Belize Act 1981 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to make provision for, and in connection with, the attainment by Belize of independence within the Commonwealth. |
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| Citation | 1981 c. 52 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 28 July 1981 |
| Commencement | 21 September 1981 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | British Nationality Act 1948 |
| Amended by |
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Status: Amended
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Belize Act 1981 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk | |
The Belize Act 1981 was an important law passed in the United Kingdom. It helped the country of Belize become fully independent. This meant Belize would govern itself and no longer be a British colony.
What Was the Belize Act?
The Belize Act 1981 was a special law, also called an Act of Parliament. It was created by the government of the United Kingdom. This law was put into action on July 28, 1981.
Its main goal was to allow Belize to gain its freedom. Before this, Belize was a territory controlled by Britain. The Act made sure Belize could become its own country.
From Colony to Country
For many years, Belize was known as British Honduras. It was a British colony, meaning it was ruled by Britain. In 1973, it became a self-governing colony. This meant it could make many of its own decisions.
However, it was not yet fully independent. The Belize Act 1981 changed this. It allowed Belize to become a completely independent nation. It also joined the Commonwealth of Nations. This is a group of countries that used to be part of the British Empire.
A New Beginning
Thanks to the Belize Act, Belize officially became independent on September 21, 1981. This was a huge step for the country. It meant Belize could now make all its own laws and decisions.
Belize became a Commonwealth realm. This means it is an independent country within the Commonwealth. It still recognizes the British monarch as its head of state.
