Ministers Made Many Visits to Immigration – But What Were They Doing There?
The Senate inquiry has revealed that Ministers wielded outsize power as it related to the workings of the Immigration Department. While Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse has contended that none of his fellow Ministers had the power to intimidate employees of the Department into doing favours for them, it turns out there was a lot of traffic in and out of the Belmopan office – but why? As long as they were not guests of Director Ruth Meighan, she told the panel, she didn’t think much of it.
Eamon Courtenay, P.U.P. Senator
“What about the presence of these ministers in the department itself? You recall seeing them in there?”
Ruth Meighan
Ruth Meighan, Former Director of Immigration
“Yes.”
Eamon Courtenay
“Who do you recall seeing in there?”
Ruth Meighan
“At times Minister Heredia, Minister Castro, Minister Contreras, Minister Patt, I think, a few times.”
Eamon Courtenay
“What were they doing there?”
Eamon Courtenay
Ruth Meighan
“I don’t know; other than if they come to me or pass through my office, I wouldn’t know.”
Eamon Courtenay
“Ms. Meighan, are you telling us you saw ministers in your department, and you didn’t ask any questions to find out why are these ministers here?”
Ruth Meighan
“If the minister came to the office to see me, then I see them. If they are there for any other business and they didn’t come to my office, I ask no question about what they are doing there.”
Eamon Courtenay
“You were not concerned for ministers being in your department who are not asking to see you?”
Ruth Meighan
“No.”
Eamon Courtenay
“In hindsight you’d take a different approach?”
Ruth Meighan
“Why?”
Eamon Courtenay
“You tell me.”
Ruth Meighan
“I don’t know they are there because…”
Eamon Courtenay
“Have you read these reports?”
Ruth Meighan
“Yes I did and I am saying that if the minister is there like everybody else they’re entitled to visit any of the offices, any of the government offices.”
Eamon Courtenay
“All innocent and above-board as far as you are concerned?”
Ruth Meighan
“Well, that’s what I would have thought.”
Eamon Courtenay
“You know otherwise now?”
Ruth Meighan
“That the ministers were there doing official business?”
Eamon Courtenay
“I asked a question.”
Ruth Meighan
“I’m asking what is it that you want me to think differently about. You’re asking me whether it was okay for them to visit and I didn’t question it? No, I didn’t, because I am under the impression that they are there conducting official business.”
