United Democratic Party demands answers from Prime Minister on national incidents

The United Democratic Party has issued a statement demanding that Prime Minister John Briceno provides responses to several questions regarding national incidents.  The first involves the sudden removal of Minister of State with responsibility for the Immigration Department, Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes in January of this year.  The opposition is calling for a Commission of Inquiry into the smuggling of over 2000 Haitian nationals through Belize.  According to Leader of the Oppostion, Shyne Barrow, there are many questions that need answers, and the government refuses to give any.  Other questions by the opposition were: “What influenced this administration’s initial travel policy towards Haitian nationals?”; “How did that policy facilitate the mass smuggling of Haitians through Belize?”; How did so many make it through Belize without raising alarm?”  “Were immigration officials complicit in the smuggling?” “Were Ministers of Immigration, Eamon Courtenay and Ramon Cervantes, aware of the crisis?”, and “What system can be implemented to prevent such mass smuggling without introducing discriminatory immigration policies on our CARICOM brothers and sisters?” .… We will have more on this statement from the UDP in subsequent news reports.