US Revokes Visa of Belizean Judge Godfrey Smith

Justice Godfrey Smith, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima disaster in Guyana and a Belizean jurist, announced that the United States revoked his visa without providing any justification.

Justice Godfrey Smith stated that an email sent by the consular section of the US Embassy only indicated that his visa had been revoked and that the decision would take immediate effect if he was not currently in the US. Emphasizing that he has no involvement in illegal activities such as drug trafficking, immigration violations, tax evasion, or terrorism, Smith called on Washington to explain the reasons.

Smith, who has also previously served as foreign minister, responded to the question of whether the visa revocation stemmed from his growing relations with China and his advocacy for severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan to establish formal ties with China. Stating that he visited China in January and formalized a program with Chinese embassy officials in Jamaica for young leaders and professionals in Belize, Smith noted that he received no payment from the Chinese government for these efforts and conducted these contacts entirely in his individual capacity based on his philosophical and political beliefs. Smith also noted that he does not wish to reapply for a US visa.