Three new pieces of Immigration legislation were also passed today. They are the Immigration Amendment Bill, the Belizean Nationality Amendment Bill and the Passport Amendment Bill. These new laws seek to tighten up immigration regulations, improve oversight of the issuance of passports and visas and dramatically increase fines for those who violate the laws. All in all, it's an attempt to put an end to the passport and visa racket, which has been ongoing in one way or another for at least two decades.
Important pieces of legislation, but no one attended the committee meetings to object, or add to it and the opposition did not participate. So the bills came back to the House today and the opposition had a number of complaints. Orange Walk central Representative John Briceno led off:..
Hon. John Briceno
"Certainly it is helpful to know that this act is setting up what they called the visa vetting committee, but certainly that's not enough in my mind. Why am I saying that this is not enough? Well there are many reasons why I am saying that this is not enough Mr. Speaker. It is important to point out that the members of the visa vetting committee are all employees of the government. Now, how can we really expect these individuals to really vet very carefully the work of their own government? Their bosses are the same minister and the same Prime Minister. Actually, it was the Prime Minister in one press conference when he mentioned that he signs their contracts. He is the one that basically decides who can work and who will not be a part of his government."
"There is not a single independent member in this committee that is behold to this government or to any of the ministries working for the government of Belize."
Hon. Francis Fonseca
"These bills while as I said, I don't question the good faith of the government in trying to address this problem - it will not restore trust and confidence. We've missed an opportunity as will be pointed out with the other bills as well."
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"This is one bill that would not have come back for second reading today if indeed the Opposition has said you know what, here are our first ideas as to strengthening, but we need a little more time, so hold up for a while, so that together we might try to put this thing properly right. It absolutely did not happen. I regret the fact that it did not happen. As the Leader of the Opposition is saying though, there will be another chance. these ongoing investigations - forget a minute the FIU - government doesn't put that in motion - that's an independent office. The lady says she was doing an investigation. You can check with her. I don't know her to be somebody dishonest. I am sure if she says that, that is what is happening."
"In any case the Auditor General's inquiry as we've said Mr. Speaker. The Auditor General has all the tools, has the expertise, has the human resources to be able to conduct the kind of thoroughgoing exercise - the kind of comprehensive review and to make the sorts of recommendations that I am sure we will all be able to embrace and no doubt at that time add to. So, as soon as that report is in, not only will it be brought to the House and to the Senate for discussion and debate, but I am offering from now, let us use it as a platform from which platform, government, opposition and others can come together and make whatever additional changes to policy, to principles and to legislation."
Those bills went through their second and third readings today - and will now also go over to the Senate for consideration.
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