BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 27, 2022 — Today, the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. John Briceño, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cuba are holding talks as a part of the activities scheduled for the PM’s official visit to the island nation. The PM left the country yesterday accompanied by a 5-person delegation consisting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon.Eamon Courtenay; Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Kevin Bernard; Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, Hon. Kareem Musa; Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Anthony Mahler; and C.E.O. in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Amalia Mai. He is scheduled to return on April 30, 2022.

A number of other activities are scheduled to take place during the Prime Minister’s visit, but, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one issue that has emerged as a priority area for the two nations is an upsurge in the number of Cuban migrants irregularly entering the country. Currently, there is a case before the Supreme Court of Belize that was brought by the Human Rights Commission on behalf of Cuban nationals who were facing deportation from Belize. The Human Rights Commission is claiming that those persons’ constitutional rights were denied by Belizean authorities following the imposition of fines and a removal order to return those persons back to Cuba, despite the fact that those persons indicated that they did not want to return to their home country.

The allegation against the government of Belize is that they were denied the right to seek asylum. However, many Cuban nationals are utilizing the refugee programs in the country to avoid repatriation to Cuba and instead are being handed over to Help for Progress, through which assistance is provided to them. Sixteen Cuban nationals were apprehended in early April by the Mobile Interdiction Unit. That case has been adjourned until May 6, 2022.

While the nature of the talks which will be held between the high-level Belizean delegation and officials from Cuba is still not clear, the ever-present problem of migration in the region continues to be a pressing matter, and fears are that more Cuban nationals may be using the country as a transit point to enter Mexico and ultimately the United States of America.

Belize, in an agreement with Cuba, has committed to sending back any Cuban seeking to enter Belizean via irregular means.

This visit to Cuba is taking place just before Cuba’s International Workers Day celebrations, which are to be held on May 1, but the Prime Minister is expected to return home before that date. The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples has said that over 800 foreign delegates will be in the country from April 30 (the last day of the PM’s trip) to May 2, to participate in forums designed to explain the impact of the over 60 + years US embargo, or El bloqueo, still imposed against the country.

Sources say that groups will participate in a protest march on May 2 and also a debate event in Havana.