It is proposed to amend the Constitution of Belize to enable all our Belizeans who are citizens of another country to run for public office, except for those who are citizens of a country which does not recognize that Belize is a sovereign state.
A Bill to this effect has been introduced into the House of Representatives and is now at the Committee stage of the legislative process, which in democratic countries is a long and involved process, so that what is finally presented to the House for debate and passage might be much different from the original Bill.
For example, there are several countries which allow Belizeans to retain their citizenship after they become citizens of their adopted country by taking an oath of allegiance. And, there are citizens of foreign countries who become Belizeans by naturalization who are all asked to amend their citizenship of the country of their birth. And, there are persons who can claim citizenship of the country of their parents along with citizenship of another country through the accident of their birth. These individuals are not required to have similar allegiance to either of the countries of which they enjoy the rights of citizenship. The Bill makes no distinction between these citizens but I think we have to, because there is a certain country whose citizens share citizenship with Belizeans that is deserving of special consideration because of our history and experience.
A bit of history
On 10th September, 1931 while school children were enjoying their annual treat of pastries and lemonade after the St. George’s Caye Day celebrations march in the streets of Belize City were over, the first winds of a hurricane without a name sent them scurrying home. The hurricane of ’31 raged for 16 hours or thereabouts and left the City and its inhabitants in almost total isolation. The first ship to arrive with relief supplies, food, blankets, clothing etc. was a destroyer of the United States Navy. The ship’s company gave invaluable assistance to the government in the early days of rehabilitation.
By that time, knowledge of opportunities in America had already reached British Honduras through the sailors engaged with the ‘smuggling’ trade, who visited Tampa, New Orleans and other cities in Southern U.S.A., which led to the beginning of migration of our countrymen to America seeking employment. When these migrants came home on visits to record their experiences of the wonders of living in the big cities, the love of America became irresistible, especially to the young and adventurous, and movement to El Norte increased and continues to this day.
Since the movement of liberation from colonial status began in 1950, America has been like a shining beacon and a home away from home to a large number of Belizeans, even though most of them have never been there. How else can you explain the fact that the supporters of the movement, whenever they marched in the streets of Belize City, sang at the top of their voices “God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home”?
We should never forget that when hundreds of Belizean families were homeless after Hurricane Hattie destroyed Belize City in 1961, it was America that welcomed them to its shores and gave them comfort and solace.
Over the years the migrant population of Belizeans living in the cities of New York, Chicago, Detroit and the States of Louisiana and Florida has grown to a number over half as large as our resident population, many of whom have enjoyed the bounty of a more affluent society, and we have also benefited greatly from USAID and other developmental schemes sponsored by the USA as well as from the activities of its Peace Corps.
Revisiting these events should make us come to the realization that America has shown itself to be a good friend of Belize over the years and, that Belizean-Americans are a special breed amongst all other Belizeans with dual citizenship and, therefore, when we consider this Bill which proposes to confer the privilege of running for public office, they should not all be lumped together.