So, we now go to an earlier moment in his testimony when the Senators were drilling him on the recommendations he made for applicants seeking Belizean immigration documents. 

The Senators were trying to find out what weight he thought those recommendations carried. As we have shown you, immigration officers, under cross examination have conceded that these recommendations from ministers, even though they are worded as suggestions, are treated more like orders because they don't want to block the wishes of a Minister.

Castro was a repeat recommender, and the Senators wanted to find out why he did this:

Hon. Elena Smith - Labour/Civil Society Senator
"Gergivan Singh Gill, Parmish Singh, Milan Fapa and Sunhil Bukharel; did you provide recommendations for these persons?"

Hon. Edmond Castro - UDP Minister
"I provided some letter of recommendation but I can't remember who those names, I can't remember, I can't say for sure any of those names."

Hon. Elena Smith
"Those recommendations were provided for because you were asked to provide those, correct?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"Yes ma'am."

Hon. Elena Smith
"Could you say who asked for these recommendations?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"I can't remember."

Hon. Elena Smith
"Were these persons that were familiar to you?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"Like I said earlier, I can't remember any of these names. My recommendation I would always end by stating if that person meets the requirements. If I recommend you for a scholarship and you don't meet the requirements, my recommendation doesn't say you must give that person a scholarship. A recommendation is a recommendation, is a recommendation, is a recommendation."

Hon. Elena Smith
"And the question remains minister, what role in your view did it play?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"A recommendation is a simple piece of document; somebody would some and ask you for. I would like this piece of land, if the land is available, I write if it's available, recommending that person for it, it's the same thing, basic, basic recommendation is just that, nothing else."

Hon. Elena Smith
"And I'm asking as it relates to visas, what role did he recommendation play?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"It's the same thing madam, same thing. It doesn't change based on what you are recommending for whether it is for a piece of land, a scholarship or a visa or a job. A recommendation is a recommendation, is a recommendation, is a recommendation, it doesn't change. We never said anything about you have to give this person based on a recommendation."

Hon. Mark Lizarraga - Business Senator
"But minister, the question again did that letter help the persons to get their applications to move faster?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"I don't know, I don't know."

Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"Why would they go specifically to minister Castro for a recommendation?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"The same way how people from the constituency that you want to run in come to you for recommendations."

Michel Chebat
"Well they don't and I don't sign recommendations."

Hon. Edmond Castro
"When you learn to win, they will come to you."

Michel Chebat
"Perhaps so minister, perhaps."

Hon. Edmond Castro
"Not anytime soon."

Michel Chebat
"In this process where you were recommending, how much were you being paid?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"Nobody paid me senator."

Michel Chebat
"Nobody paid you? None of these Chinese paid you?"

Hon. Edmond Castro
"Senator nobody paid me. You can't pay me for the work and the love I have for people."