During my first visit to Belize in 2000 we traveled the mainland by car and spent every nite in a different city/town.This comprized the first week there.
All we saw were very healthy happy children!The only encounter with "begging" was from a well fed looking 6-7 year old looking for small change in front of the main grocery store in BC.
None of that existed in AC for the next 8 days.
I don't know if you've ever been to Mexico, but that is no comparison to Belize! All i ever saw there was plenty of "begging" by children and adults.
The closest to begging by adults on AC was a local bummin Belikin! But so did my travelin companions !!
It's a wonderful place to visit with your eyes wide open..........Richard