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Aug 23, 2011

List of Sri Lankan nationals raise eyebrows

There are lingering questions tonight about a list of single entry visas issued to a long list of Sri Lankan and Indian nationals. The twenty-one visa approvals were granted by Immigration and Nationality Services to two Indian and nineteen Sri Lankan nationals to scout film locations in the country.  The visa approvals are dated July nineteenth and directed to the Immigration Officer in charge at the PGIA. There is a report that last Thursday, at least four of the persons arrived in the country from Central America. But questions remain on whether the large group is really heading this way for movie purposes. Alarm bells are sounding because of an immigration scandal in November 2010 in which Chinese nationals, bearing Japanese passports, were transported from Haiti to Belize in a private aircraft. It later came to light that Sri Lankan and Somali nationals were also using Belize as a transit point to the United States.  It resulted in a shake up in the ranks of the Immigration Department and a group of six immigration officers were arrested and charged with immigration offences but their case was struck out by the Magistrates Court on July eleventh for want of prosecution. More recently, the head of mission at one of our embassies that came under scrutiny was recalled to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


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8 Responses for “List of Sri Lankan nationals raise eyebrows”

  1. Rod says:

    This corruption must stop get out perdomo you are a traitor to your country you barrow and your gov. Should be put in jail for being traitors of your country selling out your country for money this is the worse thing any belizean can do get out get out guan guan barrow and perdomo.

  2. Fromafar says:

    Rod, get used to it, this is the “jewel”

  3. oscar965 says:

    The scandal of November 2010 at the immigration department just got a couple of people fired or transfered, but REALLY NOTHING has changed. The department will continue with its corrupt practices because there is so much money involved and most of the times the employees get orders from the top to process forms without questions….

  4. BelCap says:

    ahhh di transparency & accountability to the barrow administration

  5. BelCap says:

    ahhhhhhhh di transparency & accountability of the barrow administration

  6. Ras says:

    The U.S should immediately be informed and also a background check should be made of who these people are. If they are linked to any terrorist group and they make it into the U.S do you know who will be held accountable? Thats right Belize and the jewel will be known as a parking lot for terrorist who are looking for a way into the states lets not get to that point Belize.

  7. Earl Grey says:

    They are doing a DOCUMENTARY…….called ……HOW TO GET TO AMERICA THROUGH BELIZE. or
    “AMERICA….THROUGH THE BACK (door)!!!”. Should be exciting……..

  8. subKonshus says:

    Ok, they are here to scout film locations in the country…. So which TV network do they represent? Which film production company are they from? What kind of film will they be shooting? Have they connected with the Film Commission in Belize? Which company are they from? Are they willing to do an interview on Channel 5 or Channel 7 news? Which area of the country will they be scouting? Who received them and who will be their guide? These are just some fundamental questions that could be answered in a heartbeat if they are who they say they are……lets see. Seems like Jose Sanchez got some scouting to do on these scouts!

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