And sticking with Saldivar, earlier you heard the Prime Minister talk about the prospect of visa hustling in his government. Saldivar is a senior minister in that government and we asked him what he knew about it:..
Jules Vasquez
"Someone or a representative may come and say 'Minister I need your help in getting a visa for my constituent who is from China and his uncle wants to come.' Is that something that was practice under the UDP and has it raised red flags in your knowledge as former Minister of Immigration and in the Cabinet itself?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Police
"In terms of red flags, I am not aware of any of that. What I am aware of is the granting of visas - there is a process that it goes through and persons have to qualify, they have to meet certain requirements and the department goes through its process of vetting these applications and once they are approved is because they have pass the process that the Immigration Department has set."
Jules Vasquez
"Have you been personally been involve in seeking to get visas for or on behalf of relatives of your constituents who are abroad in China, Middle East or wherever?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Police
"Not in any major way - no."
Jules Vasquez
"In any major way means in a minor way."
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Police
"I would imagine that one or two persons may have asked for me to intercede on their behalf. These are persons who probably live in Belize and so on but no, it's not something that I do in a matter of practice."
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