The recent 6-figure fleecing and fraud at the Belize City Immigration office is alleged to have been occurring dating back to at least 2025 when the Prime Minister was the holding the Immigration portfolio. When we asked the prime minister about it today he made a distinction without much of a difference; he says it wasn't corruption, it was theft:
Reporter-
"How closely have you been following the reports of corruption in the immigration department and how does this recent case strike you?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I don't think this is a case of corruption; it's a case of theft. The minister gave us a small, a short report in cabinet and I can't speak so much on it because we are doing an investigation but it seems an employee was quite smart in issuing out receipts and cancelling receipts and holding onto the money. But I really don't want to go into it too much."
REPORTER-
"The opposition says the fish is rotting from the top in essence."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I am going to be kind to the opposition I am not going to respond to that."
