Tracy Panton: “Corruption Has Become Endemic in Every Phase of Public Service”

The alleged embezzlement of at least $160,000 from the Belize City Immigration Office drew a sharp response from Opposition Leader Tracy Panton during today’s United Democratic Party’s press conference.

Panton was not shy to say this recent case shows a deeper problem across government sectors. “It is not only the Immigration Department; it is the Land’s Department, the Police Department,” she said. “Corruption has become endemic in every phase of public service delivery. And my theory is that is the case because politicians, ministers, HODs, FOOs, and AOs are not held to account.”

The Ministry of Immigration confirmed last week that internal reviews are underway into alleged financial irregularities at both the Belize City and Belmopan offices, where investigators say at least one employee spent over a year reversing receipts to pocket public funds.

Minister of Immigration Kareem Musa this week confirmed that the individual will face criminal charges and that an independent audit has been ordered. Musa said the employee may not have acted alone while investigators are looking into the authenticity of supervisors’ signatures to determine if others were involved. The suspect is a five-year employee of the ministry, according to Minister Musa.