Despite the best efforts of the Director and the Police Department, we wish to point out as follows:
On Monday, August 29, 2005, Immigration Officer, Ms. Addy Pacheco, was detained by the Belmopan Police and released after 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, after some 30 hours of questioning. Her home was also ransacked and searched. No charges were brought against her.
On Saturday, September 3, 2005, Assistant Director of Immigration, Mr. Gareth Murillo, was awakened by the Belize City Police at his house in Belize City at 5:30 a.m. and detained for questioning. His house was thoroughly searched. He was released at about 4:20 p.m. on the said day. No charges were brought against him. It is to be noted that Mr. Murillo was questioned even though he was on vacation when the incident occurred.
On Monday, September 5, 2005, at 9:00 a.m., Immigration Officer, Mr. Alfonso Valdez, was detained at the Belmopan Police Station for questioning. He was released at approximately 7:00 p.m. that same day. No charges were brought against him. It must be noted that Mr. Valdez was previously questioned and had given a written statement prior to Monday?s detention.
Mr. Zetina has publicly stated that he should be considered as a possible suspect. He has also admitted that his home was not searched nor was he detained and questioned by the police as was the case for other public officers. Mr. Melecio Uck, Staff Officer at the Department, has also not been detained and questioned by the police nor his home searched.
The Union finds this continued failure by the Police Department to impartially and independently investigate this serious crime, and at the same time subject Public Officers to abuse and humiliation, shocking and indefensible. This is particularly so in light of recent revelations that the Director made visits to the Department over the weekend on which the passports were allegedly stolen.
The ultimate responsibility for safeguarding government stores at the Immigration Department rests with the Director of Immigration. It is under his charge, which commenced in April of this year, that hundreds of passports have already been stolen. He has not only failed to perform his functions, but his negligence has caused severe embarrassment to the nation of Belize and has jeopardized the security of Belizeans traveling abroad, particularly to the United States of America. The Director has also unreasonably condemned staff at the Immigration Department with whom he must work.
In view of these circumstances, the Union calls upon the Prime Minister to immediately rescind the appointment of Mr. Zetina as Director of Immigration and Nationality. Also, considering the continued inability of the Police Department to objectively investigate the theft of the passports, we call upon the Prime Minister to appoint an independent commission to carry out a thorough, impartial and independent inquiry into the passports that were stolen at the Immigration Department.
– PSU press release –