Castellanos Declares That His Suspension Was \"Personal\

"It's personal" - That's what suspended Director of Immigration, Paulino Castellanos told Seven News today. Speaking with us by phone, Castellanos, who is serving the first day of an indefinite suspension, made that claim against his CEO Allan Usher. He said Usher has had a personal vendetta against him since he took over in 1998 - and he believes that factored decisively into the recommendations of his report. But the embattled Castellanos would not comment on the findings, or on anything else for that matter, except to say that charges will never be proven - even in a criminal investigation. Castellanos who has worked as a public servant for 30 years - and in the Immigration Department for 8 - 4 of them as Director - flatly denied rumors that he has resigned. Castellanos, as we've noted, has been suspended pending a criminal investigation - but the Usher Report - at least the one we've seen, does not connect him to any specific wrongdoing, even though he clearly signed unto passport application forms carrying numerous irregularities. But while Castellanos remains on suspension with full pay, which we've confirmed is almost 4,000 dollars a month, he awaits the findings of a criminal investigation. That was launched today, as Commissioner of Police, Carmen Zetina confirmed that senior officers from the CIB office in Belmopan have been assigned to the case. He wouldn't say wether the contents of the Usher Report are enough to carry a criminal investigation because, he says, his officers have to see the documents first. While everyone waits on the next development on that front, the Prime Minister may have to act before that. Rumors of a cabinet shuffle have been wafting about since Monday, and some say it could happen as early as next week. When it does, Samuels is expected to lose the Immigration portfolio to a Musa loyalist not associated with corruption. In these ragged days of division and splintered self interest, hardline loyalists with a clean slate are hard to come by, which means the portfolio could default to Defence Minister George Price.