And Montero was in the hot seat today. We used the opportunity to ask about the Auditor General's Report on the Immigration and Nationality Department. In it Dorothy Bradley questions the recommendations he made for Lebanese Nationals Saad Mohamad Harmouch and Wael Harmouche.
She flagged those in her Nationality Audit, pointing out that several shortcuts were taken to get these persons their Belizean Nationality. She also notes a particular letter which he wrote to Former Director of Immigration Ruth Meighan in January 2012, which says, "Ms. Meighan, please facilitate me with the following nationality for the ceremonies to be held on the 13th January 2012: 26536, 26537, 26543, 27020, 23414, 22999 and 30743."
Now, you'll remember the stance that all the ministers who've written this type of recommendation take: They make the distinct point that these letters are requests, and are always qualified with words like "If all is in order" or something to that effect. They say that it is a request, and not a demand to approve these persons for their immigration documents. We brought it up today with Montero, and like the other elected politicians, he stuck to that same position. We challenged him on that, and here's how that conversation went:
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"The auditor general in her audit reports brought up your name several times in the nationality audit, questioning your involvement in the issuance of nationality certificates for 2 members of the Harmouche family."
Hon. Rene Montero
"As far as I am concerned, as an area representative, I have a right to give out recommendations. I did not in no way issued any instructions to the immigration officers to issue that without going through the proper process. I just give a recommendation as any area representative. That's my duty to give recommendations to members of my constituency."
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"But sir, the auditor general in her report makes mentioned of a letter you sent to Ruth Meighan, former director of Immigration "Miss. Meighan can you please facilitate me with the following nationality, for the ceremony to be held on January 13th, 2012". They suggestion or the concern is "please facilitate me" sounds like a directive that you are giving."
Hon. Rene Montero
"How can a recommendation means a directive? I did not instruct Miss Meighan to do it. I simple made a simple request. As an area representative, that is my duty to do that. I didn't command her or instruct her to do it. I asked her to please consider. I did not tell her to forego all the procedures or anything like that. I did not. A simple recommendation is a simple recommendation that anybody, a teacher, anybody in authority can give to its workers or anything like that. That's what I did. Tell me where is the crime committed?"
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"The concern is that you are a minister of government and Works is your portfolio, not Immigration Department and a letter like this suggests that you are giving, you are obliging the immigration official to assist in this particular instance "Please assist me" sounds more like a directive than a request. Do you acknowledge that?"
Hon. Rene Montero
"No. A simple recommendation, how can that be a directive? Tell me? If I'm making a simple request, how can that be a directive? I did not instruct Miss Meighan to forego all the procedures and give it to them. I did not do that. I made a simple request, a simple recommendation, which as the area representative, I am oblige to do. I am authorized to do that, because I have to take care of my constituency."
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"If the senate select committee calls you to answer for these particular parts of the audit report which call into question your actions, are you prepared and ready to defend the actions you took?"
Hon. Rene Montero
"Of course. I have not committed any crime. I made a simple recommendation and I repeat, as an area representative I am oblige to do that. So I am not afraid to face the senate select committee, because I have done no harm, I have committed no crime."
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Can you assure us that in your entire term in office, you have never done anything to violate the oath of office?"
Hon. Rene Montero
"Listen to me, I was a public officer for 27 years. I received several recommendations from the public service regarding my performance. As a minister of government, I am held to my oath of office. Politicians always bring up a lot of allegations and those are allegations and that's what it is."
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