FIGURE 4: MAP OF LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN BELIZE 14
3.5 OTHERS & NOT STATED (9.5%, <strong>1980</strong> Census): 3.5.1 WHITE EUROPEANS & NORTH AMERICANS (4.2%, <strong>1980</strong> Census) People of many nationalities live in Belize, but Europeans and North Americans are especially present in the tourism industry, sports fishing and other <strong>com</strong>mercial enterprises. Some of the North Americans (US and Canadian citizens) are missionaries or lay volunteers who serve with a variety of Protestant and Roman Catholic agencies, while others are members of the various Mennonite <strong>com</strong>munities (5,647 in <strong>1980</strong>). Between 1960 and <strong>1980</strong>, 2,006 Europeans and North Americans immigrated to Belize, according to official census reports. 3.5.2 EAST INDIAN (2,997 or 2.1%, <strong>1980</strong> Census) Between 1861 and 1891, indentured workers from India (called East Indians) were brought to Belize by large landowners, who hoped that the importation of these agricultural laborers would be as successful as in Trinidad and British Guiana. But only a small number of East Indians actually arrived in Belize, where they worked on the large sugar plantations in Toledo and Corozal districts. The 1891 Census lists only 291 persons living in the Colony who were born in India. Today, their descendants still grow rice in the Toledo District or other crops in Corozal District. Most are smallscale farmers, while others have be<strong>com</strong>e merchants. In <strong>1980</strong>, there were two clearly discernible settlements: Calcutta in Corazal District in the north and Forest Home near Punta Gorda in Toledo District in the south. About 47% of this ethnic group lives in these two settlements and the rest live elsewhere, especially in urban centers: Corozal, Punta Gorda, Belmopan and Belize City. Although most of the descendents of the early East Indian immigrants no longer speak Hindi, now preferring to use Creole or Spanish, there are a small number of Hindi-speaking East Indian merchants who live in Belize City and Orange Walk Town, but they are relative new<strong>com</strong>ers and have no cultural ties with descendents of earlier East Indian immigrants. Although only 106 people listed Hinduism as their religious affiliation in <strong>1980</strong>, many others probably have retained some of their Hindu (or Buddhist, Jain, Sant Mat) beliefs over the years, while others now attend Catholic or Protestant churches, mainly the Methodist Church. 3.5.3 CHINESE (200-300, <strong>1980</strong> estimate) During the 1860s, indentured workers from China were imported to the Colony, but the venture was not very successful, with some dying from disease while others fled to live among the Amerindians of Yucatan. Descendants of these early Chinese immigrants still live in Belize, but most of the Chinese population today has arrived since the 1930s. Few have be<strong>com</strong>e Christians. The majority continue to worship their ancestors, while pursuing age-old cultural and religious traditions (Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism) and operating stores, restaurants and lottery sales. Between 1960 and <strong>1980</strong>, 112 Chinese nationals immigrated to Belize. Most reside in Belize City, but at least a few Chinese families live in every major town. 3.5.4 SYRIAN-LEBANESE (170-200, <strong>1980</strong> estimate) Some of the most successful businessmen in Belize are Syrians or Lebanese who have lived there for two or three generations. Although few in number, Syrians have fulfilled an important role in the <strong>com</strong>munity, along with Chinese merchants. Family ties are strong but little is known about their current religious beliefs: some are Arab Muslims (110) while others are Eastern Orthodox (Maronite) or Roman Catholic. Also, there are a small number of Palestinian immigrants and their descendents, including a leading Belizean politician—Mr. Said Musa. 15