A Draft Report of Senate Inquiry on Immigration Finally Produced

Finally, there is a draft report from Chairman Aldo Salazar on the Senate Inquiry on the Immigration and Nationality Departments. At a press briefing today Senator Elena Smith was joined by the private sector Mark Lizarraga at the B.N.T.U. Headquarters in Belize City. Senator Lizarraga revealed that on Thursday, February twenty-seventh, a draft report of Special Senate Select Committee was completed and sent via email. This is more than two years after the committee concluded its inquiry on the findings of the Auditor General’s Special Report on these departments in December 2017.  Lizarraga says that the Opposition, however, was not included even though it had representation on the committee.

Mark Lizarraga

Mark Lizarraga, Senator for Business Community

“Interestingly enough, yesterday we received the first draft of the report from Senator Aldo Salazar. I was copied on it as were you and it is interesting to note that the Opposition was not copied on that email. And I found it to be strange and the games continue. As well, anyhow, let me not say anymore on that.  A first draft has been sent, I have not read it, I have not had the time to go over it—it is quite lengthy—but I think we should say it is what it is. For the first time a draft was sent out. And again, why do I bring up the matter of the member representing the Opposition is that it changes the balance of the committee and that is concerning because we don’t want games to continue to be played, quite frankly. It concerns us that this whole matter has taken so long and it concerns us that misrepresentations have been circulating. There was a comment made recently that the Opposition does not have representation on the committee and it is unfortunate and again it is more games that are being played beucase the Opposition had an alternate on that committee that attended whenever Senator Courtenay was not present. As well, I was copied on a letter when it was sent to the chairman stating quite clearly and quoting the relevant sections of the Constitution of Belize, saying that Senator Michel Chebat was to be the Opposition’s representative on the Senate Select Committee so it is unfortunate that these games are played.”