Belize Introduces Immigration Amnesty
By Oscar Ramjeet, Special To CWNN
BELMOPAN, Belize - The government of Belize
has introduced a long term immigration
policy which includes an amnesty program.
Minister of National Security, Carlos
Perdomo, made the disclosure yesterday at a
swearing in ceremony at the George Price
Centre for 35 news citizens.
Perdomo said the move is to ensure that the
country legalizes and properly integrates
all those who called Belize home for many
years.
During the past five years, more than 6,300
persons were sworn in as Belizian citizens.
Last year, there were 1,549 new citizens
while in 2007 there were 1,614.
Most of the new citizens are from
neighboring Guatemala, Honduras, and El
Salvador but many Americans, British
Canadian and Chinese were also given
citizenship.
`We are truly a melting pot of incredible
peoples, languages, and cultures,` said the
minister. `These blessings are the
foundation on which we build with good
governance, transparency and
accountability.`
Friday's ceremony was conducted in the
height of the September celebrations in
Belize, which is celebrating its 28th
anniversary of independence from Britain. |
