On Friday, March 31, 2023, following the adoption of new immigration policies, the Government of Belize announced measures regarding the entry requirements into the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country for nationals of Haiti (and of Jamaica).

Prime Minister John Briceño said that faced the increasing numbers of visitors from these two countries using Belize as a transit country to try to enter the United States illegally, the Cabinet decided to invoke Article 226 (a) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs the 15-member regional integration movement of which both Jamaica and Haiti belong.

Article 226(a) of the treaty allows the Minister of Immigration to to immediately impose a visa requirement for Haitians wishing to visit Belize and to require Jamaican nationals to provide proof fully paid non-refundable hotel reservations prior to boarding flights to Belize.

In addition, a ministerial task force has been set up to combat the smuggling that results from this volume of entry. This group will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration and will include the Minister of Interior and New Growth Industries and the Minister of Tourism and Relations with the Diaspora.

S/ HaitiLibre