BELIZE ON SPECIAL WATCH LIST FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR 2007

January 24, 2007

Belize is one of the countries on the United States “Special Watch List" for trafficking in persons for 2007. In its interim assessment the U-S State Department said the countries still demand special analysis of their anti-trafficking efforts. In regards to Belize the State Department said, although still on the list, it had made "significant progress" in addressing the problem. Yesterday Love News spoke with Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtney.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtney:

“The news report was in fact complementing Belize for the fact that the Government had identified the necessary resources that were necessary to have a shelter. We are looking for a second one that we have in fact made the Prosecutions we have in fact done the investigations we are continuing with our public education campaign. So what the United States did was to release a narrative in fact the bases on which the President moved Belize from tier three it was a complementary report with respect to Belize and with respect to Jamaica they expressed our concerns.”

Courtney says that all interested parties will continue to work hard in fighting this problem.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtney:

“What we would like to underline is that the Ministry of Human Development , Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, the National Committee for Families and Children continue to work very hard on this issue along with the Ministry of Immigration and Police. It’s a complex issue, it has many, many ramifications and it is a very expensive thing but we remain committed to rid Belize of any vestiges of this new form of slavery and we continue our work. The United States has pledged to support us and we welcome that and we look forward to continuing technical assistance from the Unites States in addressing this issue. I should mention that we also have been pursuing some assistance through the United Nations and the OAS and that should be coming on board shortly.”

Eamon Courtney, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The so-called "Special Watch List" includes countries that have a very significant human trafficking problem, have not shown increased efforts over the last year, or were upgraded in the most recent annual report.

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