Fonseca Defends CARICOM Free Movement Agreement

Voices are clashing over Belize’s decision to join a free movement agreement with several CARICOM nations. On Tuesday, Lead Opposition Senator Patrick Faber slammed the Briceño Administration, claiming the move could cost Belizeans their jobs and push locals out of the workforce. But tonight, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca is firing back. He says this agreement is about opportunity, not just for our Caribbean neighbors, but for Belizeans too. According to Fonseca, free movement, done within the bounds of our laws, gives people the chance to work, grow, and thrive across the region.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“That is absolutely misguided, misinformed. What Belize has done along wit Barbados, Saint Vincent and Dominica is enter into a transition period. So over a three-year period, starting October of this year, Belize will begin the process of implementing the laws and regulations which governs free movement. This is something that both governments, both PUP and UDP has over the years advanced, promoted and advocated for. Our accession to this free movement was approved by Cabinet several years ago. So we are following from that. It is limited to those four countries because it is based on reciprocity. It has to do with skilled labor and free movement of people. We already have a regime in place called CSME where people can apply for CSME skill certificates. So, that is all we are doing, advancing this, and we are proud members of CARICOM. Our  brothers and sister deserve the opportunity, as do Belizeans, to travel to these different countries and follow the internal domestic laws of those countries to live and work in those countries, there is nothing wrong with that.”