And the MCC grant isn't the only negotiation that GOB is having with the US government. Back in January, the PM had said definitively that Belize would not act as a safe third country for the US to deport illegal migrants.
But now, 8 months later, it seems that he's going back on that position. Today he said that they're negotiating and - if they open Belize's borders - it will be within very strict boundaries.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"We are working on it. We have had discussions. We brought it to cabinet. The cabinet has given the green light to continue the negotiations. But basically what we will do, should we get to that point and we are in negotiations with the US government, is that, we are going to determine what countries or what region that will be allowed, people, that will be allowed to come. We will determine how much people we will allow to come into Belize, it's not going to be open. We are going to say we want hundred or 10 or 50, we're working on that number. I could assure you it's not going to be a large number. And thirdly, we want to ensure that whenever that happens, then the funding would be sent over to be able to do will have to allow these people to be able to be able to settle into Belize whilst their case goes through the U.S. courts."
