TNAG-1542-FCO40-2106-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 222

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REFUGEES IN BELIZE

CONFIDENTIAL

British High Commission

Belmopan

Belize

1. Background

In 1960 the population of British Honduras (later

Belize) was 90,000. It is now thought to be over 150,000, a large part

of the increase in the intervening years being due to immigration.

Inevitably, as the imbroglio in Central America has developed, more

and more people affected by conflicts have turned their faces to

Belize, peaceful, underpopulated and liberal. Official figures quoted

for refugees in Belize are suspect: only a proportion of arrivals

ever comes to the notice of the authorities, and even then may not be

enquired into so deeply as to ascertain their motives for leaving their

native land. In Belize there are two key questions which cannot be

answered exactly. These are firstly how many non-belongers, or aliens

as they are known here, are there in the country and, secondly, amongst

those aliens how many can properly be called refugees as defined by

the UN?

2. Aliens Same unofficial estimates put the figure of aliens in Belize

as high as 30,000. Because it is easy to enter the country by stealth,

because there is no compulsory registration or identification procedure

for citizens and in many cases because of the very remoteness of parts

of the country, aliens may only come to notice if they apply to register

as such, need a passport or commit a crime. There are several instances

of individuals and families arriving, clearing a space in the jungle

(in essence as squatters) and leading uninterrupted rural lives. A

large area in the southern part of the country is occupied by Indians to

CONFIDENTIAL

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