7 News Belize

Immigration Questions Arise Again
posted (October 8, 2014)

Since the Private Prosecution against Elvin Penner failed, immigration matters seemingly have gone cold, but there are reports reaching the media tonight that a senior Immigration Officer from the Benque Viejo Office is being investigate for possible immigration irregularities.

The allegations are that the officer facilitated documents for Chinese Nationals not yet in the country. Today the Minister confirmed it for the media:

Mike Rudon, Reporter - Channel 5 News

"We have been hearing that an immigration officer in Benque is under investigation for her part in facilitating some passports for foreign nationals, who aren't even in Belize. I understand it has been brought to the attention of the director and to your attention."

Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration

"Yes, we have an officer, it's not facilitating passports to people. We have several officers that we continue when we have any of these reports, we continue to investigate. I can't say no more at this stage because we haven't gotten a final report back. There's several officers who, whenever something happens that is entourage our stand is 0 tolerance and we will investigate them if the evidence is substantial, we'll put them front of the public service commission again."

Mike Rudon

"Could you clarify for us the nature of the allegation?"

Hon. Godwin Hulse

"It's at this point in time not something I can and will clarify because the investigation hasn't been fully completed. We had certain information that certain persons were being facilitated by an immigration officer and that's why we're looking into it. It never game to fruition, thank god, because the systems are in place now to check and catch along the way anything that may happen but it doesn't mean people won't try."




7 News for October 8th, 2014 from 7News Belize on Vimeo.

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