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Hon. Mark Lizarraga, Business Senator
"I was very disappointed, quite frankly, that we seem to find monies just about for everything else under the sun, and we can't seem to find monies to continue what I consider to be a very important process. Priorities in this country, for the most part, are given to those projects or areas that carry the most political weight. I was disappointed to hear today, for example, from the Director of Immigration that some of the items that she needs to strengthen her department were not approved in her budget last year. Here we are in the middle of this very important exercise, and she's being denied the resources that she needs to strengthen a vital part of our national security. I have shared it with those I represent, and I guess we're gonna see where it goes. We still have quite a bit to do. I know that there are those that would like to see the work wrapped up as quickly as possible. But I don't think that the majority of us are in any way desirous of rushing through and finishing just for the sake of finishing."

So, what will happen if the Committee runs out of money, and they haven't conducted all their work? Well, Lizarraga said that he couldn't speak for the rest of the Committee, but he is prepared to continue without funding. Here's how he made that point to us yesterday:

Hon. Mark Lizarraga - Business Senator
"I see a need, and I think it's been expressed - and I support that view that we need to call people from the Vital Statistics. We're heard of weaknesses in that area, and we need to look at that system to see how we strengthen that system as well, because, that is the first step toward your nationality, your birth paper. And, it's so vague, that birth paper right now. You can show up with my birth paper, and say that you're me. And there is no way to link you and I to that paper, really, in some tangible, physical way. So, we think that that needs to be strengthened. Minister Hulse is on record as identifying that that area has had weaknesses, and he's said that once you get your birth paper, you gone clear. I think it's a matter of prioritizing. I think at the end of the day, I make a $130 every time I come here. That's for my fuel and my time. They feed us a plate of food. Other than that, we pay he press. So, the broadcasting I believe is like $1,500 a session, so it's not outrageous. The Belizean people will have to decide if this is more important. We seem to find 30+ million dollars when we want to build a basketball court and a stadium. We seem to find tens of millions of dollars to spend on a stadium that's not completed, that hasn't been completed for years. And you can't find a few hundred thousand dollars to finish the work, to make sure that we have less incidents of human trafficking, money laundering, that we have less incidents of persons coming and abusing our nationality process. I am prepared to go beyond November, being paid or not. That's all I can say. The other members of the Committee would have to speak for themselves. But, I've heard other members of the Committee say that they are going to continue the work of the Committee, and that they are not going to be deterred by funding, or lack of funding. We're not doing this for the money that we're being paid. $130 can't even cover my gasoline barely to come up to Belmopan, much less my time. And I am sure that quorum on the Committee can be met to continue the work of the Committee."

There will be a break in the hearings on next Week Wednesday to prepare for Independence Day Celebrations on Thursday. The hearings resume on September 27, where Immigration Director Diana Locke will finish up her testimony, and Immigration CEO Edmond Zuniga will be called to testify.