Paulino Castellanos Takes The Fall For Immigration Scandal

He was only one of the players in what appears to be a vast web of Corruption, but Immigration Director Paulino Castellanos is the man who will take the fall for the latest immigration scandal - at least in the short term. The findings of the internal probe conducted by Home affairs CEO Allan Usher were released this afternoon, and it recommends that Castellanos be suspended effective today, pending criminal investigation. Apart from that single decisive act, Usher's report offers few surprises and little substance. Despite numerous formal irregularities on the passport application forms, it finds that there is nothing wrong with 17 of the applications which were determined to be suspect. Usher's report states that all 40 nationality applications he investigated were fully completed and contained all information required by law. However, the fact that much of that information was inaccurate, incomplete, and false escaped Usher's judgement. Usher's report does point out that dishonest immigration agents and justices of the peace do subject the application process to fraud. However, the report looks no further - even when there is compelling evidence of knowingly fraudulent conduct by those persons. The report also finds that the back-dating of immigration arrival stamps is open to fraud and abuse - but again, does not say if this happened - when again, there is every indication that it did. To correct what he finds to be only the potential for wrongdoing, Usher's report recommends that the potentially corrupting role and influence of immigration agents be eliminated by having them banned from presenting second hand nationality and passport applications. And Usher recommends that the police department take up the case form here to determine if any criminal acts of wrongdoing have occurred. While not much more could have been expected, Usher's report falls sadly short when it alludes so often to the potential for wrongdoing but fails to cite any evidence of wrongdoing - even when the irregularities are legion. And while there is no real wrongdoing according to Usher - Immigration Director Castellanos is made to take the fall singularly - but for what - the report doesn't say. The matter now rests with the DPP who we are told may pursue charges of forgery and uterring. But even if nothing else comes out of it, the Usher Report will put a serious dent in the cash flow and general practice of immigration agents who have wielded an unbecoming influence and power over the Immigration Department. Of course, it's left to be seen whether these agents - who are also well connected friends of cabinet ministers - and are known to cut through Belmopan's red tape like sharpened blades - will, again, find an enterprising way to profit off Belize's patrimony.