Do you support amnesty of 20,000 illegal immigrants?
Tonight’s Question is: Do you support GOB’s plans to grant amnesty to twenty thousand illegal immigrants? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote on our e-poll at channel5belize.com. You can also send an email with your comments to questions@channel5belize.com.
No, I do not support this, and we should be careful! the changes happening are not for the best. We have to start looking ahead to 20 – 30 years down the road at what kind of society we will have and if it will be beneficial to Belizeans????
No, and I know and like some illegal immigrants. But since they are not here legally and registered, how do we know there are only 20,000? Anyway, everyone should follow the law. And Belize needs JOBS, not more mouths to feed.
No. Do we have jobs & the resources to absorb them into our system?
People are people no matter where there choose to live-however if Belize and this government
is intending to do amnesty then I say NO–This country is in too much turmoil and it can
suspend that law or wait-The people who require citizenship or documentation should be
allowed to transact and live peacefully in the country until we can make it LEGITIMATE–There is
too much on the table -BESIDES THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND IT’S MINISTRY IS SEEN AS
DISEASE , a very bad crew AND CANCEROUS–WHICH MUST BE CUT OUT. BELIZEANS GET
THEM.
We all want to go somewhere where we can make a better living. Belizean go to other country and want to become resident so i have no problem for others to come to Belize. What we need is to get their criminal record and if any one of them commit a crime then immediate expulsion just the way America does it. All those that get in trouble with the law need to go back to their country. Check for sickness and if any contiguous disease NO amnesty and if they have a history of drugs arrest then NO as they will be followed to Belize and have others in danger.
They should screen them. the people who are here for long with an education they should go ahead. why no one complains of the number of chinese and hindus living here? how about the murderes, rapist that travel from the US? no they white they want to keep them. screen all of them and see the background. these are the poeple that do the jobs our own belizeans dont want to do.
Of course not, this government is so desperate for cash that they will do any thing for short term gain. Our infrastructure is already streched to the limit or in some cases cannot handle the present population, worse with additional people. I agree that these people are already here, but are not fully integrated into Belizean society and as such do not benefit from our services. Also government does not have a system in place to screen or sort out the good from the bad; it is just asking for trouble in the future. Let the Belizeans decide this situation as it also affects our national security.(no joke on this)
I agree with Stephen. Screen them.
Prophet Jorge Ernesto Babb IMAGINE A FORMER BRITISH NATION; BELIZE; WHERE THE ALMIGHTY WHITE SUPREMACIES TEN ALMIGHTY GODS OF EVIL AS SPANIARDS; ROMANS; COLUMBUS; VATICAN POPE DECLARE; BELIZE AND ALL OF CENTRAL AMERICA IS FOR SPAIN AND PORTUGAL; BECAUSE COLUMBUS DISCOVER THIS NEW WORLD FOR SPAIN; THEREFORE THE BRITISH EMPIRE IS A MYTH; FRAUD; ET…C! BUT THE ALMIGHTY WHITE SUPREMACIES TEN ALMIGHTY GODS AS KING GEORGE; THE BRITISH BAY-MEN; THE BISHOPS; HER ROYAL HIGHNESS QUEEN OF OUR LORD GOD JESUS SPIRITUAL SALVATION OF TRUE LOVE AND PEACE; VICTORIA; *SOWN UNTO THE ALMIGHTY GOD POPE TO SHOW; SHOW US THE BRITISH EMPIRE; WHERE GOD JESUS OR ADAM SIGN A >WILLONLY<BLESSED TEMPLES OF OUR GOD CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD SPIRITUAL SALVATION OF EVERLASTING WISDOM; UNDERSTANDING; TRUE LOVE AND PEACE! WAKE UP BELIZEAN CREOLE SEED; GOD JESUS CAME LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT 13TH JANUARY 2007-3000!
I’m in support of Amnesty as long as it’s done correctly, two years living in Belize is the first thing wrong, it should be at least five years and longer. Does our Government have the finances to do a background check on the person applying for Amnesty ? Hopefully when they say a background check that includes from the country they originated from. Not to be bias against anyone there are a lot of Haitians living in Belize now, I hope one of the factor is that these people will be screened for the AIDS virus. Our Government needs to send out a press release letting the public know the reason Amnesty will be given to these people. Lastly the Government needs to prove to the public that anyone being granted Amnesty will be substainable and will not be a burden on our country financially.
I TOTALLY AGREE TO THIS…GIVE PEOPLE THE RIGHTS THAT THEY DESERVE TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE..SAME AS MANY BZEANS GO ALL ABOUT LIVING IN OTHER COUNTRIES…AND WE WOULDNT WANT THEM TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. PEOPLE WITH MONEY GET THEIR NATIONALITIES SO FAST BECAUSE MONEY TALKS, AND IVE PERSONALLY SEEN THIS…WHY NOT GIVE AMNESTY TO THE ONES WHO CANT GET IT LIKE OTHERS??? I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL GO AHEAD WITH THAT PLAN!!
My family moved to Belize in 1980 leaving everything behind and I am very proud of their decision. I was only 2 years old. We got residency in Belize in 1985 and eventually Belizean citizenship. My family started with nothing in Belize and have WORKED very hard to get where we are now. I am a law abiding and hard working individual with great aspirations. I will be graduating from the University of Belize in January 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Belize is a beautiful country with so many opportunities and is my home. Life is much better here than in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala in my own view. I believe that we must consider the following regarding “issuance of documents to illegal immigrants”:
1. Many Belizeans have relatives in the US mainly that have overstayed their time. I am certain that it is their hope that their loved ones get documented sometime. And we feel they should have a right to get legalized especially with children born there. US is trying to deny citizenship to the children born there to illegal immigrants which I do not support.
2. A large number of these illegal immigrants in Belize are doing the menial jobs similarly to the situation with illegal immigrants in the US. If these illegal immigrants are thrown out, it will have a heavy impact on the economy. Look south: its mostly immigrants you will find reaping oranges, involved in banana industry etc.
3. These illegal immigrants have been in Belize for quite sometime and more than likely have offsprings that were born in Belize.
We must do:
1. Screen as it has rightly been pointed out in previous comments.
2. Make it transparent.
3. Do the background checks because I know for a fact we have criminal elements among them. This is a treat to our own security and if we don’t address it, they can contribute to social unrest similar to other Central American countries, namely gangs, extortion, and other grave crimes. We all know that there are MS-13s and 18s in Belize. I say, find them, if they are illegally or legally here, deport them before they get out of control. Gangsters are parasites that refuse to work and live off crimes.
My humble view.
4.
I can’t answer this question because I do not know enough about illegal immigrants in Belize. Is there any research available?
At least this government is telling us about their proposal to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants. I believe the PUP administration did all this under the table without even lettting us know about it.
I do not support! WOW 20,000 FAR too much – Roots Belizeans are far out numbered. In our country sooner than later we will not be able to identify our Roots? Who will take this blame?
I believe Immigration Department needs URGENT reform. Why are there so much illegal immigrants in this country, Minister of Immigration get off your seat and give your senior managers some work, if you know that there are 20,000 illegal immigrants then you know where to find them get rid of some of them. This might be a social issue that is affecting our young belizean black brothers who are out there killing each others (because cannot get job so they are idle) The recommend that the Government must first consider the following:
1. Do an arrest and deport the illegales; starting immediately
2. 20,000 will hurt our health, education, social security (to name only a few) of our systems
3. Are these people tested for diseases?
4. Will these people be put in HARMONYVILL to live? Where will they get land (this will be another issue)? Young born-here Belizean cannot even get a house lot to build a house under this administration.
I have a strong view that this has to do with gaining mileage for upcoming general elections. No way, I do NOT support this Programme.
What happen to our Concerned Belizeans Movement (wake up). We need to stand up for this injustice.
This proposal that the gv’t is doing sounds good for the illegal people living in this country. Hey, be careful because this can be a strategy the gvt is planning to utilize to win the coming elections.
I beg to defer with you Belmopan. Our black brothers refuse to do hard work for $20bz a day. They refuse to sell vegetables, fruits and other goods because the money is made slowly.
They prefer the fast money, drugs and other illegal activities. Its black killing black….Don’t get me wrong, Im not saying that all our black brothers as like that but what is rigth is right. They can go south to reap orange or north to cut cane. Go and take a visit there. How many black brothers you see doing that kind of work? Just a few. The truth shall set you free. Its not about color…its time to change our culture.
I would differ with “Belmopan”, our black men refuse to work hard. Just the other morning while listening to the morning show on lovefm i heard a young man state “I would rather steal $18 from someone who worked for the $18 instead of working for it. ” Im sorry that our blackmen or belizeans per say would rather that than work for it. I totally agree with the amnesty i just hope its not for votes only.
Naturalized Belizean says:
My family moved to Belize in 1980 leaving everything behind and I am very proud of their decision. I will be graduating from the University of Belize in January 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Belize is a beautiful country with so many opportunities and is my home. Life is much better here than in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala in my own view.
THANK YOU FOR A REFRESHING and POSITIVE LOOK AT BELIZE.
MANY OF US SHARE YOUR VIEW AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
I have a strong feeling, and I do believe that it has been mentioned above, everything is wrong, as long as it does not concern family. Belize should not grant amnesty, that is wrong,(it is not your family receiving) USA should not be so strict with immigration ((legal or illegal) it is probably your family receiving). what happened to do unto others as you would have others do unto you?
I agree with Naturalized Belizean as well as Concerned_differing. The whole world is changing. What the government needs to do is start concentrating of improving our infrastructure and also start working on developing the productive sector. I am sure many of these people have talent that we can utilize. Many are farmers and are also self sufficient and even add to the agriculture sector.
OK PROPHET BABB I AM TIRED OF YOUR ROYAL/HIGHNESS CRAP THE ONLY ROYAL AND HIGHNESS IS GOD ALMIGHTY. SORRY PEEPS I AM JUST SO FED UP WITH THIS GUY HE IS NUTTS SUCH A BIG FAKER THE BIBLE SPEAK OF PEOPLE LIKE HIM WHO WILL MISLEAD THOUSANDS TO THEIR DEATH.( FALSE HOPE, FALSE TEACHINGS, FALSE PROPHETS) DO NOT BE MISLEAD PEOPLE READ YOUR BIBLE DAILY IF U DON’T UNDERSTAND IT GET HELP.
1st they have 33 Chinese nationals into Bz coming from Haiti-Cuba when the Int’l Airport shoud be closed for business. The Chinese are given visas to enter the US with visas alotted to Belizeans to travel to the US. They start suspending Immigration Ofcrs, as we delve into the investigation we find Directors & Nat’l Security Minister involved in the scandal, but didn’t come forth and said they knew about it. If it wasn’t for a few who wanted to know the truth and kept asking questions, the story would have ended there.
Now, there is this MADNESS about wanting to give AMNESTY TO 20,000. Common now, Belize is NOT FOR SALE. I heard they had charged $4000. to become a resident, WHAT SORRY PEOPLE WE HAVE IN GOVERNMENT. Belize doesn’t even have enough money to run it’s own country and yet they want to bring in more people. FOR WHAT? – To HELP INFLATE WITH CRIME RATE & TAKE AWAY PEOPLE’S PROPERTY TO GIVE TO GIVE IT TO THEM.
Learn from the US, they are building borders along anything that is MEXICO to stop illegal entry. 29% of FELONS IN US PRISONS ARE CRIMINAL ALIENS, FAILURE TO FIX THE BORDER HAS ALLOWED 595,000 VIOLENT CRIMANALS & ALIENS now threatening the cities, suburbs, and rural communities. IS THIS YOUR IDEA OF A BETTER BELIZE?. So, if you are angry at the ARROGANCE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS who REFUSE TO REPRESENT YOU, if you’re fearful for the SURVIVAL OF FREEDOM, Gov’t does all it can to STEAL & DESTROY IT & YOU WANT A BZ as free & safe for your kids as it was for us, then REGISTER YOUR ANGER & OUTRAGE WITH THE ULTIMATE ACT OF PATRIOTIC DEFIANCE.
Send them a MESSAGE THEY CANNOT & WILL NOT IGNORE, AS WE FACE THIS UNCERTAIN FUTURE, THIS IS WHEN WE MUST STAND TOGETHER AND SAY, ‘HELL NO” .
dont support it, the government is all about money and they are not worried about their own belizeans
If they don’t know who came through our port of entry and dont have any leads of the were about and who these people are. How in hell they are planing to give residency to these 20,000 people. How well they determine there back ground.
What is the alternative? Yes we will reluctantly have to give amnesty to all these people and then close our borders. Over the past 15 years successive governments have let in so many people that it would be difficult to find some of these people. This is what has keep the wages in Belize low and so the business community enjoys having these people here. The local won’t want to work for $20 a day, but the illegal immigrants will do just that. It is about time we think about raising the salary of people in Belize likewise. My goodness I really can’t understand anyone discussing that a man should be keen to work for almost 8hours and earn $2.5/hr? You tell me can you truly say you feel valued earning that kind of money. No one can buy a drink for that amount of money but we expect that we will pay that to a human being to support his/her family. Yet we wonder why they don’t want the job and turn to crime? I am not for one minute condoning crime but we’ve for too long devalued people, and condoned slave labour. It is time to stop.
Amnesty? It would be hypocritical of Belizeans who start shouting against this because many benefitted from amnesty in the US. If it means that these people will come forward and we can document all these people then it is a good idea. I also hope it means that if anyone found without the right documents after the time period? Then they will be deported to their respective country.
Radical belizean.you are dam right,how many belizeans are illigal in the USA crying to OBAMA and angry with him because they can get papers?now that this people have been living in belize for many years,and have children born in belize.they want to do away with them?what a injustice to them,hope they dont do what the US to do to poor american kids,deport their loves ones.
RadicalBelizean. In El Salvador, people earn US$5/day. For your information, the minimum wage in Belize is now $3 per hour which yields $24 minimum per 8-hour day.
If a man cleans a regular yard for $25 (with a weadeater and he manages to clean 3 yars per day, he earns $75. If he spends $30 in fuel, he ends up with $45 income per day. Now, tell me who will be mostly the one to come around to clean your yard? The Spanishman or immigrant. Why can’t the creole man do likewise? There are so manay opportunities in Belize. We just need to find them and take them up proudly.
We have no end of Salvadorans knocking on borders to get in the country because $5US/day is no money for an adult to provide appropriately for his/her family. I calculated $2.5/hr based on your suggestion of $20/day being acceptable. You tell me, if you try giving your child $3 to go to school for lunch or go out with their friends, watch their reaction. I bet you that you wouldn’t want $3/hr but you think another human being deserve to be paid that. A labourer (a Belizean born and bred) who has worked for me, he to suggested a price and we negotiate, that is how people feel valued – $3/hr unacceptable.
I am not interest in what an immigrant is willing to be paid. My argument is that as long we have immigrants from wherever taking home money for a bag of peanuts literally then the business community will continue to enjoy slave labour and people will continue to feel devalued and most definitely will turn to crime to support their family. This problem is not unique to Belize, all over the world this problem exist. In America the mexicans cause no end of ill-feelings because they are willing to work for little money but they could afford to do that because they would live eight-ten people in a house which cuts down on their cost of living. The salary in Belize have hardly moved in the past 20years for labourers/domestic staff and this is a direct cause of immigrants. However I don’t think that is your concern as you seem quite comfortable with this situation. In the meantime, you can shout from your ivory tower who needs to do what. Others with a conscience and know that it is wrong, will continue to fight for the little guy.
Amen to RadicalBelizeans last comment. I say hell no to blanket amnesty. And to all those making comments about what the US is doing with allowing illegal Belizeans in with amnesty; well what the U.S do is the problem of the U.S. If you haven’t noticed we are living in Belize not the US and since that is the case we do not have the man power nor the finances that the US has to A:) Fight crime B:)Weed out terrorist out of all the illegals here C:)Fight against the influence of foreign born gangs that are influencing our youth….. and the list could go on and on. The police don’t even know how to secure a crime scene and you say you want to give blanket amnesty to some 20,000 illegals. I say we need to get our sh*T together before we start telling everyone that they can come and stay if they don’t like their own country.
All I have to say is why are people fleeing from wealthy/better off countries to come to our humble Belize, when native born Belizeans are fleeing to find better opportunites and those who are here can’t find job opportunities because mexican willing to work for 2cent fo pick orange. That argument that illegals do the jobs that belizeans don’t want to do is lame and clearly torn from the book of bullsh*tology.