New Belizeans agree that legal is better
With some nine hundred qualified applicants patiently waiting for their citizenship papers and hundreds, perhaps thousands more holding dearly and fearfully to their illegally purchased passports, Belize’s immigration situation stands at something of a crossroads. Today, government tried to signal that the road it would be taking in the future is the high one.
“I do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize and will uphold the constitution and the law of Belize…”
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This afternoon, the first of a series of swearing in ceremonies for new citizens of Belize was held in Belmopan. The twenty-three men and women come from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guyana, the United States, Switzerland, the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan…each of them at a different time in their lives, but all eager to become Belizeans.
This woman has been living in Belize since 1976, and was clearly excited to get her nationality certificate.
Belizean Citizen
“Yo lo bendiga a todos, gloria a Dios.”
Beverley Brown, Belizean Citizen
“All the while I felt like a Belizean, I never felt anything else, but a Belizean, even though I came from another Caribbean country. I worked in the community so I felt like a Belizean and people never associated me with being anything else but a Belizean. So I’m really at home.”
For new Belizean Beverley Brown, today’s ceremony was an important milestone for the nation.
Beverley Brown
“It gives the people who want to become Belizeans a sense of being a part of something special and not just anybody can come in a just be Belizean. I think it makes it something special to become a Belizean and Belizeans ought to be proud of it. I am proud of it.”
They have all lived in the country more than five years and endured what has become a painfully long process…but given the serious allegations levied at the Immigration Department in 2002, the applicants were very understanding.
Janelle Chanona
“Did they put you through the mill or you thought it was easy.”
Beverley Brown
“I went through the mill…and I think it was a good thing doing it that way, maybe they can even be a little bit stricter.”
Janelle Chanona
“How long have you been waiting for your papers?”
Jason Hsu
“Two years…I think it’s the right procedure to do that, to avoid the illegal papers to come out. And now we are restoring the integrity of the nationality of Belize, and I think that’s correct.”
Director of the Department of Immigration, Colonel Peter Parchue, says the swearing in is a symbol of the new ways things get done in Belmopan.
Colonel Peter Parchue
“I try not to wear the image of the past around the department’s neck like a yoke of burden. I try to learn from that experience and develop the department to something new in the future for someone to be proud of, the members of staff to be proud of. And if at any time there is anyone who would appears to be going on the side, then as a leader you need to call that person in, interview him and show him where such ways, if it is true, will take him. And it works.”
Working as replacement speaker for Minister of Immigration Ralph Fonseca was legal advisor Gian Ghandi. Ghandi encouraged the Belizeans to integrate into mainstream society.
Gian Ghandi, Legal Advisor, Immigration Dept.
“We are asking you to spread out in the country. Belize is a vast country, spread out in the country and live among the other Belizeans, so that you become a part of Belizean life.”
And by all accounts, young Jason Hsu has embraced that theory with both hands…
Janelle Chanona
“You learn any Creole in the time you are here?”
Jason Hsu
“No, I don’t speak Creole, but I can understand. But I hablo poqito Español, solo poquito.” (laughs)
The next swearing in ceremony is scheduled for August.
