Of course, PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay didn't allow that one to go unchallenged. As you heard, Hulse's suggestion is that an audit be done of the Asians, Middle Eastern natives, and the Europeans who ended up becoming Belizean citizens. Courtenay then asked him about the possibility that there are Central Americans who were given nationality that they did not qualify for, in exchange for votes.
There is still that unanswered question of those almost 2,000 new citizens who were given nationality in the run up to the 2012 elections. Courtenay challenged Hulse on that rush:
Eamon Courtenay - Senator of the Opposition
"There is the political corruption, those persons in neighboring countries who are in Belize and who may not have reached the five years yet but there is an election coming and so a standard bearer connected to the government would seek to complete the files. All the requirements appear to be regular but in truth and in fact that person does not qualify. And in the run-up to the 2012 election, the evidence we have is that about 2000 people were given nationality, most if not all, who did not qualify. Assuming that that is so, you would agree as well that an audit should be done with respect to those persons, that activity in the run-up to the 2012 election."
Godwin Hulse
"Senator, I would fully agree that in the case of any irregularity, as you have outlined, and if they can be identified and the area can be isolated and there were persons who, because of what you suggested, got nationality improperly then certainly."
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