7 weeks ago, the Senate produced the finalized Report from the Senate Special Select Committee. You'll remember that this committee spent 13 months, examining systemic hustling and corruption at the Immigration Department, which the Auditor General found during her audit of the period between 2011 and 2013. Those hearings ended in December 2017.
This final report and its findings would have been a major feature of the evening news, but, Belize, like the rest of the world, is currently in a battle to survive the coronavirus. So, even though it is not exactly the priority issue at this time, the police are about to initiate a formal investigation into the Senate Committee's finding, to determine if anyone can or will be criminally charged.
The press asked the Commissioner about the report today, and here's what he had to say about a team of investigators being assembled to look into it:
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"I have tasked him in terms of what he needs to do, and one, it was to ensure that he gets a copy of the Senate Select Committee's Report. The DPP has also given certain instructions that, in terms of what she wants us to look at. I.E., those offenses that may be able to be prosecuted on indicted, that may not be statute-barred at this time. And so, I am sure that Mr. Romero has put together his team, and they have commenced looking at the Senate Select Inquiry report. And as soon as the time is right, then we'll let the media know where we are."
Reporter
"Sir, is it a concern for you that so many years have passed since some of these things allegedly happened, and that the perpetrators who you would be going after have had time to hide evidence?"
Chester Williams
"I don't know if they will be able to hide everything. I am hopeful that the investigation team will be able to find something that we'll be able to present to the DPP, and then, we see how we go from there."
