So, while the Immigration Director continues to be concerned that these 2 former Ministers may try to exert influence on her staff to engage in unethical behavior, a new hustle appears to have started up at the Immigration Department. Since these type of public services are of a first-come, first serve basis, persons have been queuing up at the Department as early as 3:30 and 4:00 in the morning. They are hoping to be the first in the line, yet, somehow, they are somehow put in the queue at a much later time.
It turns out that taxi drivers have somehow been getting hold of earlier numbers in the Department's numbering system. That's how the Department determines who gets served first. Well, these taxi drivers have been selling the earlier numbers to persons willing to pay to jump the line.
Here's what the Senate, which has received complaints from persons who fallen victim to this, had to ask Immigration Director Locke:
Diana Locke- Director of Immigration and Nationality
"Several complaints have been brought to my attention from members of the public who have been trying to access the immigration services. It stems from having to come from, some people have indicated, three thirty in the morning and getting a number to acquire the service. I have spoken to the immigration services section and they have explained to me what happens when an applicant gets inside the door. The reports you sent to me, at least one of them that I was able to read very clearly, indicated that there were taxi drivers indicating that for a fee they could get you to the front of the line. There were allegations made about the security officers. These are things which we have heard which, I think, in this forum, I have expressed concern about and I have indicated that we are working with the Central Information Technology Office of Government to develop an online system. I don't think we have that completed as yet but I know we are working on it. I have spoken with the department and I have indicated that effective 1st of October we are moving and hopefully begin to do appointments. There will still be a walk-in line but we will have the option of making appointments and we are in discussion with the ministry on how best we can facilitate those appointments by telephone."
Mark Lizarraga
"But are you aware that persons are being asked to pay to move up in the line to get another number? And can you explain to us how is the collusion taking place between those that issue the number and between those that sell it?"
Diana Locke
"Well, we have a numbering system from 1 to 50. From the time I got there, the numbers keep disappearing. The numbers have been disappearing; particularly the higher numbers from 1 to 10, 1 to 15. We've consistently made those numbers again and they keep disappearing. We've heard, one staff member has said to me, that she almost got into an altercation with a taxi driver who was taking her one evening to school and she saw the numbers on the taxi. So it's clear that when people are not handing in those numbers they are being left with the taxi drivers. I have had occasions where I have had to go in. I had a complaint from someone where they went there at 4:30 in the morning and they got number 16. We reviewed the camera and we were able to see that not that many people had gone there. What had been happening was that the security was making entries into that diary for people who had contacted them. I have no proof that there was a fee paid but we do know that there were entries being made for people. So if you came at 4 in the morning you may well have gotten 15. We took steps to address that and we told them that the numbers would not be issued but I still maintained that we cannot dispense with the walk-in system but I think the best way forward, and I'd like to do this effective October 1st, is for people to have the opportunity to make appointments. I think it's the best way; it will certainly be the way that we would have to consider as we move to our new location."
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