Honourable Eamon Courtenay

It has been a week since the arrival of Majid Khan, a former al-Qaeda courier, to Belize. The 42-year-old Pakistani was held in the high-security United States (U.S.) facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for over 15 years on terrorism-related charges. After completing his prison time, he was relocated to Belize following negotiations between the governments of the U.S. and Belize. Upon his arrival, Foreign Minister Honourable Eamon Courtenay assured the Belizean people that Khan's presence in the country posed no threat to national security.

After close to a decade without a United States (U.S.) ambassador, Belize welcomed a new high-ranking diplomat, Michelle Kwan, who will take the post and head the American Embassy in the Capital City of Belmopan. Kwan arrived with her family in Belize on Friday, November 2nd, and will officially assume duties after presenting her Letters of Credence to Governor General Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam.

On Monday, October 24th, the Government of Belize launched a new system designed for the country’s new e-passports. The system, which will enable online applications, is known as Electronic Passport Issuance and Control System (EPICS) and will include data capture sites across the country, including San Pedro Town, to assist applicants. That data capture, however, is not yet operating on the island. According to immigration officials, any islander who may need a new passport and wants to access the new system will need to travel to the mainland until the new system is available in San Pedro.

On Monday, October 24th, the Government of Belize (GOB), through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration, launched the Electronic Passport Issuance and Control System (EPICS) and E-Passports. This upgrade in the immigration department is to end required visits to the main offices in Belmopan, where applicants often stand in line for hours. The system will also address the issue of backlogs delaying the issuance of passports. The new passport application process is moving almost entirely online, requiring one visit to the data capture site and another to the issuance center to pick up the passport.

On Saturday, September 24th, Belize officially established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The signing and sealing of the new diplomatic alliance took place in New York City, USA, where Prime Minister Honourable Dr. John Briceño is currently heading a delegation attending the 77th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Belize’s Prime Minister, Honourable John Briceño, was presented on Wednesday, March 9th, with the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon by President Tsai Ing-wen for his role in enhancing ties between Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan).

A group of 35 Venezuelan nationals, a Moroccan, and one person from the Dominican Republic traveling from Panama on January 18th on a COPA Airlines flight were found inadmissible to enter Belize. Attempts to return them to their last point of embarkation- Panama saw difficulties. The process extended to Saturday, January 22nd, when 21 passengers were returned to Panama via COPA, while eight sought refugee status in Belize. Several of the remaining persons, including children, could not leave the country after testing positive for COVID-19. These persons will remain (detained) at a hotel in Belize city at the expense of COPA Airlines. They will be returned to Panama as soon as it is safe to travel.

Belize is set to receive 42,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against the COVID-19 virus. This shipment of vaccines for the Jewel is a donation from the Government and people of the United Kingdom (UK). This donation is part of the broader pledge by the UK to donate 100 million doses to developing countries. The vaccines are expected to be delivered by the end of the week.