Last week, we told you about the saga involving those 37 passengers from that COPA flight from Panama who were refused leave to land in Belize.
Well tonight, there the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration is signaling its outrage that 8 of those passengers who were pretending to be asylum-seekers, escaped from Belize.
In an early-morning press release, the Ministry provided an update on the status of all 37. On Friday, January 21st, the national of the Dominican Republic, who incited his fellow passengers to cause the disturbance at the airport last week, was flown back to Panama on a TAG Airlines Flight, via Guatemala. Then on Saturday, the following day, 19 Venezuelans and the Moroccan were flown back to Panama on a COPA flight. Reports to 7News are that they had to be placed on a 2nd flight after being de-boarded once again.
Several of the remaining persons, including children, tested positive for COVID-19. They will remain on guard at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel at the expense of COPA Airlines. As soon as it is safe to do so, they will be returned to Panama.
And then, there are the 8 passengers who escaped.
In their press release, the Ministry says, quote, "The UNHCR representatives interviewed the adults and as a result, eight (8) persons have sought refugee status in Belize. At the request of the UNHCR, these persons have been handed over to Help for Progress. The UNHCR will meet all expenses incurred whilst their refugee applications are being processed. The Government of Belize has made it clear to the UNHCR that it is to ensure that these persons do not disappear whilst their refugee applications are being processed." End Quote.
Shortly after that, the Ministry sent out another statement saying, quote, "This afternoon UNHCR National Office - Belize informed that the eight (8) Venezuelan nationals that were taken by UNHCR National Office - Belize to the Help for Progress shelter in Belmopan on Saturday 22nd January 2022 have left the shelter and apparently made their way to Mexico. Consequently, they never visited the Refugees Department to apply for asylum. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Immigration has expressed directly to Mr. Roland-Francois Weil, UNHCR Head of Office, the Government's deep concern at this unacceptable turn of events." End quote.
