Minister says changes came from Cal controversy

As he had promised on our newscast on Thursday night, this morning Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow questioned Minister of Immigration Ralph Fonseca on the Cal controversy. Following Barrow’s petitions for changes in the system of issuing and withdrawing diplomatic status, Fonseca maintained that new measures have already been put in place.

Ralph Fonseca, Minister of Immigration
“Successive governments have not found it necessary to put in place a formal system, a protocol for crosschecking on the return of diplomatic passports should the status of the holders be changed. Regrettably, that was the case here. However be assured that working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we now have that in place so that once there is a change in status, the Immigration Department will be proactive should the passport not be handed in and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be so advised.”

As we reported yesterday, the Financial Intelligence Unit has launched an investigation into Cal’s affairs to determine the origin of the large sums of American money reportedly found in his possession during a search by Panamanian customs officials last month.