….Husband Insists Wife is a Belizean
And that is what the police had to say – but her husband tells a different story. We spoke with Gustavo Velasquez via phone and he told us that Wendy Castro was born in Belize and her birth certificate is legit and was obtained following all the requirements of the vital statistics unit. According to Velasquez, Castro was born in the Toledo District in 1991 but she lived most of her life in Guatemala. He says that she obtained the birth certificate much later in life but they were able to prove that she was born here so they were able to get her birth certificate when she applied. He says his wife was mistreated considering she’s eight months pregnant and even now that she has been charged – she is hospitalized under police guard. Velasquez says he believes political mischief is at hand because Castro worked for a political figure. Here’s what he had to say when we asked him if the certificate was issued in error:
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez, Husband
“No. It wasn’t in error. Everything was verified and she went through the hospital and verified everything. Everything is legit. The Social Security called the station when they hold her and told the officer to release her and detained her for forty-eight hours.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, where did she get this birth certificate from?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“She applied for it like a regular person would apply.”
Andrea Polanco
“From the vital statistics office?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“Yes. Vital statistics. Everything at the vital statistics because everything is legit.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, was she born in Belize or in Guatemala?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“She was born in Belize. Belize. And that is why I am saying it is just a belated birth paper she applied for herself.”
Andrea Polanco
“When did she apply for this particular birth paper?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“I can’t remember exactly.”
Andrea Polanco
“Why would they say that she has this birth certificate “in error” – that it was given in error?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“Exactly – I want to know myself. I don’t know why.”
Andrea Polanco
“Have you contacted Vital Statistics to check on the status of this birth certificate?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“No. Social Security checked on it and they said that everything was in order and right.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, why did the Social Security call the police in the first place?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“Because she cannot explain herself in English and cannot write in English.”
Andrea Polanco
“And she was born in Belize, you’re saying?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“Yes, she was born in Belize.”
Andrea Polanco
“Has she lived her all her life?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“Not all her life.”
Andrea Polanco
“Wouldn’t they have people at Social Security who could speak Spanish and they would have translated for her?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“I don’t know why they did not do that for her. To me, this went political.”
Andrea Polanco
“Why would you think that?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“Because she was a housekeeper for Luke Espat and she had been paying social security for the past 7-8 years. All this time she has been paying – and like how I say she is 8.5 months pregnant and she went to check on her benefits.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, where is she right now?”
On the Phone: Gustavo Velasquez
“In the hospital under police care. They have been treating her like she is an animal or something, like she a criminal. She has been sleeping on the cold floor – these past few days have been very cold.”
