BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – The Belize government says it will continue to advocate for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to be included among regional countries whose nationals can travel to the Schengen Area visa-free.
Passport holders of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St Kitt-Nevis, and St Lucia are allowed to travel to the Schengen Area visa-free, comprising 27 European countries. But this applies only to short visits up to 90 days every 180-day period.
Belizeans have had to travel to Mexico to apply for a Schengen visa. Foreign Affairs Director Francis Fonseca says this is an issue he continues to raise with the Europeans.
“We haven’t let up on that issue. Even in some initial meetings that I’ve had with representatives of the EU and other institutions, we emphasize the importance of that issue to Belize.
“So no, we won’t let up on that issue. Our ambassador in Brussels has that charge as a priority issue for us. So we will continue to engage with them every opportunity I get to speak with representatives of countries in the EU,” Fonseca said.
He said Belompan had raised that issue, explaining to the Europeans how important it was for Belize.
“Next week I have another meeting with the EU….and I will bring that issue up again. So we will continue to work very aggressively on that issue.”
He said one of the benefits of a visa-free program is that it will open studying opportunities for students.
“That’s one of the benefits of the visa program and having that visa waiver. It presents so many opportunities. Education is one of, obviously, economic opportunities as well. There are so many benefits to it. And we certainly hope that we can advance that issue and that Belize will be included, if not this year, next year. Something we will continue to work on,” Fonseca said.
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