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Oct 20, 2014

Minister Hulse Confirms that Guatemalan Workers Illegal

The construction of a forward operating base on Hunting Caye has been halted on the strength of a stop order from U.S. Southcom. The workers left the island on October ninth, upon receipt of that stop order, but the question of their status has remained unanswered. Minister of National Security John Saldivar stated on national television that all the workers had proper documents to be in Belize and to work on the island. But that wasn’t the case. In fact, those Guatemalan workers were in Belize illegally, brought in by the contracting firm. Normally that would be a big deal, but when we caught up with Minister of Immigration and Labour Godwin Hulse, he told us that it was just a little mix up.

 

Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration & Labour

“We had a report that says that in fact the people did not have the necessary documentation. There was a little mix-up with that. I know that you will ask me about what the Minister of Defence said. The United States had indeed taken the steps to ensure that the contractor had the necessary documentation. The contractor just didn’t follow through. So I think the Minister of Defence was advised wrongly by the Coast Guard, no fault of his…that in fact everything was in order, and it was not. But I need to say that the contract was done in 2011, so that was before my time as Minister of Immigration and even before the Defence Minister’s time as Minister of Defence. It was a contract that was signed a couple years ago, and was just being worked on. Of course you do know that as soon as we discovered that we attempted to deal with it, but coincidentally and simultaneously the US withdrew, gave a stop order, so the people left the next morning.”

 

Reporter

Godwin Hulse

“Sir I realize that and I realize the contract was signed in 2011. But it’s just the fact that these workers were able to…they didn’t enter Belize in 2011, but they were able to come into Belize now and work on a project.”

 

Godwin Hulse

“But the issue there is that because it was Coast Guard, because it is Ministry of Defence, because it is a government contract, the one immigration officer that we had out there who entered them was not aware or perhaps did not see it fit to interview each and every one because it’s a government project – there’s Coast Guard, there’s Ministry of Defence, the contract was signed a long time ago. And I think those were just the circumstances. I think what we have to focus on is that as soon as we found out and the media brought it to our attention, we took the necessary action.”

 

Currently the Coast Guard is awaiting approval of a request to have Guatemalan company Binarq subcontract the project to a Belizean company.


Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.

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3 Responses for “Minister Hulse Confirms that Guatemalan Workers Illegal”

  1. Retired CEO says:

    The more Godwin Hulse talks, the more he places his foot in his mouth. Now he has apparently, successfully passed the buck to his predecessor. Imagine the buffoonery? fool di talk fool di listen? Where doe’s the buck stops? Very sadly so we are facing a critically confusing leadership crisis in the jewel. For God’s sake please stop it? Wake up, Rise up Belizeans! What else is new? Nuff said, when is enough, enough?

  2. Louisville,Ky. says:

    If ever, I have heard a lame excuse and someone passing the buck…..this is it!
    I think Godwin di tek Belize Kruffy fu kunnu munnu!

  3. meandi says:

    “The immigration officer … did not see it fit to interview each and every one because it’s a government project.” So when its a political project then immigration and police turn a blind eye? There are so many exceptions that customs, immigration and police turn a blind eye too when the party is for a minister or border management officer, the beers, soda, liquor and girls pass without any documentation.

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