Tonight, there is telling information that U.D.P. Minister of State Edmond Castro is involved in the mass procuring of visas for Chinese nationals. One month ago Castro was accused by a whistleblower of accepting money to facilitate visas. He denied those allegations via press release saying there were only five recommendations made by him. But the testimony against Castro was compelling and Prime Minister Dean Barrow reacted by stating that he, along with Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse, investigated those allegations and found nothing to substantiate them. News Five has since obtained copies of documents which implicates the Minister of State and his administration. Mike Rudon looks at some of those documents – the veritable tip of the iceberg – and has the story.
Mike Rudon, Reporting
In October, the words visa quota hustle made Prime Minister Dean Barrow very uncomfortable. In the midst of a nasty passport scandal involving Minister of State Elvin Penner, reports had surfaced that UDP Ministers were involved in somewhat of an institutionalized visa hustle – procuring Belizean visas for foreign nationals in consideration of a large fee. The PM had apparently heard those reports, but says he had no proof.
Dean Barrow, File: October 10, 2013
Dean Barrow
“But if there is one thing that can and would bring down this government it is hustling in Immigration. I have heard that ministers are procuring visas for people. I’ve said pretty much in every second Cabinet if you are doing so (I have no proof) for God sakes stop it! Stop it! That is what would cause the government to fall.”
Since the PM says he had no proof, we thought we’d get some – so we did. And here it is.
This is a letter dated May thirteenth, 2013 – from the desk of Edmond Castro. The letter is addressed to Director of the Immigration and Nationality Department Maria Marin, and asks her to assist with the provision of visas to five Chinese nationals – as you can see, Castro’s signature is right there in black and white.
On that same day, May thirteenth, Castro sends another letter to Director of Immigration Maria Marin. In this one he asks her assistance in providing visas to six Chinese nationals – their names seen here. That’s eleven visa recommendations in one day.
Dean Barrow, File: October 10, 2013
“I have also said that I understand that politicians have friends and I know that processes can be slow. If a minister says ‘I did ask the Immigration Department to bring some speed to the processing of an application for a visa for a friend,’ – it is entirely legitimate as minister. I satisfied myself that the application for the visa was in order. I can’t say that that is not to happen, but if I hear you intervene 10 times and I hear you intervene 20 times – what I am to think? Except that you’re involved in a hustle. If you hang out with Ali Baba you must be one of the 40 thieves.”
Apparently Castro is on exceptionally good terms with Ali Baba. The PM mentioned ten interventions and we showed you eleven – all on May thirteenth. And there’s more. On May twenty-second, one week after, Edmond Castro sent another letter to Director of Immigration Maria Marin, asking her to assist in providing visas to five more Chinese nationals. That’s sixteen in a week. And on May twenty-eighth, 2013, he asks Director of Immigration Maria Marin to provide visas to five more Chinese nationals. That’s a total of twenty-one visas for Chinese nationals between May thirteenth and May twenty-eighth.
Dean Barrow, File: October 10, 2013
“If I hear you intervene 10 times and I hear you intervene 20 times – what I am to think? Except that you’re involved in a hustle. If you hang out with Ali Baba you must be one of the 40 thieves.”
Just for context, in an interview on October twenty-fourth Edmond Castro stated, quote – “I don’t know anything about any processing of any damn visa. I don’t even know how this package goes.” If that’s his story and he’s sticking to it, Castro might want to tune in to Wednesday’s newscast. Mike Rudon reporting for News Five.
Tonight, we showed you visa recommendations for twenty-one visas. Then there is an additional five to which Castro admitted in a press release. News Five will have much more on this story in Wednesday’s newscast – including more documents and names of other ministers involved. So be sure to tune in.