Immigration scandal; were terrorists given visas?
There is huge public outcry on the immigration scandal that is embarrassing the government of the day because it is alleged that the ring leaders are highly connected. The leader of the Opposition John Briceño made remarks at today’s house meeting making specific recommendations to clean up the mess and according to Briceño, he has written to the Prime Minister asking for a Commission of Inquiry on the human smuggling ring that was busted in early October when chartered flights arrived at the P.G.I.A. from Haiti bringing Chinese nationals. The Prime Minister, however, turned down that request with the excuse that six officers had been arrested and one had confessed. Since then our exclusive investigations have revealed that Sri Lankan nationals were also detected in Ecuador with questionable visas. According to Briceño some of the names of persons who have been granted visas to Belize, will make your hair raise.
John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition
john briceno
“Now we hear about Sri Lankans and Pakistanians and God knows who all are the people that have been approved. We’ve heard about three planes coming in late at night. For those that have attempted to keep an airport open late at night, it’s a lengthy procedure, a very acrostic procedure. So the point is that these junior officers could have never done what happened on those three nights where they kept the airport open. But when we did a cursory look at the list, some names pop up. There’s one Mr. Umar, that when we Google that name there are several of them but one of them came up was suspected—in a New York Times Article—suspected of being one of the terrorists that attempted to bomb an airplane going to Detroit. We don’t know if it’s the same person because there was no security background check, no Interpol was used to check on them. Then there’s another one Mr. Mohammed, a Sri Lankan. In that case when we again Googled, several names popped up but one of concern is that that very same person is suspected of terrorist activities in Sri Lanka. This we found out from the news papers in India.
If the US government were to believe that the international airport is being used for illegal activities, they can delist our only international airport. And were that to happen that would be the – to our tourism industry and to all of us as to how is it that we are going to travel. But the question is also where is the money? I mean just at what we have right now in hand, a hundred and forty plus, we’re looking at over one point seven million dollars. We hear about well connected U.D.P. operatives acting as agents. In one case they are even claiming that one is highly connected politically of Chinese descent with the U.D.P. and yet we hear nothing about it. We are finding out now that the Ambassador for Cuba when he’s supposed to be looking at the bilateral agreements between Belize and Cuba, his concern has been about issuing these visas and that is being done at the expense of the Belizean people.
The prime minister said that it was only these junior officers so there’s no need for a commission of inquiry. And then here comes the minister of police stating that it is bigger than anything else that it includes big people in this country and includes big people outside of this country. That’s why the honorary council in Ecuador raised the alarm.”
Not to be a topic changer, but what happened when Moises Cal was encountered with undeclared cash in panama, (just one example), was not there a coverup? As far as I am concerned, neither the PUP nor the UDP are deserving of any honest Belizeans’ trust, both are birds of a feather, and pretend to keep the Belizean Public in the dark. (Try as much as possible to vote per hardworking person and not party, in the following elections.)
The U.S. State Department published a Trafficking Persons Report in 2006, which examined the fight against this type of crime and evaluated the situation in different countries.
About 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are victims of trafficking. The women are used as slaves, as prostitutes, initially the children are used as a slave, and eventually becomes a sex slave. The report, which examined 149 countries, and gathered information based on concrete actions. The countries were divided into 3 categories:
1. Countries whose governments are in full compliance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which was adopted in 2002.
2. Countries which do not fully comply with this law, but are applying themselves and want to pull themselves together. This means that they fight slave traders, arrest and try criminals, and help victims. Within this category, there are countries that fall into a Watch List, and are being observed for suspicious activity, making them candidates for third category of states, the least law-abiding.
3. Countries that do not comply with the above-mentioned law and that are not making any effort to comply and stop human trafficking. Twelve countries fall into this category:
Belize, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Laos, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Even to find my country listed with these type of countries is shameful.
“Belize is a human trafficking corridor and the worst human trafficking violator in Central America”. These are the words of the Organisation for Responsible Tourism. We earn an estimated $200 million by the Tourist industry and our leaders from both PUP and UDP take this problem very lightly. Jo, 1648 foreigners came into the country in 2007 alone, I believe during your predecessor time he was given several warnings about human trafficking.
Please stop playing this game of using the public for political gain when you both do the same BS. Letting in terrorists in the country? Since 9/11 Belize conducted life as normal and continued selling our passports to the highest bidders abroad I would not be surprise if a few Al-Quaida operatives have their hands on some of our documents. I’ve encountered an individual on my travels who clearly had no interest in the country, never been to the country, unable to speak any of the major languages in Belize but was he was travelling on Belizean documents and through a translator he was able to mention one name – Said Musa. It left me with no doubt what the deal was. SO please stop this hypocrisy, the people of Belize need to wake up stop believing every nonsense that come out these people mouth. What I want to hear you say is that you will be working with the government to eradicate this practice, close our borders, and start jailing people for trafficking humans. Act in the interest of the People of Belize for once and not self-interest this is how you may win over more votes, because come election time you can show by your action of working with the government you help to change this and that. Failing that you can show that you offered to help change something and the government declined. The people are not stupid we will be able to recognise your efforts and you will win votes that way. The days of this old style tribalistic politics are over we demand more from our opposition. People educate yourselves about the activities of your government, the people you elected to represent you and how the world view us. I am sick of this mud-slinging. Human trafficking and the sale of our passports and visas is crime and it must stop now. I didn’t mean for this to be so long but it is important to me, how our politicians sell our birth rights willingly I will never understand.
its about time you get off your butt and start pushing for accountability of this udp gov breceno you have been mute to all the wrong doings going on in the country that leads me to believe that you will not be a good leader or you have just been asleep i hope its the later well time to wake up and take these guys to task push for people to go to jail for treason and spying from the pm down you have to show leadership qualities in this business so if you cant stand the heat get out of the kitchen you need to show belizeans that you will be a true leader for belize and that you actually care about the belizean people also you have not been doing enough to get monies and other equiptment etc from foreign goverments show the people that you are not like judas barrow that you are willing and able to beg for assistance from any country venezuela, iran, brazil,bolivia, ecuador, north korea and any other country russia show us you are willing to grovel for the belizean people not like barrow he says his name is not oliver twist his name is oliver barrow and he begs no one for anything sadest pm in the history of belize so come on breceno get with the program if youd like send me ill get you monies from these countries ill beg anycountry for the people of belize and our nation so let it be written so let it be done.
I am amazed at the lengths to which power hungry politicians would go to bad-mouth their own country. If you just google names, you are very likely to find one with connections to terrorism. That says nothing. Google is not a credible source for you to be making these type of allegations and assertions, unless, of course, you want to cause an international incident and maligned the governement and people of the country. Thanks a lot Briceno, just be careful that in your absolute lust for power, you dont destroy the very same country you hope to govern someday.
Arrest warrants–ARREST WARRANTS–where are those signed and as well as SERVED ARREST
WARRANTS—THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED____ITS TIME TO FINE OR SERVE THE
TIME….BELIZEANS GET MILITANT–Show these criminals who is the BOSSS—VIP–GO AND TAKE
OVER THE HOUSE—
Today is a great day for democracy, freedom of speech and human rights as one of my heroines Aung Sun Suu Kyi is released. This is an example of a Political figure fighting for the people and for her country not self-interest that we see in too many of our crooks under the guise of politicians. This woman could have left Burma anytime but she chose to stay and fight the military. She was placed under house arrest and therefore gagged by the Regime. The tragedy is that as this woman’s husband was dying of cancer in Britain she made a very tough decision to stay in Burma and fought the rights of the people of Burma, what selfless decision? Politicians in our country can learn about this type of courage. She is an inspiration.
We in Belize need to sit up and pay attention to the actions of our politicians, of course we live in a democracy but I would like to see more Politicians fighting for the people for the interest of our country. Mr Barrow you were voted in power because the people wanted rid of the corruption. We want more transparency; we want more action from your administration to tackle human trafficking, drug smuggling and the high murder rates. I think you inherited some of these things but its time to be tough.
No injustice can last forever, and people remember as in the words of this great woman ‘Real freedom is the freedom to speak out freely’. We can walk around in a country and go anywhere but if we cannot speak out then how free are we?
It is obvious that we are all silenced and maybe awed by the vast number of issues plaguing our country under this UDP administration, I must say that I’m ashamed of the things coming out on the media from my country, usually when my co-workers would ask about Belize my response is always positive and paints a beautiful picture that makes them want to visit Belize, now I’m afraid that will no longer be possible to portrait.
I must now tell a different truth, one that will show the dark side of our once beautiful and solace society and one which will most likely scare them away; in fact when these news hits the international air waves I will be looked at as a liar, a fraud or worst.
I make reference to the murders which is on the rise, our industries, judiciary, social security and the lot, but worst of all the immigration scandal which puts our national security at high risk, our heritage, our newly recognized commonwealth status with the new passport are things that many from other countries are gleaming for, only to have that sold off for profit of some corrupted elected leaders? BS! Perdomo can hardly defend himself when interviewed, he talked about wanting to cry because of the pressures and responsibilities of his ministry, and that he’s been offered gifts in the form of whiskey and stuff like that? B$! It breaks my heart to hear a man of his age and position as a leader in our society talk in such a child like manner. These are the people that are making us all liars in the eyes of our friends and associates abroad who may inquire of us about Belize. I can only hope and pray that we find new leaders in this country because under PUP the same sort of crap was going on, only not and maybe not as disgraceful. Please people, let us all pray to one accord for our nation, and pray against these oppressors’ and criminals in high places. I’m also ashamed that I voted for this, but I must admit I was tired of the manipulation and brain washing by PUP.
SJS
Barrow is not doing his job, he is apart of this scandal and may be the biggest fish in the pond. That is why he those not want a further investigation. So embarrassing to the people of this beautiful country. All what those politician is doing is lining the pockets with the money that is suppose to be for the people of Belize.
LAWD, NUFF !@#$ERY A GAWN SO NUTTN CYAN BE DUN BOUT EH DEH … HOW DEM MEK SUM MON SHUB AWT VISAS AN DEM NUH REALIZE WOLA FARRIN WUD ZEET. …
Belizean people only stupid dem just cross dem hands and complain…well i wah join unu and watch too then….me fight fi belize that wah neva happen f*ck the gov’t and the people it represents
all Belize ministers in goverment PUP & UDP that controls our Belizean passport & visa for years have cirminal history that is not recorded ,the people of BELIZE are not stupid the dark is now comming to light . every day bucket goes to well one day botton fall out .our representive in los Angeles CALF now is giving us a hard time to renew our passport . last week i meat this man in the passport ,he said he got his pass port today after five months .who in BELIZE can stept up the plate and fix our problems .
This is taken from http://www.state.gov website (U.S. State Department). exact report in reference to RadicalBelizean’s submitted info about the Trafficking Persons Report in 2006
BELIZE (TIER 3)
Belize is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of labor and sexual exploitation. Women and girls are trafficked to Belize, mainly from Central America, and exploited in prostitution. Children are trafficked to Belize for labor exploitation. Belize’s largely unmonitored borders with Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico facilitate the movement of illegal migrants who are vulnerable to traffickers. Girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, sometimes with the consent and complicity of their close relatives. There are also unconfirmed reports that Indian and Chinese migrants are trafficked for involuntary servitude in homes and shops.
The Government of Belize does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. Belize failed to show evidence of significant law enforcement or victim protection efforts over the last year. Laws against trafficking remained weak and largely unenforced, adult victims received no attention or assistance, and the government made no significant effort to raise public awareness and work with vulnerable populations.
Prosecution
Anti-trafficking laws remained weak and the government made negligible progress in identifying and punishing traffickers during the reporting period. Law enforcement officials investigated five trafficking cases, prosecuted three, and convicted two traffickers. The country’s anti-trafficking statute provides for a $5,000 fine or imprisonment for one to five years. In practice, recent convictions have resulted in one-year sentences. Penalties for sex crimes are significantly greater and prosecutors could use the more serious charges, when appropriate, against traffickers, but no such instances were confirmed during the reporting period. The National Assembly considered revisions to the Liquor Licensing Act that would bar convicted traffickers from receiving liquor licenses. However, police and prosecutors generally lack the resources needed to pursue anti-trafficking investigations and bring traffickers to trial. Although there are allegations of general corruption in Belize, there were no specific allegations of trafficking complicity; there were no known investigations or prosecutions of public officials for trafficking complicity.
Protection
The Government of Belize’s protection services throughout the last year were minimal and did not meet victim needs. The anti-trafficking law provides specific victim protection policies, including temporary legal residence and protection from prosecution for victims willing to testify. However, the government operates no witness protection programs and there were no known attempts to identify foreign victims who might have requested such services. The government offered no programs for shelter or health care services to victims; normally, these costs are only covered if the victim’s trafficker is convicted and ordered to pay restitution. Most of the few identified trafficking victims were referred to battered women’s shelters or, in the case of minors, a children’s home that offers care until the children can be returned to their homes. The government provided full assistance (shelter, medical aid, and financial help) to one Belizean child victim returned from El Salvador.
Magnet: I sincerely hope that you are not living in Belize. Furthermore even if you are a citizen of another country lets hope you stay on the right side of the law as governments abroad have been known the strip foreigners( because that’s what you are) of their citizenships and deport them to their place of birth. No matter where you are, you a Belizean first and foremost. It’s this type of ignorance, and apathy that have Belize the way it is today. If you didn’t care why are you looking on the website? Or perhaps you’re so sad you’ve got no friends. I wouldn’t be surprise if that is the case as you probably have the same apathy and don’t give a F…. (your words) attitude in all aspects of your life. Now F’off.
Radical Belizean, thanks for the info but I’m not surprised, if you can find it, look at the names of the previous ambassadors & ask yourself who is really representing us.I mentioned in another post the 4 “Somalis” that were abandoned by their coyote on the northern hwy. They told an unbelievable story but their request for asylum was supposed to be heard. With neither passports or visas, these men were able to make it from their homeland to Belize & claimed to have come through countries that do not share a contiguous border.
When an Arab terrorist was found with our passport about 20 years ago, the GOB pretended to crack down. The article(s) in the Belize newspaper focused on a white man using the surname Green who claimed he was born in Corozal, none of the neighbors had heard of him or his family. We cannot continue to allow greedy people with divided loyalties to BS us into believing they have our backs. Many of the people we are playing with come from countries & cultures where they have legal ways of hiding money & they do not give up those connections.
I believe that the day Belize got his Independence was the day he got Slavery. Believe it or not Belize is not an Independent country or at least fully independent. The voice of the people is not heard anymore, the voice of our nation is becoming a cry. I believe that we would have been a better country had we remain a British Colony. I don’t think the Queen is corrupted as our government. To all our nation I say… PRAY cause only God can help us now.
BZNinCALI yes man we really need to hold these people accountable and shame them. To find Belize listed with these lawless rogue states is quite an embarrassment. I was appalled by the weak response from the opposition leader. A government is only as strong as the opposition there pressing them on the points that matter. Quite frankly, Mr Jo have us doing his job because of the hypocrisy involve none of them can speak out about the things that matter to the people. The time for corruption, and lazy man village style politics are over. Globalisation means that we live in a global village and you can do things but it will come out whether you want it to or not.
Openueye thanks I didn’t read the document in its entirety before, I just skimmed the important bits. However as you see this is no made up fancy story it is the activities and none compliance of your pass government and now Mr Barrow need to get busy and start showing initiatives towards correcting these things this is your half term report. Step up to the plate, Mr Prime Minister. I will also thanks channel 5 on this occasion for allowing us to print this as you know we have our fights from time to time. I think it is right that the people knows what the people they elect to represent them do.
BelizeanBuy: Britain kept a handful of islands and I really don’t think Belize was on their list to retain. They couldn’t wait to relinquish the territory of Belize because we were costing them too much and we didn’t have any oil etc. I wonder how our life would be any better if you were being govern from Britain? I am intrigued, we sometimes look at things with rosy tinted spectacles. You may be right to suggest that the Queen may not be corrupt but several of their politicians in their government and past government have faced all manner of corruption charges in the past year. Where human being are involved greed always seem to be present.
please be aware that ORT is not a real organization. it does not exist and prints a lot of fiction about Belize. However, Perdomo needs to go and so do the other ministers responsible for this mess.
Well, well. So this is what our politicians having been doing or not been doing in this case? This report was during the PUP administration in 2006. I got an even more recent report published in 2010 and we seem to have moved in Tier 2, but it suggest that we have made efforts to improve things but there are plenty of room for improvement.
Good work RadicalBelizean, we need to keep our eyes peel.
BELIZE (Tier 2 Watch List)
Belize is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced prostitution and forced labor. The most common form of trafficking in Belize is the forced prostitution of children, particularly situations where poor families push their school-aged daughters to provide sexual favors to wealthy older men in exchange for school fees, money, and gifts. This “sugar daddy” phenomenon occurs in Belize and other Caribbean countries, but often is not recognized as a form of human trafficking by local communities or law enforcement personnel. Men, women, and children, particularly from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico, migrate voluntarily to Belize in search of work; some may fall victim to forced prostitution in bars or to forced labor. In recent years, migrants from India and Nepal have been subjected to conditions of forced labor in Belize. Child sex tourism has been identified as an emerging trend in Belize.
The Government of Belize does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Despite these efforts, notably the continued provision of assistance to foreign trafficking victims first identified in 2005 and 2008, the government did not convict or sentence any trafficking offenders last year, and did not make adequate efforts to systematically identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations. In spite of existing anti-trafficking legislation and victim facilities, the government did not demonstrate appreciable progress in combating trafficking; therefore Belize is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year.
Recommendations for Belize: Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses and convict and punish trafficking offenders, including any allegedly complicit public officials; increase law enforcement efforts against both labor and sex trafficking; develop a formal mechanism to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, including migrant laborers and foreign women forced to work in bars; continue to improve victim services and assistance; and increase penalties for human trafficking so they are commensurate with penalties for other serious crimes, such as rape.
Prosecution
The Government of Belize demonstrated considerable, but incomplete, efforts to apply law enforcement measures against trafficking offenders during the past year. Belize’s government prohibits all forms of trafficking through its Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Act of 2003, which prescribes punishment between one and five years’ imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. These penalties are sufficiently stringent, but are not commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes such as rape, which carries a penalty of eight years’ to life imprisonment. Authorities conducted five anti-trafficking law enforcement operations during the reporting period; no cases of human trafficking were identified during these operations, but individuals were arrested for immigration offenses. Two prosecutions of labor trafficking offenses are pending before the courts; in both cases, the victims were adult males. There were no trafficking convictions during the reporting period, and there have been no trafficking convictions since 2005. Some international organizations describe Belize’s judicial system as dysfunctional: human trafficking cases are typically handled in lower courts and often dismissed. An anti-trafficking committee, formed of various government agencies and several NGOs, led the government’s efforts to combat trafficking, including coordination of investigations and prosecutions of trafficking offenders. There were no confirmed cases of trafficking-related complicity by Belizean officials, although an NGO reports that some officials may have accepted bribes to ignore potential trafficking activity.
Protection
The Government of Belize maintained adequate protection services for trafficking victims last year. During the reporting period, the government revised standard operating procedures for officials dealing with human trafficking cases to improve victim identification and conducted training on these procedures. Immigration officials who had received government-sponsored training on human trafficking identified four sex trafficking victims in March 2010: while initially incarcerated for immigration violations, once identified the victims were removed from jail and placed in protective care. Ten foreign labor trafficking victims, all adult males who were first identified in 2008, received shelter assistance, victim services and work permits last year, and two were offered permanent residency. Three sex trafficking victims first identified in 2005 continued to receive legal, health, and rehabilitation services from the government during the reporting period. Child victims of trafficking could be placed in government institutions for children or referred to local NGOs, which receive limited funding and in-kind support from the government; the Government of Belize provided services to one child victim, including foster care and funding for legal, health, and rehabilitation services. The government operated two shelters for adult trafficking victims and provided access to medical care, counseling, and integration assistance. One of the shelters cannot accommodate both male and female victims at the same time. Authorities in Belize encouraged victims to assist with the investigation and prosecution of their traffickers. There were no reports of victims being jailed or penalized for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked. Authorities provided temporary residency for foreign trafficking victims participating in court cases. In collaboration with the Mexican government, the government assisted in the repatriation of several Indian labor trafficking victims. The anti-trafficking committee conducted training in trafficking victim identification for police officers, immigration officials, labor officials, social workers, and health care workers during the reporting period.
Prevention
The Government of Belize maintained efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking during the reporting period. The government continued to air public service announcements in multiple languages and distributed posters and anti-trafficking materials. The government maintained partnerships with international organizations and NGOs, particularly regarding commercial sexual exploitation of children, and hosted a workshop in 2009 to raise awareness of this issue. Authorities registered 13 new cases of children at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation and provided them with education assistance, counseling, and other services. Although there were no reported investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of child sex tourists during the reporting period, government officials continued to work with Belize’s tourism industry to promote a code of conduct to prevent child sex tourism. In an effort to reduce the demand for commercial sex, courts convicted three individuals for commercial sexual exploitation of children using carnal knowledge and indecent assault statutes. No specific efforts to reduce demand for forced labor were reported.
toradicalbelizean too shy or coward to use your name so you use Radical’s? Whether ORT is legitimate or not the story appears to be the same as the US dept report. Were you there shouting the same way for your PUPs to go. I think Mr Perdomo need to work harder and we’ll judge him in a few but right now the focus is that these reports printed in black and white from the US state Department (go and have a look, Hilary Clinton holding them in her hands) show the PUP government was turning a blind eye to human trafficking. Wait you’ll probably tell me that it wasn’t a real Hillary Clinton, you’re full of ….
The government is way too deep in this. It will be impossible for them to pull out. If they are selling these things they are probably dealing directly with drug lords, terrorist and so forth. Who will probably take their family out if they stop. Been saying it and mark my words Belize is preparing itself to be the next Haiti.