…But was that decision based on instructions from his political bosses?

Godwin Hulse

The Commissioner of Police decided that there would be no criminal investigation of Elvin Penner. That’s what the Court was told today by his attorney. But, did Whylie make that decision all on his own or did he receive instructions from his political bosses? If he did so, then it suggests that he might also be the one who issued instructions to lead investigator Julio Valdez, to halt investigations after discrepancies, which can be considered illegalities, were found. If Whylie is acting on instructions, then it also suggests that whoever issued those instructions is high up on the totem pole…the political totem pole. As we said, it’s a mess, made much messier by that explosive memo which has been leaked to the media. Late today, we spoke to Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse, who told us that he had not seen the memo or heard about it, except for a tidbit on the news.

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Via Phone: Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration

“My position has always been very clear and unequivocal, I intend to find out, would love to find out, how is it that people were able to get nationality certificates and in some cases passports—the Kim case—without going through the proper process and without qualifying. And I know that all the speculations and things surround Minister Penner, but I know for a fact that it has to be much bigger than him. There has to be people who helped him or who typed the documents or whoever give him to sign. Yes it is his signature appearing on it, but other people ahs to be involved and that’s what the police was in there looking for. And so I was surprised and actually flabbergasted that there would be some instruction given to halt or discontinue that process in anyway. As far as I am concerned that cannot or should not happen at all; this need to be taken right through to its final conclusion and let the chips fall where they fall. That’s my position.”

Mike Rudon

“Sir let me pick your analytical brain because you are an analyst.  Instructions like those, which I guess we can assume that ASP Julio Valdez has no reason to lie about receiving instructions to stop the investigation. The ComPol has no interests in immigration as far as I am concerned. Whose interest would be served by instructions being given to halt this investigation? Can I pick your brain on that?”

Via Phone: Godwin Hulse

“Well you can Mister Rudon, but my answer is I wouldn’t know. I would have to launch my own investigation to find out whose interest that would be serving. As far as I know and as far as I understand, there are officers in immigration whose responsibility is to prepare documents, to vet these things, etc and when all of that is done it is then given to the Minister to sign…who at the time was Minister Penner. So I don’t know whose other interest would be served and who would be answering to whose interest in that case.”

Mike Rudon

“But is it logical to speculate that it would be not really aimed at other public officers, but at other ministers, other politicians?”

Via Phone: Godwin Hulse

“I don’t know that I can say that at this time at all.”

Mike Rudon

“Sir you said this is a cause for concern. Is it something that you intend to deal with?”

Via Phone: Godwin Hulse

“Well I’ve continuously said and intend to see that these things are carried to the full extent. I mean I’ve been very clear on this; very, very unequivocal on this. I intend to see that going forward that every single person that gets Belizean nationality and follows up with a passport is legit and deserving. And if there is anybody who got it undeserving and illegitimate, we need to deal with that and deal with the persons who aided and abetted. There is no two ways about that.”

Just for clarity, News Five can confirm that Prime Minister Dean Barrow was handed a copy of the D.P.P.’s memo on Thursday. Today, at his press conference, he told a News Five reporter that he had not gotten time to follow it up. We note, also for clarity, that to get answers, either the PM or Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse would need only to place a call to lead investigator Julio Valdez.