Did Belize send back stowaways too fast?
Three Haitian boys who stowed away on a freighter that landed in Belize on Thursday are back aboard and headed home. The ship left the Belize City Port sometime today after the two fourteen year olds and one twelve year old were carried back to the vessel. They had attempted to come ashore by hiding inside the hull of a barge carrying containers from the ship. But while out of sight may be out of mind, there are voices in the community who feel that the boys, were treated unfairly. Rick August of Help for Progress, represents the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Belize.
Rick August, Help for Progress
“Usually when information come to you of that nature and particularly because they were dealing with minors, you have to do more close interviews. Sometimes what is necessary, the stowaways may need counselling and you have to professionally get down to the matter to try and get true story. We were told they were not seeking political asylum in Belize, that was not their desire and they didn’t express an interest in political asylum. But we have to as an agency responsible for protection, we have to be assured that was the case and we didn’t get that opportunity because we were not aware. It was not brought to our attention that this case arose in Belize.
Experience, not necessarily in Belize but in the region and elsewhere in the world, has shown that sometimes these stowaways are actually on these vessels against their will. In some instances, they have been used for illicit purposes. Sometimes they have been bribed to come on these vessels by telling them that they would for example be taken to the United States or somewhere where their livelihood would be better off. And they do, and when they get there, they’re actually being used to say the least. It is the obligation of states, the obligation of organisations like the United Nations and so to protect the lives of these people.”
Senior Immigration Officer Edwin Gillett told News 5 that it was his department’s responsibility to get the illegal immigrants back aboard the ship as soon as possible and it is the ship captain’s responsibility to ensure that his passengers return home. Gillett said that his officers were assured by the captain that the boys would be properly looked after and Haitian authorities have also been informed of the situation. According to August, his organisation has alerted counterparts in Puerto Cortez, the ship’s next stop, to check on the condition of the Haitians.
