Belize rejects plan that would have allowed stranded Cubans to reach U.S.

Belize rejects plan that would have allowed stranded Cubans to reach U.S.

Almost 5,000 Cubans are stuck at the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border trying
to reach U.S.
Costa Rica had proposed flying the Cubans to Belize to continue their
journey
Belize is asking for a 'regional' solution
BY JIM WYSS
jwyss@miamiherald.com

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA
Belize has become the latest country in Central America to deny
thousands of Cubans stranded in Costa Rica safe passage to the United
States after it refused to allow its territory to be used as part of the
migrant route.

Costa Rica had proposed transporting nearly 5,000 Cubans to Belize so
they could continue their journey overland to the United States. The
migrants have been stuck at the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border since last
month, when authorities in Managua barred them from entering the country.

Late Tuesday, however, Belize's cabinet turned down the petition, saying
it wanted a regional solution to the problem.

"We are deeply disillusioned by Belize's decision," Costa Rica Foreign
Minister Manuel González said in a statement.

The decision is one more blow to Cuban migrants, who have seen their
options to get to the United States dwindle.

Many of them began their journey by flying to Ecuador, which didn't
require visas, before making their way overland across Colombia then
Central America.

In November, however, Nicaragua closed its borders after more than 1,000
Cubans tried to forcefully enter the country from the south. The
administration in Managua blamed Costa Rica for provoking the
humanitarian crisis and has since refused to consider passage. On Dec.
1, with the aim of stemming the tide, Ecuador began requiring visas of
Cubans.

The migratory wave is being fueled by the United States' Cuba Adjustment
Act, which provides residency and other benefits to Cubans who can set
foot on U.S. soil.

Cuba and U.S. officials have been meeting to discuss human trafficking
and migration. Havana blames U.S. policies for brain-drain and
endangering its countrymen by encouraging them to embark on perilous
journeys.

In a regional meeting last month, Costa Rica had proposed creating a
"migratory corridor" that would allow them to reach the U.S. southern
border through Mexico, but no consensus was reached.

Following that meeting, Guatemala said it wouldn't allow Cubans to cross
its territory.

On Wednesday, President Luis Guillermo Solis said he was deeply
disappointed by the lack of "solidarity" in Central America, and he
asked for the help of Cubans already in Costa Rica.

"Please spread the word to other Cubans who are preparing to come
through Central America and haven't arrived to Costa Rica yet to hold
off until we can resolve your problems, those of you who arrived here
first," he said. "Please tell the people that it's not due to lack of
caring or understanding."

The government has established 26 emergency shelters in northern and
central Costa Rica and has been providing free meals and other services.
But Solis said his tiny country needed international help to maintain
those services.

He also reassured migrants that they would not be deported to Cuba
unless they broke local laws. While he acknowledged the frustration of
those stranded for weeks on the border, he also urged calm.

In recent weeks, the Cubans had paralyzed cargo traffic along the border
as they tried to pressure Nicaraguan authorities.

"No country in Latin America is going to pay more attention to you
because you block roads or come out of your shelters to protest," Solis
said.

Source: Belize rejects plan that would have allowed stranded Cubans to
reach U.S. | Miami Herald -
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article48786255.html