Scott, K5PS is currently active as V31CQ from Belize.
He will operate on HF Bands, including activity in CQ WW DX CW Contest, 29 - 30 November 2025.
Recent DX Spots V31CQ
V31CQ Log search QSL via K5PS, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS, QRZ com Log Book.
Ads for direct QSL:
SCOTT W DAVIS, 6908 GOLD ST, GREENVILLE, TX, 75402, USA.
Belize
Belize is a Caribbean country sandwiched between Mexico and Guatemala. It is slightly larger than the Ivanovo region, but has a population three times smaller: just over 300,000 people. In every sense, it is a typical Central American country with some local flavor.
Belize. Author - Bill B..
What Belize lives on
The Caribbean basin cannot be called a rich region of the world, and Belize is no exception in this regard. The country is very poor, which is evident not only from statistical indicators (less than $5,000 GDP per capita), but also from the state of its infrastructure and cities. There are almost no paved roads, so during the rainy season, most of the country is inaccessibThe main sector of the economy is agriculture, which accounts for two-thirds of exports. Belize supplies bananas, citrus fruits, sugar, and timber to the world market. Imports are typical for developing countries: equipment, electronics, medicines, food, and beverages. Another major source of income is tourism. Every year, hundreds of thousands of travelers visit Belize for a cheap vacation.
It is worth noting that Belize is one of the world's offshore zones, and one of the most unregulated — the authorities do not require any reporting or tax payments. The cosmopolitan nature of Belize is also evident in the fact that US dollars can be used without any problems throughout almost the entire country. However, this is more of a necessary measure, given the importance of tourism for the budget.
In recent years, Chinese capital has been actively entering the country. Almost all shops and restaurants are already owned by Chinese. This is due to the political stability of Belize — in the sense that nothing has changed in the country for decades. The country is governed by a parliament headed by the prime minister under the formal authority of the British crown.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - Amazilia tzacatl, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize. Author - Paul Jones.
How Belize lives
Despite their obvious poverty, the country's inhabitants demonstrate a typically Latin American attitude to life. There is a relaxed atmosphere here: people walk or sit in the streets, no one is in a hurry, no one tries to bite off more than they can chew. Probably the main reason for this is the paradise climate. Why stress when the average annual temperature is 24 degrees Celsius and the sea is a stable 23 degrees?
The largest city in Belize is also called Belize, and has a population of 70,000. Until recently, it was also the capital of the country, but regular hurricanes constantly flooded the city, so after only a century and a half, the capital was moved further away from the sea. Now the main city is Belmopan, a compound word from “Belize” and “Mopan” (the name of the river in the city). About 15,000 people live there.
In Belize, black people predominate, the reason for this being the active importation of slaves from Africa in past centuries. Over the centuries, Africans have mixed with Latin Americans and Indians, creating a very diverse population. Although English is the official language, only half of the population speaks it, and even then it is quite difficult to understand them due to their specific dialect. The rest speak Spanish and Indian languages.
One of the problems of Belize is the high crime rate. There are many murders, robberies, and thefts here. You can understand this just by walking through the streets — in the city center, all the windows are closed with bars or solid iron shutters. Only further from the center do houses have no windows or proper doors, but only because there is nothing to steal there. When darkness falls, peaceful residents stay at home, and even taxi drivers do not risk showing themselves on the streets.
Belize. Author - Jim Mitchem.
What's interesting in Belize
Tourists come here to sunbathe, swim in the warm sea, and admire the stunning nature. It is cherished and nurtured here — more than a third of the country's territory is occupied by national parks and nature reserves. There is almost no industry in Belize, so nature is largely pristine and unspoiled. A great variety of animals, birds, and plants attract biologists from all over the world.
Another treasure of Belize is its historical heritage in the form of a large number of Mayan monuments. Stone pyramids and other buildings are open to visitors, and what's more, you can freely climb them and explore them from all sides. But under no circumstances should you take anything from there with you, as you could be fined or even imprisoned for doing so. Incidentally, the Maya Indians still live in Belize today, making up almost 10% of the population.
The cities are of little interest to travelers. They are built in a typical colonial style: dense development of wooden houses. The only interesting thing to note is that newer houses are built on stilts — this is necessary due to frequent flooding. It is also common to see signs warning that this area will be flooded during a hurricane.
As is often the case in poor countries, the population is very religious, with various sects, cults, and non-traditional movements being popular here. Religious symbols, propaganda slogans, and drawings can often be seen on the streets.
An underestimated value
Belize has been very unlucky historically: no attempt was even made to develop it as a full-fledged colony. Even the exploration of the country's territory was started by pirates — they built settlements and bases for raids on the coast. Therefore, by the time of independence, the country had an underdeveloped infrastructure and economy
When planning a visit to Belize, it is necessary to take care of vaccinations — the tropical climate is an ideal environment for infections. It is also important to remember that it is better not to travel around the city without a guide, and at night it is not worth leaving the hotel grounds at all. If you follow these simple rules, you can have a wonderful rest in Belize, both physically and mentally, and for little money.
