Amnesty, it's been the buzz for a few months now but what does the public really understand about the process that will regularize as many as 40,000 new Belizean citizens?
And what will all that cost you the taxpayer?
Well, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration Eamon Courtenay says it may cost less than what you're already paying to support these irregular migrants, and that's because they and their families still use many of the government services designated for tax-paying citizens.
Here's why the Minister says that in the long run the cost will even itself out:
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of foreign affairs and immigration
"Starting the first of July we open online for persons to make appointments and 3100 and something applied but when you add the dependents it's 4,725 I believe. By now it's probably 3,000. If you multiply that by the fee of the 500 and the 300 you get 2 million dollars. So, we anticipate very clearly. We will cover the cost and have a surplus as a result of this exercise."
Jules Vasquez:
"However, you. The criticism can be made that is very myopic when one looks at the long-term costs. With the increased burden on healthcare services school services on social services has any attempt been made to quantify what the real cost will be in terms of the human services that the state has to provide?"
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of foreign affairs and immigration
"Well, I think you bring up an important point Jules and first of all, there is a fallacy in your argument. I repeat the persons who will qualify for permanent residence are the persons who are here. Many of them have been here for many years. These are persons who are using those very same services, the social services that you are talking about. So we are paying that. Society is paying that taxpayers are paying for that but what you have is that on the other side of the equation a lot of those persons are unemployed and therefore not contributing to the tax revenue and if you ask yourself why many of them are fearful to come to an employer and say I am applying for a job because immigration will come for them. Many of them are employed and are being paid under the table, again, no tax revenue. Many of them are employed and have been paid at I'd say sub-human wages and therefore no taxes but they have children they have spouses who rely on tools, hospitals, roads etc. So, the carrying cost is there. I believe and the government believes that if we bring them into the formal sector and they no longer are abused and forced to accept sub-human wages. If they feel confident to come now because their status is regularized and apply for a job, work on a farm. Have their own farm, have their own small little business. They would then start to pay for trade licenses. They would start to pay other fees and contribute to the revenue."
Ultimately the Ministry's position is that The Amnesty Exercise coupled with the 2022 census will give G.O.B. a much better road map for one term planning.
