Trade Union Senator Lends Support to Inquiry

Elena Smith

That motion for a select senate investigation on the policies and processes as well as on the issuance of passports and irregularities and wrongdoings was seconded by senators representing the unions and the business community, respectively.  Senator Elena Smith rose to state that the glaring disregard for procedures in applying for and receiving visas and passports should not be condoned.

Elena Smith, Senator for Unions

“I rise to second the motion for the appointment of a special select committee to investigate the issuance of nationality, visas and passports in the Ministry of Education. The blatant disregard to procedures as citing in the Auditor General’s report cannot be condoned. The time and effort placed into investigating and preparing the reports as well as the struggles and even demeaning punishments alleged to have occurred to team members cannot be left to just lay on the table. The public must feel secure in the knowledge that any issuance of the above mentioned documents is done according to the specified rules and regulations.”

Mark Lizarraga

Mark Lizarraga, Business Senator

“Mister President I rise to make my contributions. And why is this motion before us today? One Mister President, we know it is because of the serious nature of the irregularities in question; the strong public outcry for answers and perhaps the strong perception of minimal transparency in handling matters thus far. The public outrage in the absence of independent analysis and the reluctance of the police and by virtue of such the D.P.P. to get involved in a matter that has affected the country and will continue to impact our nation’s identity and security and social landscape forever. The public cry Mister President is that on such a vital and important national matter, the appearance of accountability has been taking too long. This report while we commend the Auditor General and those that assisted her and those public officers that supported her on the work…we believe and we’ve been crying for this for too long. We believe that the police and the D.P.P. should have played a more active role as does the Auditor General call for in this report. The senate can be an investigating body and has the constitutional authority to conduct public hearings and it can lend to full public disclosure to satisfy the public and to allow them to se first hand all that has transpired.”