PM Explains Opinion Change on Safe Third Country Proposal

The Government of Belize is still in talks with the United States over a controversial proposal, the Third Safe Country Agreement. If Belize signs on, it will mean that migrants deported from the U.S. could apply for asylum here instead of returning to their home countries. The idea has sparked debate. The Opposition is questioning whether the recent two-hundred-and-fifty-million-dollar Millennium Challenge Corporation grant from the U.S. is influencing these negotiations. Initially, Belize wasn’t too keen on the plan. But now, discussions are underway, and the big question is: how soon will we know the outcome?

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think shortly.  I think within a month. So it shouldn’t take long. And again, it’s nothing to be excited about. It’s simply whereby the United States, since they’re getting rid of all of these people, you need to put them somewhere after giving them the opportunity to decide, okay, where is it that they want to go. Maybe many of them can’t go back to their country because of political persecution, gang activities, whatever it is. And so they’re giving them an opportunity. Say, okay, I would like to go there. There’s this list of countries. Yeah, and then the country then also set a certain criteria. We want to set a criteria more like a job program whereby people with certain qualifications can come to Belize. And so if the economy be able to participate meaningfully in our economy, obviously we’re saying that we want people who beta speak Spanish or English, and we prefer they be from the Caribbean or Central America. We’re not going to open up to the whole world that they can come. We can decide which regions were prepared to take countries.”

 

Reporter

“What made you change your mind? Because in January you had a very hard line. Last question, I promise. You had a very hard line against being a safe third country.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Yes. Because back then they were just talking about dumping people in your country. This time around, they’re telling us differently and also they’re also going, the United States will help financially, in trying to settle these people in the country. So it’s far different than what was presented to us back in January. So that is why I changed my position.”