Saldivar Doubts Ag's Accuracy

John Saldivar - he's a former Minister of Immigration and Minister of National Security whose name appears multiple times in the Immigration Department audits. So what does Saldivar have to say about it? Well, a whole lot apparently! Just that he's not saying it on camera! Instead he made a lengthy post on Facebook this evening speaking to his tenure as Minister of Immigration. He says that when a file reaches the desk of the Minister of Immigration to be signed, all the processes and verifications are deemed to have been completed and the "minute sheet" in the file always contains a declaration to the Minister that the file is "in order for signature" and that "all legal requirements are met". He adds, "It has not been the tradition for the Minister to then conduct his own investigation before signing. And he concludes, quote, "I therefore can categorically state that I have never knowingly signed any improper nationality certificate. I wished that the Auditor General had explained this process in her Report so that readers would not run away with the impression that just because a Minister signed what turned out to be an improper nationality certificate, that that Minister was involved in some conspiracy." And then he turns to the recommendations for visitor's visa which the Auditor General has declared in her Report as illegal. Saldivar says, quote, "I beg to respectfully disagree with her and suggest that she erred in making that sweeping declaration. To my knowledge there is no law that prohibits any Area Representative or Minister, or any John Q Public for that matter from writing a recommendation on behalf of someone applying for a visitor's permit. Such recommendations especially from Ministers can never be taken to mean that a Minister is instructing that systems and procedures be by-passed. Speaking for myself on the occasions when I have asked for consideration for an applicant, it has never been a demand for approval but always a plea for the application to be considered and taken through the processes."Referring to nationality documents, Saldivar goes unto say "I also saw my name mentioned in a list of Ministers who 'intervened' in the nationality process." He sates, quote, "According to the Auditor General's Report, by me inquiring into the status of applications on behalf of my constituents who have relatives applying for nationality, I have wrongfully 'intervened' in the process. I absolutely disagree with the Auditor General on this score. As Area Representative my constituents turn to me for help whenever they feel that the bureaucracy is being unfair to them or is moving too slow. It cannot be right that a Representative of the people cannot at the very least inquire (not interfere) into matters on behalf of the people he or she represents." End quote.