Immigration Minister is Disappointed in Permanent Residence Hustle

Eamon Courtenay

According to Minister Courtenay, it was observed that a number of persons were arriving to Belize from an area of mainland China that local authorities from the Immigration Department were not familiar with.  It immediately raised a red flag.  Courtenay says that he is disappointed with the situation considering the efforts that have been made to address issues of corruption within the department.

Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Immigration

“It was observed that an unusually high number of Chinese nationals were coming from a specific part of China which is not where most Chinese come from who come to Belize.  That was flagged by the director who informed me and we asked for the files and it became immediately apparent that fraud had been committed and from there the investigations have proceeded. I am very disappointed.  I am aggrieved, to use your word.  I don‘t want to say too much because, unlike the ComPol, I prefer to let paper and let witnesses do the talking and not to say anything that would prejudice ongoing investigations. But what we have seen is serious and we have put in place measures to address it.”