Opposition leader criticizes the secrecy surrounding the supposedly multiple investigation into the passport scandal
Minister of State turned political and public pariah Elvin Penner has gone M.I.A. Penner was castigated for his role in procuring nationality status and a Belizean passport for South Korean, Wonhong Kim. But while being declared persona non grata seems to be the extent of Penner’s reprimand, there remains a public perception that he should be criminally charged for his actions. Hope of that happening has been kept somewhat alive because the police are allegedly investigating all things corrupt in immigration. Both Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse have repeatedly indicated that police have been given carte blanche in the Immigration Department to investigate all wrongdoing – and if Elvin Penner falls as a consequence of that investigation, then so be it. At a press conference on Thursday, P.U.P. leader Francis Fonseca openly criticized all the secrecy surrounding the supposedly intensive multiple investigations.
Francis Fonseca, PUP Leader
“We heard the Minister of Immigration say…his response was essentially NO – there is no update. What are the Police doing? We hear there is a Police investigation taking place…there should be provided to the people of this country some update as to what is taking place with that Police investigation. We understand as well that the FIU is supposedly investigating this matter as well. Well the Belizean people deserve to know what is the status of that investigation as well. We hear that the Auditor-General is in there in the Ministry conducting an investigation – again there has been no update to the Belizean people on exactly what is taking place. Man this is completely unacceptable. The Belizean people deserve to know what is happening. They are very concerned about this critical issue that is affecting our national sovereignty and the response we get from the Prime Minister of Belize and the Minister of Immigration – the two people most responsible for ensuring that we get answers – is that there is no update. The only response we get from them is a full rejection of the Senate inquiry. They can’t provide us with any answers to the questions but yet they reject any attempt by the Belizean people to get proper answers.”
News Five can’t speak about any investigation by the FIU or the Auditor-General, but we can confirm that the Police investigation is nearing conclusion. In case you were wondering, that investigation has remained at all times focused on determining how immigration files were leaked to attorney Arthur Saldivar. According to the Police CIB, they have taken statements and spoken to persons from the department, and at the conclusion of the investigation will consult with the D.P.P. for advice. But we repeat – that investigation has never looked at Elvin Penner, at the passport issued to Wonhong Kim or at allegations of corruption against Penner or anybody else in the Immigration Department.
Francis, give it up. Let the next generation try to fix your mess, and the far bigger UDP mess.
Assuming the next generation/government has the balls to put real government criminals in prison, (your stench is less than Deano), you should not lead the parade.
Unless Belize wants to go the Mugabe route, you and Barrow need to get out of politics.
But there is the rub, both you and Barrow should be held accountable for the criminality or your actions in government.
This is the worse Government to ever run the country of Belize. However they are able to get away with it because the people are divided. The whole country is currently run by criminals who intend to stay in power no matter what. Unless all the people of Belize join together, to fight these seventeen men, we will not progress as a country or as a people. They are stealing everything they can get, from rose, land, auto parts, gas, nationality scandal, passport scandal, visa scandal, their thirst and their greed for money has no end. Even in the contract for road building, medicine for hospitals, their paws are buttered. Now they have the PM blessing to steal, because he want to stay in power. Enough is enough people, how much longer will we make these people disgrace our little country?
BTW Francis, it is none of the puppies business as to how the UDP steals.
Ali Baba does not need your permission for that.
Less you know, easier you will sleep at night.
Secrecy is good for criminals and the ignorant.
“Penner was castigated”
perhaps he should have been castrated, that will fix the boy.
P.U.P is no different from U.D.P they are the same bunch of thieves with different name and different color. We all remember U.D.P premised the Belizean people TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY…and why did that come about? Because at the time the then ruling party that was in power so happen to be the P.U.P. The Belizean people was tired of corruption and all the foolishness the P.U.P was engaged in. Dean Barrow used the corruption happening at the time to gain popularity with his campaign. Now he come now and does worse. Both the P.U.P and U.D.P are not good for Belize. They both raped our nation dry. Its time to give V.I.P a chance.
But who is VIP? Thats the thing. In all this mess, no third party is trying to push their way up front. You would think this would be the ideal situation for them to start campaigning. Get known. Establish their status. Are they broke?