7 News Belize

Cabinet Puts A Hurting On Help For Progress
posted (May 17, 2016)
The Refugee Eligibility Committee, and its reactivation for refugee applications has been under public scrutiny since it was publicly disclosed after the fact. That's after the press started investigating why mass numbers of persons living illegally in Belize started showing up at the Help For Progress Office. Well, the Government of Belize has done a complete about turn about the Help For Progress NGO. They are calling for all applications at Help for Progress to stop.

But that's not what Government said last Tuesday. That release said, quote, "Help for Progress, a nongovernmental organization, represents the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and has the responsibility to receive applications from potential asylum seekers and conduct an initial interview. Those applicants who meet the criteria for refugee status are referred to the Immigration Department, where a second interview is done and the successful applicants are then given an appointment for a more in depth interview. The asylum seeker is then given a Special Permit which is valid until the time of the in-depth interview in order to allow him legal status in Belize." End Quote.

That release then went on to explain that a second more in-depth meeting would take place before the Refugee Eligibility Committee, which would then vet the applicant and then pass on their findings for Minister of Immigration Beverly Castillo.

Well, in an about turn release sent just before the start of news, the Government is now saying the Help For Progress is not authorized by any department to conduct interviews on behalf of the Refugee Eligibility Committee.

That release says, quote, "Cabinet determined that there exists NO formal, nor legal, agreement between the Government of Belize and the NGO, Help for Progress that authorizes Help for Progress personnel accepting application for refugees status in Belize, and to further conduct interviews and determine which applicant has a legitimate case or not." End Quote.

Tonight's statement continues to say that all applications must be submitted directly to the Refugee Committee itself.

The Cabinet statement then continues, by demanding, quote, "Any entity other than the duly authorized Refugee Eligibility Committee involved in processing applications for refugee status considerations, should cease and desist from such activity." End quote.

It's a strange and sudden flip flop, which came at 6:29 pm. We'll seek clarifications tomorrow.

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