in the North and Guatemala in the West and South
Belize has a mélange of over ten different cultures which are concentrated in specific areas in the six districts
Belize is the only country in Central America that has a significant East Indian (Indian)/South Asian community comprising four percent (7,000 persons) of the multi-ethnic population
After the abolition of African slavery, Indians went to Belize to provide an alternate source of labour in the sugarcane, banana and lumber industries
Unlike any other Caribbean country, Belize experienced three waves of Indian migration, commencing in 1858
The first wave of migrants consisted of 1000 deported ex soldiers (and their families) who had rebelled against the British Government in India’s First War of Independence/ Sepoy Rebellion
The second wave of Indians went to Belize in 1872 as ex-indentured workers from Jamaica
The third wave of Indian migrants to Belize came from Guatemala, from where they had gone to work in the coffee plantations in Cafe Mountains
East Indians first settled in Queen Charlotte Street in Belize City to work in the nearby sugar and lumber industries
After the two hurricanes in 1931, and 1961, Indian survivors moved to Yarborough and Belmopan
In Corozal District in northern Belize, they resided in sugarcane estates [ranchos] such as Calcutta, San Andres, San Antonio, Estrella, Carolina and Ranchito
In Toledo District in the south, they lived in Cattle Landing, West Morland, Fairview, Mount Royal,Jacintoville, Mafredi and Forest Home
Belize evolved into an ethnically-diverse society and the 2000 government census reveals that Mestizo/ Spanish represented 48% of the total population, (African) Creole was 25% of the total, Garifuna 6%, Mennonite 4%, and the three Maya groups comprised: Yucatec 1%, Mopan 4%, and Ketchi 5%, and Caucasian 1%. East Indians comprise about 7,000 persons (4%). Most of these ethnic groups are concentrated in specific areas in Belize.