P.U.P.: visas action is much ado about nothing
As for an official reaction to the Samuels affair, I raised the issue this afternoon with the P.U.P. Chairman and Deputy Leader.
Vildo Marin, Chairman, People’s United Party
“My personal opinion is that it won’t hurt our chances of winning in the elections none at all. I don’t know, sometimes the U.S. Embassy just does things irrationally. I don’t know the reason why, so I really can’t comment on that.”
Johnny Briceño, Deputy Party Leader, P.U.P.
“I don’t think there is much we can say, the United States is a sovereign nation, they can decide whatever they want to do, it’s something that is totally out of our hands.”
Janelle Chanona
“Some would say it’s because of his possible involvement in the passport scandal. If that is the case, do you think it’s hurting the government so close to election?”
Johnny Briceño
“Again, I think it’s mere speculation. I think we would need to check with the U.S. government to see why it is that they have decided to revoke Minister Samuels’s visas, should if it did happen.”
Janelle Chanona
“Well that’s what the opposition is saying, so that’s the message being pushed out there. And that’s what I think people are coming to terms with today. So in your personal opinion then, do you think it will hurt if that is the case?”
Johnny Briceño
“In my personal opinion, the Opposition is getting desperate, they are grabbing at straws, they would try to create any illusion of scandals right now to try to move away the minds of the people on the real issues.”
In a letter replying to the U.D.P. Leader’s letter of Wednesday, Prime Minister Musa today confirmed that high level meetings have been held with U.S. officials on the immigration scandal, at which the U.S. government has been kept abreast of the ongoing investigation. That investigation involves the under-the-table purchase of hundreds of Belizean passports by unqualified foreigners through a number of “immigration agents” who are believed to have paid off employees of the Immigration Department. While the police investigation has not yet been acted upon by the D.P.P., News 5’s own investigation has implicated JPs Max Santos and Rudolph Thimbriel for signing false affidavits at the behest of Belize City immigration agent Gabby Affif.
In a press release late this evening, D.P.P. Kirk Anderson reiterates that the investigation is continuing and that the work of his office will not be influenced by any outside person or authority.
