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Belize beckons, but at what cost?

Submitted by Dr. Roland Clarke

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Submitted by Dr. Roland Clarke

QUESTION: Is this a good time for Bajan workers to relocate to Belize? 

ANSWER

Moving to Belize for work is not recommended at this time due to significant safety concerns, including high levels of violent crime, drug and human trafficking, and organized crime. 

While there are some benefits to relocating, such as a lower cost of living and English being an official language, these are overshadowed by the security risks, and potential challenges like limited healthcare and difficulty finding work for non-remote jobs. [1, 2, 3, 4]  

RISKS TO CONSIDER

• High crime rates:

Violent crime, including sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies, and murder, is common. Some government advisories recommend exercising a high degree of caution. 

• Organized crime:

The country is affected by organized crime, gang activity, and drug and human trafficking. 

• Limited local employment opportunities: Belizean law favors locals for many jobs, so foreigners need to have a Temporary Work Permit to take a job that a Belizean could also do. Finding local employment can be very challenging. 

• Insufficient infrastructure: 

The healthcare system is not as robust as in other countries, and some areas have poor road conditions. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]  

POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO CONSIDER

• English-speaking country: 

As the only English-speaking country in Central America, communication is easy for those coming from North America or Europe. 

• Lower cost of living: 

The cost of living is generally lower than in the United States, making it an attractive option for retirees or those with remote income. 

• Established expat communities:

There are many established expat communities, especially in popular areas like Ambergris Caye, which can provide a support network. 

• Simple visa and residency process:

The process for obtaining residency and a Qualified Retirement Program (QRP) visa can be relatively straightforward, particularly for retirees. [6, 7, 8, 9]  

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Plan a scouting trip: 

Before making a full relocation, visit different areas of Belize to get a firsthand feel for the environment and expat communities. 

• Secure remote employment: 

If possible, secure a remote job based outside of Belize to avoid the challenges of finding local employment. 

• Weigh the risks:

Carefully consider whether the potential benefits of relocating outweigh the significant safety risks, which can include violent crime even in tourist areas. [1, 2, 4, 8, 10]  

REFERENCES

[1] https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/belize

[2] https://internationalliving.com/countries/belize/move/

[3] https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/belize

[4] https://www.smartertravel.com/tips-belize-warnings-dangers-stay-safe/

[5] https://internationalliving.com/countries/belize/

[6] https://www.internationalcitizens.com/moving-abroad/moving-belize.php

[7] https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenpeddicord/2024/12/03/moving-to-belize-a-guide-for-americans/

[8] https://internationalliving.com/countries/belize/live/

[9] https://wise.com/us/blog/moving-to-belize

[10] https://www.facebook.com/groups/theguidetobelize/posts/1495781377753964/

PS: All references attributable to Google AI

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15 responses to “Belize beckons, but at what cost?”

  1. John A Avatar
    John A

    Don’t let that be a problem let them come here and practice dem crime. After all they can sail through immigration with not having to show a police certificate of character. So tell them bring dem house breaking tools and come. If immigration ask what their trade is tell them “security specialist.”

  2. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    Minister Abrahams has allayed fears that based on the numbers there has been no influx from Belize, St. Vincent or Dominica to stoke your fear.

  3. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    The author’s pros and cons sound like they could equally apply to Brassbados.

    Perhaps that is the plan. Sink us to the lowest common denominator so that it DOES make sense for our young people to run away from home, looking for wuk, while government gives work permits to imported brass bowls strangers.

    Bushie dares anyone to explain such ‘jackassery’ without reference to cruel spiritual forces impacting our decision makers.

    LOL
    That particular minister suffers from the ‘anti-Midas’ touch.
    If you want jobby, give him the task…..

    What a place!!

  4. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    If ONE Bajan loses their job to anyone from these islands due to wage undercutting, that is ONE too many.

  5. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Bushie

    Your first sentence is well-cited.
    Though, as per usual, your perrenial instincts for an exclusivist localism remains characteristic.
    Yes, we’ve argued here before that Belize has a level of crime, murders, which would make Barbados look like a paradise, as weee contended that Barbados’ crime rate could be reversed. No prospects for that!
    But even Belize is not the worst. It’s neighbour, México, has nearly 40K murders per year, about 100 per day. Even as both México and Belize have supplied some of the best lived experiences.
    Underlying these realities are culturally bound rationals. These include all the aspects of culture, history, which make them this way. On the other hand, Barbados still has a vastly more docile cultural orientation.

  6. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Cuh Shiite @Pacha…
    Can you PLEASE restrict yourself to cussing Bushie in English, …or at least Bajan…?

    Shiite Boss!!
    These fancy cuss words such a ‘exclusivist localism’ got the Bushman reeling is shame at having to resort to google, and in extreme cases, even ask the adopted father what yuh mean…!!
    Skippa…
    Just say, that Bushie say, that home drums should beat first…
    …that charity BEGINS at home, and that…
    If yuh CAN’T love yuhself, STOP talking shiite about loving others.

    Meanwhile, can you explain what it is that makes our political judases think that, although they have NO IDEA how to deal with Barbados’ “docile cultural” crimes and murders, …they can safely open our doors to known vicious cultures…

    …and no big words or convoluted academic phraseology …PLEASE!!!

  7. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    Talking about Cuh Shiite!!
    What became of Cuhdear Bajan AKA Simple Simon?
    DAYS now and not a word or mis-statement of fact…
    Not a man-cussing session…
    YOU!!!
    Bushie hope that she is OK yuh….or it could be Hell to pay!!
    …this is conkie season and Bushie ain’t mekking nuh sport dis year..

    LOL
    ha ha ha
    Hopefully she is too busy grating coconut, pumpkins and whatever else the little licorish grands will yam down…fuh BU…

  8. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    Do some research on the racial diversity of Belize and then ask yourselves how in God’s name did Mia decide to form an alliance with Belize. The Garifuna people are seven percent of Belize’s population and are the only group who identify themselves as Africans.

  9. David Avatar
    David

    @TLSN

    In this context, our primary focus is on identifying as a people from the Caribbean diaspora. While maintaining a strong Bajan identity is important, it is secondary to our collective identity.

    Sounds ‘pretty’, like Mottley would say.

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Life intervenes at times.

  11. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Bushie

    Maybe weee should have said zenophobic but your critique would have been the same.

    Maybe that condition stops one from seeing that the November conkies so loved have anologs in all the countries, even the Spanish speaking ones.

    In Saint Vincent, for example, they are called them ducanah. Saint Vincent is where the Belizean Garifuna people largely derived, can’t remember what they call it. And of course, cooking wid banana leaf is a deep Afrikan tradition.

    But none of this will stop you from committing violence against the poor conkies. Nor would it stop the mass murdering US government from killing more than 60 innocent people in the Caribbean Sea, over a few months.

    Maybe we could prevent most domestic murders by banning American culture, period.

  12. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ Bushie.

    https://barbados.org/barbados-recipes-conkies.htm

  13. Yankee Avatar
    Yankee

    @Pachamama, your oral propensity for ignorance is even lower than your IQ. You behave like a hammer where every comment not aligned with yours is a nail.

  14. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Well! What oral, it’s at best fingers alone, thumb more precisely? What IQ? Who did your assessment? Where is the science? What propensity, most written here is duly ignored? What hammer, we’ve just been bantering with Bushie and Bushie alone?

  15. Frank Avatar
    Frank

    Wondering if Dr.Clarke will provide similar for SVG and Dominica.

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