And while Belize doesn't expect any blowback from Port Au Prince because of the level of political turmoil there, it's slightly different with Kingston, J-A.
That's, arguably, the most powerful capital in CARICOM - and a country with whom Belize has had a long and friendly relationship. And there has been public opinion in Jamaica critical of the Elize decision, which may be why Belize's Foreign Minister posted an unusual tweet, saying, quote, "There are no restrictions on Jamaicans wishing to visit Belize. Unu welcome so pull up!"
Now, that is a change of tack from the announcement that same Minister made in the Senate two weeks ago when he was talking about a policy decision to stop human smuggling operations through Belize involving Haitians and Jamaicans. In fact, all the public messaging from Cabinet ministers this week is that the requirement for Jamaicans is merely a proposal at this stage.
Shyne Barrow took the Courtenay tweet to mean that government was re-thinking its decision on Jamaican visitors and he welcomed it:
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"It was a terrible decision as far as the Jamaicans; a terrible decision as far as the Haitians as well. I don't think it speaks to the spirit of Caricom, and there has to be other ways, um, to get, uh, a solution, uh, that is in keeping, uh, with our commitments to CARICOM, but definitely requiring non-refundable, uh, hotel accommodations, It, it was just a terrible, uh, policy proposal. So I am happy to hear the foreign minister saying that it has not been, uh, implemented and I urge them, uh, to take a reversal of course, on the Haitian issue as well."
