Seminar focuses on migrants in Belize
Whether the cause is famine, hurricane, earthquake, economics, or just plain “head tek”, people are on the move as never before…and Belize is no exception. How those moving masses are dealt with was the subject of a seminar today at the Radisson. Ann-Marie reports.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
With the 2000 population census reporting thirty-two thousand people living in Belize who are foreign born, the issue of migration is quite literally here to stay. Today, the Human Rights Commission of Belize organised a one-day workshop to discuss the issues impacting on migration in Belize.
National co-ordinator, Mario Gamero, says Belize is the only Central American country which jails illegal immigrants. It’s a policy she does not support.
Maria Gamero, Nat’l Co-ordinator, Human Right Commission
“The migrants who are caught in Belize are charged with a criminal offence and are taken into the prison. And they are at prison where they have to mix with all the other criminals. I think it’s unique…I say unique because no where else the migrants are treated in that way. I don’t know if it’s a complaint or what, but what I’m saying is that migrants are not criminals.”
Several government and non-government organisations were invited to participate. However, the department most needed was noticeably absent–immigration.
Maria Gamero
“It’s not easy to work on migration issues in Belize. It’s something like we know it is there, we know we have the problems and yet we do not want to deal with the issues. And we have been saying it around…because for example we had invited, they said yes they were coming and we needed to know what the process was. And that was, and that was what I was hoping that they would bring, what the process is on migration. Because we can’t say this, we can say that, but the ones who are implementing are the ones who can actually state what is happening.”
And while it’s easy for Gamero to say illegal immigrants should not be kept in prison, section thirty-seven of the Immigration Act states that if a person is in custody under this said act, but is not serving a sentence of imprisonment, he/she may be detained either in her Majesty’s Prison or in any place appointed by the minister, but if detained in prison he/she shall be treated as a person awaiting trial.
Gamero is hoping that at the end of today’s seminar they can come up with basic guidelines as to how undocumented immigrants should be treated while they await deportation or case review.
Maria Gamero
“They’re living conditions should be, I wouldn’t’ say rich, but at least decent, clean, food. I believe they should have the basics, health care, where they can have a place where they have proper health, deal with their own body.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“So who will police the convention now to make sure that the government do what it signed on to do?”
Maria Gamero
“I think that once government signs they are the ones responsible. Our role as civil society is to check see that these commitments are followed, and that we also contribute in helping.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
At today’s seminar the Human Rights Commission presented the participants with regional guidelines for the protection of human rights, which Gamero hopes the different organisations will follow in executing their duties.
