And now back to those hearings themselves…In last night's news, we showed you excerpts from the conversation that Immigration Director Diana Locke had with the Senate on her third day as a witness on the stand.
And that was a long day; 4 hours of testimony, and the Senate Select Committee still wants her return next week Wednesday for another session.
They want to finish up their conversation with her on the Auditor General's recommendations which she made in the 3 volumes of her report on Immigration.
And,1 key recommendation calls for the police to be activated to investigate the volumes of irregularities her report outlines. Police Commissioner Allen Whylie has already told the Senate that he is waiting for their report from these Hearings before he and the police department take action. And yesterday, the Committee wanted Director Locke's opinion on this call for criminal action into the Auditor General's findings.
Here's what she said about it:
Mark Lizarraga - Senator for Private Sector
"In these instances director, where the auditor general recommends an investigation, what is your position right now? What will be your stand after these hearings? She has recommended that you investigate. We will. I mean there is no reason for us not to recommend that you investigate."
Diana Locke - Director of Immigration and Nationality
"I think where clearly there are cases of wrong doing, I think we need to understand what has happen and how it happen and why it happened and who did it. We need to understand that and obviously those investigations have to be carried forward by the police. So that would be in the hands of the ministry to propel that forward once it has been reported by...the ministry would need to continue on...the director can report to the police, but in terms of following up and making a case."
Mark Lizarraga
"Is it your intention to pass this on to the police?"
Diana Locke
"I believe it has already been passed on. If I am not mistaken these are the stickers that generated the auditor general's investigation into the department."
Mark Lizarraga
"Is it your intention to follow up, to make sure, because earlier you had spoken about the visas at the border? This is referring to one specific visa."
Diana Locke
"Yes, I can certainly find out what happen to that sticker, which border station it was assigned to. That would not be difficult to determine."
Mark Lizarraga
"Recommendation #3 says that the director of immigration and nationality should ensure that the commissioner of police is informed about these findings so that a criminal investigation is launched. The commissioner of police should request the assistance of Interpol in order to identify all non-resident Belizeans and foreigners involved as well."
Diana Locke
"I do believe the commissioner of police is aware and if a list needs to be provided to him of what is contained in this document, then I think it should be given to him."
Mark Lizarraga
"After you go through this and get the list, because the commissioner is saying he is not doing anything until he gets a report."
Diana Locke
"I am assuming that he has a report on Mr. Kim."
Mark Lizarraga
"We have yet to see that filed. We are still awaiting it from the commissioner of police."
Diana Locke
"I know nothing other than what I had handed over."
Mark Lizarraga
"But you are prepared certainly to inform the commissioner of police after you've look at the report and come up with your list, is what you're saying?"
Diana Locke
"Yes. If the auditor general has indicated there is something wrong and it needs to be investigated, we don't have the capacity to do that. So I see no harm in compiling that list and forward it to him for him to take action."
Mark Lizarraga
"No such move has been done along those lines to date."
Diana Locke
"Not since I've been there. I don't know and I haven't received any information to say that it has been done before."
Mark Lizarraga
"But you've read the report, you've seen the recommendations?"
Diana Locke
"Yes."
Mark Lizarraga
"Have you spoken to the ministry and to those higher than you about the recommendations of this report in any way?"
Diana Locke
"Not at this point in time. I think we are trying to hear what comes out of this report, what has been coming out of the sessions. I have been trying where I can to listen to some of the reports alongside of what I've read here to understand more what is written here, because not everything that is written here in my opinion is here to me and so some of the things I see, I see differently, because perhaps I understand more. But there are cases that are clearly needs to be look into and need to be dealt with and those definitely."
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