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Should Fraudulent Documents Be Revoked?
posted (September 28, 2017)
Another important recommendation from the Auditor General is that the Director should ensure the cancellation of passports and nationality certificates for every applicant who was granted these immigration documents through fraudulent means.

That would be a serious and very decisive statement against the holders of these types of documents, and so, the Senate asked the Immigration Director about that. Here's here response:





What Will Come Out Of Senate Hearings?

And Business Senator Mark Lizarraga told the press after the hearing that these recommendations need to be followed through on to validate the Auditor General's report and the Senate Hearings. For 10 months that the nation has been watching these hearings live, there is cynical concern is that it will be a giant waste of time because nobody will be held accountable for all the wrongs at the immigration department.

Senator Lizarraga, who acted as the Protem Chairman in yesterday's hearing, told us that the director's comments on these recommendations indicates more clearly who is responsible for carrying through to ensure that there is a criminal investigation - and that fraudulent immigration documents are canceled. Here's how he explained it:

Mark Lizarraga - Senator for Private Sector
"The director was forthright today in saying in some instances that look this specific recommendation is above my pay grade, you need to ask the CEO or the minister or cabinet. In several instances she said I can't handle that. That has to be handled at a different level. So it's good to hear that. Because at the end of the day we need to know who is going to be responsible for taking those recommendations and putting it into action. We need to see action. I think everybody. There is a strong level of skepticism even in your comment that you made just now that people believe that nothing will happen. But I think it's important that the people of Belize understands where the responsibility lies for things to happen and I think that's what we are trying to ascertain. I think the director is on the ground, she is learning the system. I think she has done a lot of improvements. I think we've heard where a lot has been done, but I think there is a lot more that still needs to be done and she has agreed and it's important for us to know what has been done and what needs to be done and by whom."

The Director returns before the Senate Committee next Wednesday.





Cattle Rancher Missing After Running From Gunmen

And finally tonight, police from the Dangriga formation have spent the past four hours or so looking for a man who was the victim of an armed assault of mile 18 on the Valley Road this evening.

At around 4:30 - the man, who is a butcher from Bullet Tree in the Cayo District was in the area to inquire about a cattle purchase. They were walking to the area when two men appeared, and one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire on the pair. They ran in different directions. One of the men has been found, and he told police he saw his partner get shot. But despite intensive search efforts, police could not find the other man, and the area is a thick jungle. They retired late tonight will resume the search early tomorrow.





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