Mennonite men clearing forest, and a group of Mennonite children of Shipyard, 1959
Mennonite families averaged six to eight children. Their school years involve seven grades. Mennonite children also learn practical agricultural and homemaking skills from a young age.
The Mennonites of Shipyard
The Mennonite settlements in Belize were first established by settlers from Mennonite colonies in the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico. Early in 1957 a delegation from the Mennonite churches in Chihuahua, Mexico conducted preliminary negotiations with the colonial government of British Honduras.
A number of factors prompted the desire of the Chihuahua Mennonites to migrate out of Mexico. They wanted to expand their farm acreage but the native Mexican landowners refused to sell them more land. Additionally, the federal government of Mexico decreed that the Mennonites must accept the Mexican social security system. Given these constraints, the Mennonites felt that the Mexican government would eventually cease to honor the agreements made in 1921 by Mexican President Alvaro Obregon who attracted them from Canada.
The government of British Honduras granted the Mennonites a number of concessions and exemptions including their requests to (1) practice their religion; (2) operate their own churches and schools using with their own teachers in their own German dialect; (3) be exempt from customary immigration deposits; (4) be exempt from any social security or compulsory system of insurance; (5) be guaranteed protection of life and property in peace and war for themselves and their descendants; and (6) move freely within, and enter and leave the country with their money and possessions. These terms were formally accepted in a signed agreement made in December 1957. Soon thereafter, large tracts of privately owned land were bought at reasonable prices in the colony.
The first contingent of Mennonites arrived in British Honduras from northern Mexico on March 12, 1958, and laid out three settlements: - Blue Creek and Shipyard in the Orange Walk District, and Shipyard in the Cayo District. A fourth smaller settlement was later established near the village of Dolores in the Toledo District but that eventually dwindled. The parent Mennonite colonies in northern Mexico originally shouldered a substantial share of the expenses of those new immigrants settling in Belize. By August 1959, the settlers of Shipyard (population of 409 persons) had cleared 760 acres of their 18,000-acre holding for pasture, vegetable plots, and basic staple crops.
These 1959 pictures show Mennonite men of Shipyard heading to work on their farm. Notice the forest in the background that they aim to clear. The second picture shows Mennonite children from Shipyard around the same time. Mennonite families averaged 6 to 8 children around that time.
Source: Bushong, Allen D. Agricultural Settlement in British Honduras: Geographic Interpretation of its Development. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. of Florida, Jan. 1961.
Before the Mennonites arrived, every Christmas time there was shortage of eggs. The Mennonites settled in an area that was known previously as Barton Ramie which was already cleared for growing ramie and bananas. They also settled in an area previously owned by Guy Nord. They were assisted financially and otherwise by Emory King and Guy Nord. Cornelius "Pat" Cacho, then a senior colonial civil servant in the Ministry of Finance, played a role in the settlement of the Mennonites. Netflix had an interesting series on the Mennonite settlement in Belize. They encountered many hardships in the early days but have now brought Belize to a better standing.
The now construct mobile homes at reasonable rates they also supply farming equipment at affordable prices and you can always depend on them whenever you need parts for your equipment. They can now get married to girls from outside their culture.
Currently Mennonites pay all income, GST and land taxes as well as all immigration fees. Only current exemption is social security fees but they don't receive social security benefits such as sick leave or pensions either.
Billboard Headlines April, 1960. The first Mennonites were admitted under the agreement on March 12, 1958.