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The article provides an assessment of the political rights and civil liberties in Belize as of 2000. In 1999 Belize's Prime Minister Said Musa's government focused on promoting citrus and shrimp farming, two of Belize's main exports, while seeking to expand its already large offshore business community. Since independence from Great Britain, each election in Belize has resulted in the incumbent party's being ousted. In general, the judiciary is independent and nondiscriminatory, and the rule of law is respected. Belizeans have suffered from an increase in violent crime, much of it related to drug trafficking and gang conflict. There is freedom of religion and the government actively discourages racial and ethnic discrimination.

The article provides an update on the political, social and economic conditions in Belize and an overview and analysis of the country's political rights and civil liberties as of 1998. In August 1998, opposition leader and former Attorney General Said Musa was elected prime minister. The 1998 elections proved to be a referendum on Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel's largely unfulfilled pledge that his United Democratic Party would create jobs. The Belize Human Rights Commission is independent and effective. Freedom of religion is respected, and the government actively discourages racial and ethnic discrimination.