Opposition Leader Says American Concerned Over Immigration Challenges in Belize
At the adjournment of Friday’s House Meeting, Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow rose to share his concerns on the issue of human trafficking in Belize. The Briceño administration is on record saying that investigations have revealed information to suggest that a large number of Haitian nationals are being smuggled to the U.S through Belize. Barrow contends that there is a high level of complicity within the immigration department that is fueling this occurrence. Here is what he told us following the meeting. Prime Minister John Briceño also weighed in on the matter.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It is a mockery of reason to say that he was moved for administrative necessity and then turn around and admit to the public that immigration has a crisis. The fact that two thousand Haitians can disappear that is a crisis and that has to do with the immigration ministry. That is not just happening outside of the ministry of immigration.”
Reporter
“Experientially we know from past commission of inquiry that these things can happen with the complicity of just public officers.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“Or the minister, you should not take that off of the table.”
Reporter
“It does not mean that because something went wrong it is the minister’s fault.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“So, we have to have a thorough investigation to make that determination. Why is it that you run away from that possibility?”
Reporter
“You are very friendly with the Americans and I know that you are on a high level of information exchange with them, has there been any indication, I know they watch immigration very closely. Has there been any indication as to why the minister of State has been moved?”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“They are concerned as well, to my understating.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“The barefacedness and for him to come and make these aspirations in the National Assembly… The people that are currently working in the Immigration Department, who hired them? It is your government that hired them and madam speaker, so I am asking you, you name who you believe is causing all of this in the ministry. I need to remind him that I never heard him ever criticize the previous government with the Haitians when they were required to have a visa to come into this country. It was over government that lifted that restriction so that they could come freely. But now that they are coming freely madam speaker we have said it over and over, we have seen signs that there is some form of human trafficking in Belize. You have these people there are websites in Haiti in the DR where they are advertising to the Haitians, taking advantage of these poor people, telling them that they can come to Belize and once they get to Belize there are people there that will facilitate them all the way to the border of the United States of America.”
