Belize imposes new entry requirements for Haitian and Jamaican nationals

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The Belize government has announced new measures regarding the entry requirements into the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country for nationals from Haiti and Jamaica.

The John Briceno government said following a “thorough discussion” on the increasing number of visitors who are using Belize as a transit country to reach the United States, Cabinet has determined that Belize will invoke Article 226 (a) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs the 15-member regional integration movement of which both Jamaica and Haiti belong.

According to the government statement, invoking Article 226 (a) of the treaty would “allow for the Minister of Immigration to immediately impose a visa requirement for Haitians wishing to visit Belize and to require Jamaican nationals to provide evidence of fully paid non-refundable hotel reservations prior to boarding flights to Belize.

“In addition, a ministerial task force was set up to address the rampant smuggling occurring in this regard. The ministerial subcommittee will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration and will include the Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries and the Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations,” the statement said.

Both Haiti and Jamaica are signatories to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that facilitates the right to the establishment of businesses, to provide regional services, the free movement of capital and the coordination of economic policies.

It also allows for immigration arrangements for the free movement of people within the grouping.

CMC/

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5 COMMENTS

  1. Wait these people don’t hear of the open door policy in Antigua where all non nationals are loved and will be given permanent residency. Oh I forgot, it is the USA they want to be smuggled to.

  2. Come to Antigua…We allowed four full charter flights from Africa with zero restrictions and ended up with hundreds stranded migrants. Guess Who Is not taking any blame. If you said the government you are right. The policy makers

  3. Every Country knows what they are doing , Antigua on the other hand full of crap ANYONE CAN COME THEY DONT CARE WHO YOU ARE , JUST VOTE ALP THAT ALL.

    • @Every Country knows what they are doing.
      It’s been said Antigua now has a population of nearly 100,000 people. Can this be true? Also we hear born and bred Antiguans whose roots go deep in our land are outnumbered or soon will be by non nationals. Which othet Caribbean country would tolerate this imbalance in their population? None, I would say, except Antigua and Barbuda. Our politicians have always been and still are, soft in the head. The sting will be in the tail. Watch out!

  4. Any country that has an open door policy with certain countries are doomed to suffer. People with common sense know that you are not supposed to let certain people free access to your homes or it will be destroyed.

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