Despite Haiti’s problems, regional governments must protect against smuggling scourge, says Minister of Foreign Affairs

Published by BBNTEAM at April 19, 2023

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Posted: Wednesday, April 19, 2023. 11:02 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Senator Eamon Courtenay refuted suggestions that efforts to turn away Haitians whose intent is to use Belize to reach the United States contravene Belize’s commitments under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, noting the efforts of other Caribbean countries to restrict travel from the crisis-stricken nation.

“First of all, in relation to Haitians, the Revised Treaty does authorize a government to do what we have done, that’s the first point – so we are in compliance with the Treaty. Secondly, a number of other CARICOM countries have restrictions in place in relation to Haitians. Thirdly, I just read in the media today, this morning, about the repatriation of Haitians from the Bahamas,” Courtenay said. The third point referred to a statement from the Government of The Bahamas which announced yesterday that it had sent back 259 Haitian nationals to Port-au-Prince from its airport in Nassau on Monday, including minors.

As Courtenay reminded, “Haiti is in a very terrible political, economic and social state and condition right now. Criminals are taking advantage of that situation to smuggle people into Central America, into the Caribbean, and using countries like Belize as a transit point to the United States,” a situation he said Belize will not tolerate and which he differed from the situation with Jamaica, which he said Government continues to monitor.

Belize is “concerned” about public order in relation to this issue and it is supported by the regional Heads of Government and by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which Courtenay said allows for countries to “opt out” of obligations made to the Revised Treaty and other regional bodies under this heading. He concluded Belize has firm legal footing on this issue.

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