Public Service Ministry & its Role in Haitian Nationals Investigation

The Ministry of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform and Religious Affairs, through its good governance unit, concluded a corruption survey in several departments where there have been multiple and sustained reports of alleged bribery and corruption. We’ll get to that next. First, we asked C.E.O. Rolando Zetina about the case of alleged corruption taking place by immigration officers at the Philip Goldson International Airport. It has been confirmed that an investigation is underway after Haitian nationals who entered the country last weekend handed over their passports to public officers with money inside. This was purportedly for immigration officers to grant them entry into Belize despite not meeting all the requirements. The C.E.O. of Immigration, Doctor Gilroy Middleton, told News Five last week that it is illegal for any immigration officer to accept monies from any traveller who is entering the country and that the matter is being looked at seriously. C.E.O. Zetina outlines the process of what takes place during these investigations and the role of his ministry.

Rolando Zetina, C.E.O., Ministry of Public Service

Rolando Zetina

“The ministry’s role in this whole process will be that for example, the Ministry of Immigration would have to submit a request for disciplinary action. We will review it and then we forward it to the public service commission for necessary action and they will be the ones to decide the type of disciplinary action that will be taken.”

Reporter

“And this has been happening right?”

Rolando Zetina

“The investigation is ongoing yes.”