Appeal #4: Belize Human Trafficking Boycott, Regulate Belize Border

Organization for Responsible Tourism (ORT) has released “Appeal #4: Regulate Be
lize Border Crossings to Stop Human Trafficking,” a recommendation document focu
sing on immigration practices at Belize’s Melchor and Jalacte borders, ORT Presi
dent Vivian Trill today announced.
“Melchor and Jalacte borders are human trafficking flow-through points, offering
human traffickers unrestricted passage between Guatemala and Belize,” said Tril
l. “Human traffickers would be seriously blocked if these two borders and others
like them were regulated and monitored rigorously by the Belize immigration dep
artment.”
Recommitting to working in partnership with Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow, T
rill said that tightening immigration protocol and practice at these two borders
would require only simple and inexpensive measures to block human traffickers.
Melchor Border Crossing
The Melchor border crossing is an inadequate immigration and customs facility wi
th a station and a check in. Human traffickers pay off immigration officers ope
nly. It is very common for human trafficking victims to be driven across this b
order in the trunks of taxis. Between 350 and 600 human trafficking victims are
transported through his border on a monthly basis.
Jalacte Border Crossing
The Jalacte border crossing is a completely unmanned Belize/Guatemala borderline
. In this no-man’s-land, human traffickers easily transport their victims betwe
en the two countries, with no monitoring taking place. About 400 human trafficki
ng victims are transported across this border monthly.
The basic problem is human traffickers count on a bribery system to keep the ste
ady flow of trafficking victims moving across borders. As well, they count on u
nmanned or poorly staffed borderlines to maintain their human trafficking indust
ry.
ORT recommends inexpensive and simple ways to address human trafficking all Beli
ze border crossings:
* Improve the existing immigration computer system so that it accurately and
reliably keeps track of who goes in and out of the country
* Cameras that monitor border staff
* Frequent immigration department inspections
* Training for border staff
* Penalties and enforcement of penalties, including criminal prosecution and
conviction for all border staff that takes bribes, including their superiors.
“Human traffickers count on bribery and sieve-like borders to conduct their busi
ness,” said Trill. “We urge Prime Minister Barrow to begin tightening immigratio
n policy and enforcement of laws, starting at Belize’s Melchor and Jalacte borde
rs.”
ORT invites all individuals and groups to submit Appeal #3 to the Government of
Belize. Appeal #3 is a supplement to the preceding “Appeal to Stop Human Traffi
cking In Belize.”
ORT promotes traveling for a better world.