| Going back now to yesterday's Senate Hearings. As we've been showing you, the day was more remarkable for the antics in the gallery pulled off by UDP supporters than it was for the very muted testimony of Elvin Penner. He didn't say much about Citizen and he said even less about all those would-be voters he rushed through the nationalization process in the month before the election.
Very early in the Senate Hearings, back in January, former Immigration Director Ruth Meighan conceded that shortcuts were taken, which allowed for applicants who did not qualify to get Belizean Nationality. Her disclosure was supported by the testimony of Gordon Wade, the former head of Nationality. He said that the Director and the Minister of the day interpreted the law incorrectly to allow for persons who entered Belize illegally, but were living in Belize for a number of years, to get Nationality. That, in his opinion, should not have happened, but they were the bosses.
This was a time when Penner was already an elected politician, up for re-election, but right before he became the Immigration Minister of State. Here's the conversation he had with Senator Courtenay on the assistance he was offering to get applicants their nationality certificates:
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"You will recall Mr. Penner that in early 2012, there was a rush, for want of a better word, to process the nationality for persons who were in Belize. Do you recall that?"
Elvin Penner - Former Immig. Minister of State
"I don't see how a question that happened during that time that is not in any mentioned in this auditor general's report has any relevance to the sitting."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"Well, we have to investigate what happened between 2011 and 2013 and I'm asking here about 2012."
Elvin Penner - Former Immig. Minister of State
"I personally believe that your question is purely politically motivated. I can only say that as a minister, as an area representative, as a political figure, as somebody who is there to help the people that when any person at all comes to me and I am convinced that, that person qualifies for nationality, I will do my best to assist that person."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"You also indicated that you paid a portion of the processing fee for the persons who sought your assistance. Do you recall that? In this interview you are saying to the media that in trying to assist these people, you indicated that a fee was three hundred dollars and you tried to assist by paying one hundred dollars for these applicants who came to seek your assistance. Do you recall that?"
Elvin Penner - Former Immig. Minister of State
"I don't recall of having mentioned any figure of how much I would be willing to pay."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"You want to say the interview?"
Elvin Penner - Former Immig. Minister of State
"I really don't see why it is relevant in the sitting, but that's up to you. Its the senators of this committee who controls what happens in this house."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"Just a few more questions, I'm just trying to get clear from you this 2012 interview that you gave where you were saying that you assisting persons who came for nationality by paying a portion of the fee. Would that be accurate?"
Elvin Penner - Former Immig. Minister of State
"It could be a portion, it could be the entire three hundred dollars. As long as I'm convinced that I'm helping a person in need of that assistance and I have the means to help that person. I have in the past and still even though I am not a politician at the moment will still help if I can."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"You also said in this interview that you are hoping to get most of these people register for the election."
Elvin Penner - Former Immig. Minister of State
"Again, that's something that any politician will do. You will do anything that you legally can that will give you the edge of your opponent to win an election."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"Right, to quote you, you would be pushing and going the extra mile to win in your division, that's what you said."
Elvin Penner - Former Immig. Minister of State
"If I ever run for politics again, I will go that extra mile."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"You then, I assumed, correct me if I'm wrong, assisted them in getting registered so that they could vote in the election."
Elvin Penner - Former Immig. Minister of State
"Most certainly I would."
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