It became increasingly clear that Belize had more international support and a stronger case, hence the talk of independence which had existed since self-government in 1963.
By contrast, the newly formed Opposition United Democratic Party wanted the claim settled before proceeding to Independence.
In the general elections of 1979, the PUP won and the seeds of the Constitution would begin to fall into place.
In 1980, the United Nations and Organization of American States both called for Belize's independence by the end of 1981.
January 31, 1981 saw a White Paper issued by the Government that began discussions on the proposed Independence Constitution.
Despite March's hostile reception of the Heads of Agreement, a Constitutional Conference was held in April and by July the details were approved by the reigning monarch, paving the way for an Order of Independence to be issued by July 31 and debated in Parliament by August 10.
[3] This later provision was criticized for allowing the sale of Belizean passports to foreigners who had never resided in Belize, and was repealed in 2001.