7 News Belize

Hulse Swears In New Citizens
posted (October 26, 2015)
And while Hulse was on political duty in the South today, he was on official duty in Belmopan on Friday at a swearing in. Many immigrants have been waiting more than a decade to become a Belizean and their quest was finally realized on Friday. 164 people from 21 different countries were naturalized on Friday at the George Price Center in Belmopan. Of course, there was the usual lecture about the conditions these new Belizeans must follow, but Immigration and Nationality Minister Godwin Hulse said it's not only about that long list of restrictions and conditions - it's about cultural integration and unity.

Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration and Nationality
"In 2014, we made a landmark decision to change the law to how people get citizenship. Up until 2014 it was relative easy. You had to be the country for 5 years, from starting from when you came and you simply had to apply and the minister would sign a certificate be done with it. That's process has change significantly and from 2014, all the applications goes through a rigorous process as the CEO pointed out. That is to ensure absolute transparency and to ensure a process where everybody who becomes a citizen of Belize is worthy of that honor. It's not a nationality of convenience. It is not something you do, because you wanted to have Belizean nationality, but want to go back to your country and say okay, I have a Belize passport, I can... No. it is for you to reside here and help to build here and to become one here and that is the choice you have made. And so if you choose otherwise, the state may say otherwise. As you continue to be here and you continue to contribute to this country and to watch us morph into a better society, I encourage you to make sure that you integrate. The best peace and tranquility you can have in any society is when you have harmony."

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize