Time to Mend Broken Links at Immigration Department

As final vettor, Gordon Wade’s word was almost law when it came to recommendations for nationality. He gave the final word before the Director gave her stamp of approval. But, as in the case of Tizing Huang, a person claiming to have permanent residence, despite having only just arrived in Belize, can slip through the cracks if the matter is not thoroughly checked. Wade says that the Department’s staff is trained – but reiterated the need for inter-departmental communication.

Gordon Wade, Former Officer in Charge, Nationality Section

“A file comes to me that is already prepared, the applicant has already been interviewed, the file has been pre-vetted to me. When the file comes to me, there is no indication in that file that that person had just entered Belize the day before. I had recommended and the Senator had recommended that there should be a network within the different sections of the Department in order to avoid things like these. Because, like I said, a file came to my office already prepared, when that comes to me there is no original documents on that file, but certified copies of everything that was presented there. And when I vet a file…”

Gordon Wade

Mark Lizarraga, Business Community Senator

“Who certifies those copies?”

Gordon Wade

“The person who accepts them, whether it be in Belmopan or at the district stations.”

Mark Lizarraga

“So you receive a file and what do you do? Do you look through it?”

Gordon Wade

“I go to see – it depends on the section they are applying through – I check to see that the requirements are met, and then I make a recommendation to the Director.”

Mark Lizarraga

“But somebody has already told you in that process – by their signature I suspect – that they have already checked that and that this person qualifies under this…”

Gordon Wade

“Yes sir, that is what we said that it is already pre-vetted.”

Mark Lizarraga

“And are these people trained? Because I am coming to a question shortly where somebody acted on your behalf and apparently did not, according to the Auditor General again, follow the due process. Do you believe that the people in the Department who were processing these things were properly trained, they knew the law and they were quite aware of what they should be doing?”

Gordon Wade

 “I would say so, sir.”