Prime Minister returns to the country…and dodges the media

Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been out of the country for more than a week – combining official and medical business. One day before he left the country, the PM reported that new immigration evidence had been discovered which damned Elvin Penner. Penner was invited to resign, but hadn’t. So that situation was very much up front and center. Then, while the PM was gone, the Edmund Castro visa scandal broke. A very credible informant surfaced who claims that she paid Castro two thousand dollars to facilitate the immediate processing of visas for Chinese nationals – that’s two thousand dollars each. She provided details of the payment, details of visits to Castro’s office and details of the procedure from payment to collection. Penner was plenty bad enough, and with the new evidence surfacing against another of his Ministers of State, the PM must have been dreading his return to reality. This afternoon supporters waited at the P.G.I.A. to welcome the leader of the nation home, with open arms and so did the media but with cameras. Mike Rudon was part of the welcoming committee.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

Prime Minister Dean Barrow arrived in the country this afternoon aboard a United Airlines flight, and strangely enough, a rabble of party supporters wearing bright red shirts and waving U.D.P. flags waited to welcome him home. That’s something you don’t see every day – like this sign proclaiming love for the Prime Minister. We can only imagine that the party felt like its leader needed some measure of comfort and support at what must be a very stressful time for him.

First, there’s the situation with Mr. Elvin Penner, a scandal which surfaced when a South Korean national was given a Belizean passport, facilitated by Penner. That opened a can of worms in the Ministry of Immigration. Penner did the deed, but where does the buck stop – at Hulse or at the Prime Minister, who gave Penner permission to sign as Minister.

Elvin Penner

Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration [File: October 11, 2013]

“What I will say is what the prime minister has also said. We know that there’s been utter corruption in the department which we’ve been trying to deal with…”

Godwin Hulse [File: October 10, 2013]

“It is a decision that I came to rue, it is a decision that I will regret until the end of my days, but that is how that took place.”

Edmund Castro

The Penner situation has not gone away even though all official channels of information have been locked down. And now there’s the situation with Edmund Castro, which erupted during his absence. For the Prime Minister, this must be like déjà vu all over again. In November, 2010, Castro was fired from government duties because of evidence that he carried out a land scam, swindling money from a Belizean-American woman. Retribution was swift and Castro was kicked out.

Godwin Hulse [File: November 25, 2010]

“I, as I’ve always indicated, will act when I come into position of evidence that convinces me that any member of my government has not stuck to the straight and narrow in the way I expect. I won’t go beyond that.”

But a year and a half later he was back in favour with his boss, all evidence of prior corruption forgotten…or at least forgiven. In March 2012 Castro was named a Minister of State, again. And here we are…another allegation of corruption, this one much more serious.

Voice of: Visa Facilitator [File: October 23, 2013]

“Money was discussed at that time. He said, you know, that has a cost. And we talked about it over the phone…how much was the cost. He said well I’m going to charge you like two thousand for each one, per passport visa. When I got the application forms and everything I would contact Minister Castro that maybe tomorrow or the next day I would be coming to your office and he would say well okay I’ll be there. And when I go to his office, well obviously this wasn’t the first time that something of that nature was being done through Minister Castro’s office because when I took the application and everything there he would then mention to his secretary well I want you to prepare six of those letters, those recommendations off the computer for immigration.”

Reporter

“So your contact, the one who came to you in the first place – he would bring what to you?”

Voice of: Visa Facilitator

“He would bring the application formed, the Chinese passports and the money, but the money he would bring is only Minister Castro’s money. My money and the government’s money would have to wait until the process is finished. Okay, so when I go to Minister Castro’s office, before he has his secretary do these letters, I have to pay him first. He would say well let me see what you have for me…how much money. One time when I took twelve thousand dollars for six passports he said ah come on, you know you’re making more than this…I think I should be paid three thousand for one but then I told him I can’t do that.”

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, and the buck, without question, must stop at the Prime Minister. He has a lot to consider, not the least of which is the fact that his administration only holds on to a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow [File: October 10, 2013]

Dean Barrow

“…if there is one thing that can and will bring down this government it is hustling in immigration. I have heard that there are ministers who are procuring visas for people. I have said pretty much every second cabinet, if you are doing so, I have no proof, for God sake stop it, stop it! That is what will cause the government to fall.”

Today Prime Minister Dean Barrow dodged the media – for the very first time since he became Prime Minister. While we all waited for him out front, his official vehicle was parked on the tarmac awaiting his arrival. By the time we noticed him he was already being greeted by the crowd at the entrance to the airport. We approached him, but in a move that is very much out of character, he departed speedily when he saw the media.

We’ll catch up to him sooner or later, because the cans keep getting bigger and the worms keep coming out. Mike Rudon for News Five.