$160K Immigration Scandal: Who Took It, Who Knew?

A government investigation into missing public funds continues to raise serious questions tonight, who’s responsible, and who knew? A preliminary report has landed on the desk of Immigration CEO Tanya Santos, pointing to the misappropriation of at least one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. And already, there are signs this could go much deeper. Santos confirms that one individual has been identified and could soon face criminal charges. But the bigger concern? Whether this was a one-person operation, or if supervisors failed to catch it, or worse, were part of it. With calls now growing for a full audit, the spotlight is shifting from one suspect to the entire system.

 

On the Phone: Tanya Santos-Neal, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Immigration

“What I can say is that we have conducted a preliminary internal investigation looking at the CITO system, to cross reference certain things we are seeing. We have received a preliminary report which we are revieing internally, along with a legal review to determine what will be the immediate next step. We have encountered misappropriation. We will be recommending for sure that there is a more in depth audit about what is happening. As far as we have seen those who paid for services did receive whatever documents they came for. The misappropriation happened after that, behind the scenes. It is as has been mentioned earlier, reversal of receipts and we are yet to determine if it is forgery, a supervisor signature or a supervisor was not as vigilant as they need to be of if they were not around.”

 

Reporter

“What has the investigation revealed about how many players are involved in this misappropriation?”

 

On the Phone: Tanya Santos-Neal

“For absolute certainty, we know there is one person who had access to the cash payments being made. There are different layers of supervision, different persons and for now we don’t know whether it is the first or second layer or both. That is where we are heading forward to find out more details.”

 

Government Under Fire as Panton Alleges Widespread Corruption

 

As scrutiny intensifies over the Immigration Department investigation, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton is widening the lens, arguing the problem goes far beyond a single ministry. Panton says the allegations unfolding in Belmopan and Belize City point to a deeper, more troubling pattern across government. In her view, corrupt practices among public officers are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a broader culture, one she claims is driven from the highest levels of leadership. For Panton, it’s a system she believes needs urgent fixing.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader, United Democratic Party

“Well it is not only the immigration department, it is the Land’s Department, the Police Department. There are payments being made from one statutory body to another marketing firm with no idea what those monies are being allocated for. These are not the government private purse. And I will tell you that my experience is when a fish stinks, it stinks from the head. And I have gone on record to say that corruption is the issue affecting this country, the issue. Because if the man in the parking lot see the minister, the prime minister, filling their pockets without any repercussions, I need to get my peace, I need to eat, I need to take care of my family, send my children to school, build a house, buy a car, my conditions of living to improve. So, corruption has become endemic in every phase of public service delivery. And my theory is that is the case because politicians, Minister, HOD, FOO, AOs are not held to account.”

 

Panton recently said on social media that if the UDP returns to power under her leadership, she will root out corruption completely.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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