Belize Has No Diplomatic Presence in Dalian, China
Mark Lizarraga
Bol also told the Senate panel about the capability of foreign embassies in the U.S. and elsewhere that had limited access to the main system in Belmopan that allowed for picture taking and other preliminary duties prior to processing in Belmopan. He was questioned about a particular case of which authorities were aware in which persons applied in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, for economic citizenship – which is no longer available. But in any event, the PRC has no access to Belize’s immigration system.
Mark Lizarraga, Senator, Business Community
“Is there any other way for an applicant or information from an applicant to be put into the system?”
Rodolfo Bol, Former Systems Manager, Immigration Department
“Not that I am aware of; just through the district offices or the mobile system. You have the missions which have the data capture too; some of the Belizean embassies.”
Mark Lizarraga
“The embassies have data capture as well?”
Rodolfo Bol
Rodolfo Bol
“Some of them, yes.”
Mark Lizarraga
“Which ones?”
Rodolfo Bol
“It will be Washington; it is Miami; Los Angeles; Chicago; New York; London; and Taiwan. Seven missions.”
Mark Lizarraga
“And what do they have there to capture this data?”
Rodolfo Bol
“They have similar to what we have in Belmopan; just the data-capturing machine which is the camera, scanner, fingerprint and that’s it.”
Mark Lizarraga
“And then that information is sent to Belize electronically?”
Rodolfo Bol
“Yes, it’s live connection.”
Mark Lizarraga
“It’s live?”
Rodolfo Bol
“Yes, so as they enter it, we receive it.”
Mark Lizarraga
“These people visited someone in Dalian, China; apparently they had applied for some economic citizenship program. And I’m wondering, how could a passport be issued legally through a system, through an economic citizenship program if that is what is happening, how could this passport be issued in Belize and these people are in Dalian, China?”
Rodolfo Bol
“I wouldn’t know, sir; you only have the system as I mentioned at those missions and also at the district offices in Belize.”
Mark Lizarraga
“So there was no data capture equipment in China, as far as you know?”
Rodolfo Bol
“Yes, none.”
Mark Lizarraga
“Only in the places that you mentioned?”
Rodolfo Bol
“That’s right, sir.”
