Belize Welcomes Rescued Haitian Minors, Considers Refugee Status

While Belize has yet to decide if it will send persons to Haiti, it has accepted thirteen Haitian females. The young ladies hope to make Belize their home after being rescued from the illegal slave trade in Haiti. The group arrived in Belize in June with the assistance of the non-profit organization, Beauty out of Ashes. The NGO has requested the young ladies be granted Refugee Status after being unable to survive in Haiti amidst its humanitarian crises. Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtenay explained that the process has begun, but the government has yet to grant refugee status to the minors. 

Eamon Courtenay, Foreign Minister: “They have not yet been granted refugee status. They have applied for it and they’re in process. That’s a one-off. It was a specific request that was made of us because of the particularly bad conditions in which these young ladies, these minors, found themselves and also we investigated the people who were asking for help to bring them out, and we were satisfied based on investigations that it was a credible and reputable organization and so we facilitated their exit and they’re going through the process at this time to see whether they qualify for refugee status.”