American considering move to Belize in retirement

Judged:

1

Palidan wrote:

What can I expect in Belize? Are people friendly? Is it safe? How much money does it take to live comfortable? Are there many Americans living there? Is there good health care?

Been There--Never Again wrote:

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There is way too much crime in Belize. I lived there and was "jacked" everywhere, including my home several times. Everyone has their hand out--especially the law enforcement, which is completely and utterly criminal. I witnessed a lot of beauty there--but also four different cultures that despise one another, and one would not be off-the-mark to say it is so lawless there that it is like the wild, wild west. Go at your own risk--but believe me--you will get taken if you are American. The Government is totally against the American there--do not believe the propoganda. I went through their bogus "programs" for Americans, and they ripped me off over and over. Everyone--absolutely everyone--wanted paid off. It is the norm there, and everyone knows it. It is not just initially either--it continues and continues. Many (not all) Creole basically hate Americans unless you are giving something to them. If you stop giving them things, then that can become a huge problem, too. I am a physician, and I looked at the problems from many standpoints--but try as I might--I could not resolve the crime problem there on my own and had to leave. And don't get me started about how they treat their dogs there--it is acutely inhumane--and most dogs are skin and bones and starving to death. Usually, they regularly throw out poisoned meat to rid them from tourist view. I found many unsatisfied Americans there, yet most are reluctant to admit the real truth of Belize--lest their "dream in paradise" be shattered. I was one of them for a little while...until the obvious truth kept rearing its ugly head. BTW, crime is basically NOT reported in Belize. I was told many times that if I reported that they robbed me, that they would return and kill me. It was just terrible living with that fear. Oh, and the cost of doing business is known as "a boat a year". Meaning, if Americans want to make money off of "their country and their waters", then be prepared to pay up with some of your possessions. Which leads me to the biggest bitch about Belize--that you absolutely cannot leave your home unattended for even five minutes--as in to walk around in the woods near your house--because they watch you and wait until you are not looking to steal. You cannot go to town, out to the reef, or anywhere without someone staying in your home to oversee it. This does not mean you won't get "jacked" (robbed) anyway. They actually robbed me while I was giving them money and work--at the very moment I was handing them money for working (at much higher than they are used to getting), they had their children running around ripping me off. It is dreadful. I would never, ever suggest to anyone that they retire in Belize. They have massive social, political, and criminal problems that will need a lot of work to improve. No offense to anyone who lives there now--but I spent many years there and you know what I am saying is the truth.

diane wrote:

Wow where did you live? I travel to Belize 2-3 times a year and my family owns a home outside of Hopkins... Sorry for you bad experiences... I have only good things to say about Belize!

The TOURIST wrote:

I echo loudly the sentiments of Palidan! Belize culture, if you can call it that, is Anti American, at Best, with brutal cops who target every "White Person" for robbery, extortion, and as Palidan said, Murder. If you don't give to the criminal National police of this country of criminals they will take, first by sending in their drug addict thieves and if that doesn't work, they will set you up with planted evidence and Jail you, taking everything you have. This is an incestuous population that has a murder and violent crime rate 15 times higher that the Worst US inner city and a elected Dictatorship run by Allies of Chavez and Castro. You take your own life in your hands, just by visiting this Cesspool, Belizeans call the Jewel, let alone moving there. Besides the Creol being racist against White Americans the uncivilized Garifuna are far worse and control the Death Squads of the National Police! Drug Cartels control the Ministers. Beware of Belize.