American considering move to Belize in retirement

Machati wrote:

Belize is a lawless death trap for Americans. I have lived in Belize-and there is nothing great about Belize. Starting with the crime rate, rape, gangs, lack of security, drugs, the policeman on the street is your enemy, the government is a joke. If you want to move to Belize-good luck-you will need it.

Since you have traveled to this region of the world, is there a retirement destination for americans you would recommend? Costa Rica? Panama?

I have lived in Belize, and my family was chopped up. the police did nothing, they robbed us and killed . it is a terrible place to live.
drugs are everywhere as well as gangs.
Americans beware! its like we have a target painted on our backs, the police is out to get you.
I feel sorry for the americans there.
god bless

Just visited Belize...absolutely LOVE IT! Met several locals and they were all very friendly, helpful and not expecting anything but friendship. Visited inland and coastal islands. Prefer inland...away from tourist destinations...could live there in a heartbeat. Nice refreshing change from American culture! Heard all the bad publicity before going, and went anyway. Yes, there are some crooked cops...but those are everywhere, even here in U.S. Going back next year, and maybe someday for good if we could work it out. The only complaint I had was trash on the roadside...it is a lack of education only as there is no recycling program.

First I would like to say Belizeans DO NOT HATE AMERICANS....yes a few of you have had negative experience...I don't believe any one had a gun to none of your heads to stay...and 4 yrs one of you stated...could not have been all that bad...I forgot America is perfect...oops..my bad on the south side of Chicago a child cannot watch her own TV in her living room without been shot by a stray bullet...down in Florida...mother's killing thier child....police brutally...yummm I believe a cop name Burges is on trial in Chicago for beating confessions out of people..and let's not get on the crazy ex-governor...who loves the media...Belizeans don't like WHITE AMERICANS...Maybe {SOME} WHITE AMERICANS should rememeber that they are not in Alabama or some southern state and that BELIZEANS do not put up with bull-shit...regardless of who you are...maybe you expected to be treated like royalty...sorry about the poor woman who was rape on the bus....I recall a woman being rape in New York a few years back on the el and no-one coming to her aid...and I can bet some-one is being rape in America as I type and while you are reading this....but Belize is bad.....look in your own backyard before you complain about some one else.Go take a stroll in Detroit,Englewood C.A, South or West Side Chicago,The Bronx....and see what tune you will be singing then.The moral of the story is crime is every-where...Regardless of where you live you Mr.4 YEARS...you will be unhappy...cause from 2009 to 2010 you are still complaining...get over it and move on with your life...cause I am sure the people you encounter are not thinking of you.

Yes, some of these negative things are true and Belize City is pretty bad, but Belize is a beautiful country with many wonderful, friendly people. I think the reasons for not retiring there are more from an economic standpoint. IT IS NOT CHEAP TO LIVE IN BELIZE...if you are on a limited income, you need to look elsewhere. I happen to live in Mexico, but I also have a place in Belize. I leave staff there when I'm not around, as I do in Mexico and as I should have done in the States, because my place there was totally emptied while I was enjoying a night on the town. There are many disgruntled people looking for paradise, but until they deal with their own emotional issues they will never find peace anywhere. Poverty and unequal distribution of income is a problem worldwide.

I just love these post. One would get the idea that Belize is populated and governed by the worst scum of the earth that God had the bad judgement to create. Once visiting I heard some American?(or it could be Canadian) telling some tourists from Holland how some American catholic priest told him that Belizeans are the most dishonest people on in the world(this was about the same time the clergy pedophilia scandal was in the news)The gentleman said it was so because he had his house broken into and his pots and pans stolen. There are problems in Belize. Problems that need attention yesterday. Is it paradise? No. Would I retire there if I were an American. I would check out the area I intend to settle really well before I make a move. Say like a year. Find out something about the people. And about these people who say Belizeans do not like Americans. One lady ask me that question once. I told her it depended on the American. I should have also said that it depended on the particular Belizean she meet.

Visit there yes, live there no, way to trashy, too much crime and yes you will take it up the rear if you are not very careful.

Darn

Belize - it works for some and not for others. One of the most important things to realise is that you will no longer have the "juice" you have in your pond back home. A lot of things are good in Belize and some are not. I've just written an article Top Ten Reasons To Live Or Retire In Belize that you may want to look at:

http://belize.com/top-ten-reasons-to-live-or-...

Ybnormal wrote:

All of you have quite realistic views of Americans.
Please let me know "How do Belizeans feel about Canadians"?
Thank you for all the info and your time.

My friend and I went there this past spring, and he was pistol whipped and beaten badly. the police are a joke.. they didnt even know how to take a real police report. The police ride around on bikes and dont carry guns, but the 16 year olds that are armed by the gangs carry guns and they dont think twice about killing you. Most people who were visiting in Belize city were canadian. The weekend we were there, 6 others were robbed and beaten, but not as badly as my friend. We got the hell out of that country that same day.(my friend who is 6'7 went for a walk at 930am after his coffee to do a little exploring and to go down to the ocean which was a 5-6 min walk from our hotel. he came back a mess and covered in blood for a ring on his finger. he had no cash on him, they never stopped to ask him if hes american or canadian) Im gladly living in Mexico.. I feel much safer and couldnt wait to return home. The bus ride from Belize city to the border was horrid. It was the longest trip ever... the entire way i felt as if something was going to happen to us for going to the police. I almost kissed the mexican army boys and the immigration guys at the mexican border. They say corruption is bad in mexico? I got news for ya... go to belize and youre putting your life at risk.

TBK
Belize City, Belize
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Nov 6, 2009 Judged:

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"Four races that despise each other?", "most Creoles hate Americans?" - give me a break! As a Belizean I can tell you we're the ones who should be complaining. Americans buy sic.(swindle) up all the land from poor desperate Belizeans, sell them at exorbitant prices that over 90% of the population would never be able to afford and then have the nerve to still complain about how "bad" they've got in Belize.
As for crime and corrupt cops I don't deny that they're out there but let's be realistic for a second - there are umpteens of Americans that go to Belize to set up drug smuggling operations, molest our kids and rape our natural resources. As far as I'm concerned if a few white trash get ripped off from time to time that's not injustice - that's our just desserts!

Was thinking of moving to belize as I've spend years dealing with locals while living in the Cayman Islands and St Thomas USVI. Read the negative comments from Americans but this post from a local reminded me of the true attitude of resentment. I'll just visit

I have traveled many places from the middle east to south east asia this place sounds like it really sucks I won't even give it a chance and I will pass on what I read don't give them any american money let them eat bugs and monkeys and od on the drugs also keep them out of the usa, next trip where blue eyes with blondes live keep the roches in the south

It has nothing to do with rascism, like everything else in the world it is always the same old same old: economics. it all comes down to it and all goes back to it always, absolutely, positively, guaranteed. The reality or actuality is that belize is no different than any other country in central america. Poverty is rampant, and with it comes economic problems. All one needs to do is look to the north in mexico. What is the difference there; drug cartels, murder, corruption, yada yada yada. It is not belize, it is honduras, guatemala, nicaragua, panama, AND BELIZE. No different in any of these impoverished countries. It will stop and ease a bit as more prosperity comes to belize. it will take time and commitment from government. granted corruption has always been fabric of belize, but no different than all carribean countries, and latin america.

Belize is a nice country. No more to be said in it's favor. Please consider the medical aspect. If you want anything near good medical care you must go to Mexico as the closest. Ok if you are in northern Belize. Do not go if you have any chronic disease, heart condition, or are prone to need good medical care soon. They say otherwise in their promotional ads, but you will not find adequate medical care there.

I have read all the posts and it seems like the real problem is people moving to an impoverished country and expecting things to be like living in the USA. If that is the case, why did they leave the USA. When moving to another culture, learn to live their culture. Yes be cautious, of course, but much of the violence toward people moving there is caused by a lack of knowledge. We have been looking into Belize as a possible retirement destination because we want to leave behind the problems we feel are here. We know there are problems, there is not a really perfect place on this earth. You give up one set of problems for another. Health care will be the telling point for us as we do have some medical issues to consider. Corruption, drugs, dirty cops, play to pay, that's Illinois!!!!

Ybnormal wrote:

All of you have quite realistic views of Americans.
Please let me know "How do Belizeans feel about Canadians"?
Thank you for all the info and your time.

realistic views about americans? First off your canadian,ill bet if you put a midwestern american in the same room as a canadian no foreigner could tell the differance. I get upset when people slam americans. its so awful were the most generous and compassionate country with our aid, and money. Or all the cash we generate in tourism when we visit countries that have a bad view towards us. Our government has its problems and some people live here and have views no country would want to claim, However what place in our world doesnt. BTW I dont think it matters what country you come from when being targeted for crime in belize or anywhere. criminals seek the easiest most vulnerable opportunity available.

scorn wrote:

I have lived in Belize, and my family was chopped up. the police did nothing, they robbed us and killed . it is a terrible place to live.
drugs are everywhere as well as gangs.
Americans beware! its like we have a target painted on our backs, the police is out to get you.
I feel sorry for the americans there.
god bless

this sounds like a load of crap. your from Baraboo im in racine. I would have heard of this one. you got issues man

i find it a shame that we cant all get along...on this plannet....
i love this plannet...
i love belize...

Well I live in Belize and will have to agree the place is a s**thole but don't anyone believe the bulls**t you read above. Some quite true to a point but come on "everybody hate each other" PLEASE. "Been there, never again" relates his tale of a home invasion robbery that lasted YEARS! What sort of stupid does it take to allow that to happen to oneself? Call the police. If the police do nothing report them (they won't be fired but at least surely transferred). Belize ain't for everyone. Most expats leave disallusioned. Live here at LEAST one year before investing!