President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, threatening to deport large numbers of Mexican and Latin American immigrants from the United States once he takes office later this month. Many countries are on edge, including Honduras, where President Xiomara Castro has suggested ending US military cooperation. But what about Belize? Will the Briceño administration bow to US pressure and accept deportees, many of whom are considered violent criminals? Here’s Prime Minister Briceño’s response to that question.
Reporter
“Will Belize accept being a third country for the US to deport Venezuelans, Haitians and Nicaraguans. There are many indications that Guatemala may agree to this.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“No. We will not accept it.”
Marion Ali
“Sir, I wanted you to expound on a question my colleague asked regarding the refugee migration to Belize. If the US puts these pressures on us, how are we going to manage those pressures?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We are a sovereign nation and they cannot force us to accept people that are not citizens of this country. And, as far as I am concerned, we are not going to accept any citizen that is not Belizean. Any Belizean that they send back, we welcome them. We need workers so we don’t have a problem with that.”
On December 14, for approximately 20 minutes, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwaya Takeshi, held a bilateral meeting with Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science, and Technology, Francis Fonseca.
Minister Fonseca was in Japan to attend the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference.
Minister Iwaya welcomed Minister Fonseca’s visit, noting the significance of the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial Conference and expressing Japan’s intention to sustain the momentum for stronger relations with Belize in 2025, which will mark the Japan-SICA Friendship Year. He highlighted Japan’s decade-long support for overcoming the unique vulnerabilities faced by low-lying coastal states and promoting sustainable development, guided by Japan’s three-pillar CARICOM policy.
In response, Minister Fonseca expressed his gratitude for Japan’s ongoing cooperation and emphasised Belize’s hopes for continued partnership. Both ministers affirmed their commitment to deepening Japan-CARICOM ties and strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Belize. They also agreed on the importance of fostering continuous dialogue to reinforce their relationship.
Last month, police raided the Double Zero establishment in Lake Independence. Along with a quantity of drugs and unlicensed firearm, the team uncovered several fraudulent immigration items, including visas and entry stamps, believed to be used for illegal immigration operations. The Department of Immigration has denied any involvement or knowledge of these activities and explained why they didn’t disclose all the details to the public. In a statement released today, the Government of Belize emphasized their commitment to a thorough investigation into corruption, highlighting the serious breach in security protocols and potential complicity by public officers. Earlier today, Jules Vasquez demanded that the department host a press conference to disclose the details of the investigation. The department, however, begs to differ. In a statement released earlier today, the Government of Belize stated, “In our Ministry, which falls under the Office of the Prime Minister, our focus must be on a credible, careful, and comprehensive investigation into corruption, particularly as it suggests a serious breach in our security protocols and complicity by public officers within our Ministry. Our goal is to end corruption in the Ministry, and with such sensitive issues and players within the investigation, we regret to inform Mister Vasquez that we cannot keep him apprised of every move made at the Ministry level or within the Belize Police Department,”. Here’s Commissioner of Police Chester Williams with more on the case.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“From a police investigation standpoint that issue has nothing to do with immigration. It so happens that it’s an individual who happened to have in his possession some Asian passports, Asian national passports, and within those passports contained some police visas. He also had with him some immigration stamps. We have done our investigation and it has been confirmed by The Department of Immigration that the visas in those passports are not authentic. The stamps are not authentic either. They are a replica of what immigration had. So it would appear as if this was an individual who was operating on his own. We have not unearthed any ties to anybody from immigration colluding with him. I can say that I had briefed the Prime Minister on this issue when it first occurred. And the Prime Minister’s exact words was, Commissioner. Please pursue the investigation to the fullest and go after who you need to go after. And the police is operating under that instructions from the Prime Minister. And we have not been able to find any link to immigration. It’s just a person who was on his own accord developed these things for his own purpose. And so called immigration scandal I think is taking it too far. So it’s a very thin line. If Mister Ashburn is working withimmigration, then yes, but he’s not an immigration officer. So you cannot equate his conduct to the Department of Immigration.”
Reporter
“Has he been cooperative?”
Chester Williams
“He has been interviewed by the police. The police have received certain information from him. And I believe that by the end of this week. The police should be levying charges against him in respect of those fake visa and fake stamps.”
Reporter
“Do they know how he got hold of the fake stamps?”
Chester Williams
“In an interview that was given by his wife, she alluded to them being given to him by an Asian national.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Francis Fonseca, is representing Belize at the second India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana.
The India-CARICOM Summit brings together leaders from India and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to explore ways of enhancing bilateral ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented seven key pillars aimed at deepening cooperation and addressing shared global challenges.
A central theme of the summit was “capacity building,” with Prime Minister Modi reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting the Caribbean through educational and technical initiatives. As part of this effort, India will expand its ITEC scholarship program by adding 1,000 new slots over the next five years. Modi also announced plans to collaborate with CARICOM countries to develop forensic centres and improve parliamentary training, further solidifying India’s role as a development partner.
Agriculture was highlighted as another critical area of collaboration, with Modi emphasising India’s commitment to helping strengthen agricultural infrastructure and ensure food security in the Caribbean region. Recognising the challenges faced by the global south, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, Modi underscored India’s ongoing support to CARICOM countries, including vaccine distribution and capacity-building efforts.
The summit also focused on digital innovation, with Modi showcasing India’s technological advancements. He proposed the adoption of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) across CARICOM countries, building on its successful implementation in countries like the UAE, Singapore, and France. Modi also introduced India’s Digi Locker platform, a cloud-based system for secure document storage, and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in public procurement.
On the cultural front, Modi celebrated the deep-rooted ties between India and the Caribbean, particularly through the shared love of cricket. In a bid to promote gender equality, Modi proposed training eleven young female cricketers from each CARICOM nation in India.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the summit “serves as a platform for Belize to expand its relations with.”
Belize officially opened its High Commission office in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on Tuesday. This is according to an X post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. It said, “FM Fonseca, accompanied by Amb. Mai and HC Gale Miller-Garnett, officially opened Belize’s High Commission in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. FM Fonseca spoke of the strong relations with Guyana and the importance of forging ties with CARICOM.”
Earlier in June, the Belize flag was hoisted at the chancellery of the High Commission of Belize in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, marking the nascent of its operations.”
The event was led by High Commissioner H.E. Gale Miller-Garnett and attended by Belize Defence Force members studying in Guyana.
While in Guyana, Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca, in his capacity as Minister of Education, “met with Belizeans studying in Guyana. The students who are primarily pursuing programs in medicine and law spoke to their experience and progress living and studying in Guyana.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister also unveiled the Taiwan Ally Prosperity Project, which promises to bolster Belize’s development. Doctor Chai-Lung highlighted that this initiative will enhance cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture, health, and women’s empowerment, among others.
Dr. Lin Chai-Lung, Foreign Minister, Taiwan
“Some plans is carbon credit trading and smart agriculture and tourism, among many others. By sharing the Taiwan experience we will expand collaboration in many areas, including agriculture innovation, cultivation, public health, ICT, women’s empowerment, clean energy and the basic infrastructure. In particular we will extend either in large the ongoing women’s empowerment program. We will also increase the fellowship program to have more young talent to go study in Taiwan. We would like to encourage more fellowship recipients to return back to Belize to help develop your great nation. That is kind of a two-way for all in terms of talent exchange. So, it is with great joy we celebrate our thirty-five years of friendship and cooperation together.”
This morning, Prime Minister John Briceño, along with Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-Lung, and his delegation on a visit to Belize City’s Belcan Bridge. The visit follows Minister Lin’s recent commitment that Taiwan will financially support the bridge’s reconstruction. As we reported, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung is in Belize on an official visit to mark 35 years of diplomatic ties.
He met with Minister Fonseca, who expressed gratitude for Taiwan’s support in building a San Pedro hospital. Lin confirmed Taiwan’s financial backing for the reconstruction of Belize City’s Belcan Bridge. Both leaders acknowledged these projects’ alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals, with Fonseca reiterating Belize’s commitment to supporting Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations.
The Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Doctor Chai-Lung Lin, is currently on an official visit to Belize. Doctor Lin’s visit is part of Belize’s celebrations marking thirty-five years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. This afternoon, Doctor Lin and Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, held a press conference in Belmopan, where they celebrated the ongoing strengthening of ties between the two nations. They also announced that discussions are underway for further collaborative development initiatives.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“We are every happy and honored to welcome to Belize his Excellency Minister Doctor Lin and his entire delegation. We just had a very good constructive bilateral discussion and dialogue where we discussed many important issues and cooperation between Belize and Taiwan. This year of course we celebrate thirty-five years of diplomatic relations between Belize and Taiwan and Taiwan had proven over those thirty-five years to be a valuable partner and ally and friend of Belize’s development.”
Chai-Lung
Dr. Chai-Lung UN, Foreign Minister, Taiwan
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Briceno and his government Belize has made remarkable achievements. Taiwan and Belize has many things in common. We both cherish peace and uphold the values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Based on these solid foundations of common ideas and mutual interest our friendship has continued to flourish for thirty-five years. We have worked hard in the field such as infrastructure, agriculture, the environment, sustainable development and culture and education. These efforts has further unlocked the potential of our people. This afternoon we have come up with very constructive and fruitful collaboration projects.”
We took the opportunity to speak with Taiwan’s foreign minister about the growing trend of Belizean students choosing to remain in Taiwan after finishing their studies. We inquired whether there are any initiatives in place to motivate these students to return to Belize and contribute to their homeland’s development. Here’s what he had to say.
Dr. Chai-Lung UN, Foreign Minister, Taiwan
“Your question confirm that education is important for tailored cultivation and social mobility. So the fellowship recipient from Belize, many of them stay in Taiwan and make contributions to our society. We are thankful for that, but we will also encourage Belizean people in Taiwan to finish form Taiwan and return to their home country to make more contributions. We will work with your government in providing more incentives to have them start their business in Belize. We will also encourage, our government has a new policy encouraging people to go abroad and participate in international affairs. We chose Belize as a good destination for Taiwanese young people to work here and more relationships with your young people. We are ready to discuss the design of this project to attract more Belizean people who are now in Taiwan can go back to their home country to make more contribution in tourism, business, agriculture and many more areas.”
On Friday, the Republic of China’s foreign minister called on Guatemala to sever diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan). These remarks coincided with the Foreign Minister of Taiwan’s official visit to Central American and Caribbean nations that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Today, we asked him to respond to the Chinese foreign minister’s comments and whether he is concerned about losing more diplomatic allies in the region.
Dr. Chai-Lung UN, Foreign Minister, Taiwan
“I think for our relationship with Guatemala we already achieved a lot in terms of cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, construction, agriculture, education, among many other areas. So, we want to develop partnership with likeminded nations. So, Taiwan is a force for good. We want to participate so as to contribute more to international society. So, Chinese style of warrior wolf, that is not respect for international society. I think it is up to Guatemala to decide its diplomatic relations. We are confident of our relationship with Guatemala. I not worried about that, just take example, after Honduras established relations with China the shrimp industry declined. But, we are helping Belize to develop your fishing industry. So, I think any exchange between parties or societies it is an open society. We will not worry about that and we will try our best to strengthen our relationship with our allies and partners.”
