How Much Do Belizeans Know About Free Movement?

While CARICOM’s Free Movement of Persons officially took effect on Wednesday, questions remain about whether Belizeans fully know the details of this agreement. The government says it is committed to ensuring the public is informed, but opposition leaders, like Senator Patrick Faber, are calling for greater outreach. In countries like Barbados, the Prime Minister held a press conference to inform citizens, but Belize had no such event. Senator Faber challenged the media to hit the streets and see if Belizeans truly know what this new step entails, and that’s exactly what we did.

 

Reporter

“Do you know what the CARICOM Free Movement is?

 

Belize City Resident 1

No Ma’am.”

 

Belize City Resident 2

“I haven’t heard about it. If I want to travel over there, I’ll need my visa and passport to go over there.”

 

 

 

Belize City Resident 3

Not sure. Not quite.”

 

 

 

 

Belize City Resident 4

“CARICOM Free Movement. No.”

 

 

 

Belize City Resident 5

“Well its like an open border for them to travel and work, study. It’s a good opportunity them as well as its for us.”

 

 

 

 

Belize City Resident 6

 “That sounds like a scientific thing miss, what are you telling me about?”

 

 

 

 

Belize City Resident 7

“Well it’s very challenging for Belize because first of all, if you do a crime, you could migrate to any Caribbean countries or vice versa. So here in Belize I would take it as it has its advantages and disadvantages. A good advantage would be if you are a business person and you want to go to any Caribbean countries and want to promote your business, that would be very good. But we want system to be set up for crime, because with a wide country of crimes, we want to see crimes deplete. And also for this back and forth with the Caribbean and Belize and other countries and you could do crime and run to their countries we want that to be fixed. You know, got something in place for that. For the business aspect, it would promote Belize and we would promote other islands. So In that way, it’s good. So I look at it both ways. So that’s my opinion.”