Doodlewatch

Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Although once part of the Maya Empire, Belize has never been part of the Spanish Empire. Belize was affiliated with the British Empire prior to gaining its independence in 1981.

…

Constitutional reforms were initiated in 1954 and resulted in a new constitution ten years later. Britain granted British Honduras self-government in 1964, and the head of the PUP-independence leader George Price-became the colony’s prime minister. British Honduras was officially renamed Belize in 1973. Progress toward independence, however, was hampered by a Guatemalan claim to sovereignty over the territory of Belize. When Belize finally attained full independence on September 21, 1981, Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation. About 1,500 British troops remained to protect Belize from the Guatemalan threat.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize#Independence