Minister Anthony "Boots" Martinez also had to answer for one visa recommendation he sent. It's for a Chinese applicant, Wen Zan Yu, who applied to visit Belize in 2013.
The Auditor General does not complain specifically about Wen Zan Yu, but she did not think that the person who sponsored Yu should have been allowed to do so. That person is Zian Li, and at the time he was only a permanent resident, and so, the Auditor General does not believe that he should been allowed to host Wen Zan Yu.
Yesterday, Martinez was asked about it and he acknowledged that he made a recommendation letter, but he said that he did it on behalf of the sponsor, who he knows, not the applicant.
Here's that back and forth from yesterday on whether he ought to have checked into the applicant himself:
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"You recommended visa for one Wen Zan Yu?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Yes sir."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"And at the time of making this recommendation, did you know this individual?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"No sir. I made the recommendation on behalf of the sponsor."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"So you are saying that the recommendation you made was not for Wen Zan Yu?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"It was for Wen Zan Yu through the sponsor."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"Through the sponsor?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Yes sir."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"So you recommended that Wen Zan Yu receives a visa because Zian Li came to you?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Yes sir."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"Zian Li is your constituent?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Yes sir."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"And so you knew him?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Yes sir."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"And this Wen Zan Yu, is this a make or a female? Who is this?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Is a man as far I know, that was told to me."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"And did you inquire anything of Wen Zan Yu before recommending that person?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"No sir. The sponsor came to me and said that he want his relative to visit him in Belize. I knew the sponsor and I made a recommendation for on behalf of the sponsor."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"You were not recommending the sponsor sir. You were recommending the applicant. Did you conduct any type of due diligence. background information, questions about the applicant when Wen Zan Yu?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"I never did any background check. I ask him his relationship to the person and he told me. I didn't do any background check. Background check is for immigration. That is just a recommendation."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"You are the minister of Human development?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Yes sir."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"Are you familiar with the term such as human trafficking? Terrorism? Money laundering?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Yes sir."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"Did it at any time occur to you that perhaps one of these applicants or this particular applicant could have somehow been involved with human trafficking?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"No sir."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"Did you address your mind to it?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Yes I did."
Hon. Elena Smith
"Did you at any time charge or accept any contributions for your recommendation?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"That's a sensible question and the answer to that is no ma'am."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"Was that recommendation necessary for Wen Zan Yu to get the visa?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"No, I don't think it was necessary. Maybe it could be helpful, but not necessary."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"In other words, it could guarantee that the individual get it."
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"No."
Michel Chebat - PUP Senator
"So what would be the purpose of the recommendation then? It's not required for the person to get a visa right? So what would be the purpose of it?"
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"It's a good suggestion sir."
The Senate hearings get even hotter next week, when Ministers Manuel Heredia and Rene Montero will be called to testify.
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