Was this election year stunt extended to North American and European expats as well? Just curious. Very shady indeed.

Mass nationalization efforts to continue

For the past two Fridays, at the George Price Center in Belmopan, hundreds of persons were sworn in as Belizean nationals. We have been following the mass nationalizations and the crowding of the immigration department over the past few weeks. Other media houses have reported on the processing of immigrants’ papers happening in various constituencies by area representatives. It has been reported that just this weekend there was mass registration in Ladyville as area representative, Michael Hutchinson, facilitated the processing of huge numbers of persons on Saturday and Sunday. Criticism over the practice of mass nationalization in time for elections abounds but we understand that there is to be another swearing in ceremony tomorrow. It is expected to be held again at the George Price Center at 2 pm tomorrow afternoon.

PlusTV

So shady...

Hypocrisy? In 2008 P.U.P. accused of mass nationalization

The sounding of the alarm by the P.U.P. continued when Florencio Marin Junior indicated other unusual practices were occurring in Corozal. Dolores Balderamos Garcia P.U.P. Standard Bearer for Belize Rural Central also passionately expressed her ire regarding registrations at different locations under the cover of darkness in Ladyville. The media took the announcements in stride because on January eight, 2008 the P.U.P. government facilitated no less than thirteen hundred Central American migrants at the George Price Center in the Capital. So is it just the U.D.P.’s turn to do the same, or is it a case of hypocrisy? We pitched that question to the panel after Balderamos Garcia gave an update on the situation in her constituency.

Dolores Balderamos Garcia, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Belize Rural Central

“Immigration officers and government officials are being coerced to participate in these irregular activities. We also know for example that the police records are costing the people fifty dollars. But then if you apply for the police record on a Saturday and you are being granted nationality today or tomorrow, what kind of vetting and background checks are to be done? So you can see, it is plain to be seen the illegality of what is happening. In addition to that, persons are being charged seventy-five dollars for a blood test, but they are not drawing any blood. So no actual blood tests are be taken, but the persons applying for citizenships have to produce the receipts for the police report; fifty dollars, and blood tests; seventy-five dollars and then as we know the nationality certificate will cost three hundred dollars. But the point that I would like to highlight ladies and gentlemen, Belizeans, is that this is absolutely unprecedented. So I would like to disabuse the public of the notion that the P.U.P. was doing the same thing. Absolutely and I say categorically that the P.U.P. has never and we will never carry on this kind of instant nationalization coercing public officers, abusing process and going to private people’s homes and area representatives and political operatives offices to carry out this kind of thing. I want to say that we condemn and decry this blatant and very desperate attempt on the part of the U.D.P. government to hijack the elections and to pack up and pad voters’ lists.”

Jose Sanchez

“How would you respond to the criticism that there is hypocrisy in what you are saying being that in January 2008, couple months before general elections, thirteen to sixteen hundred Central Americans also went through a very swift process also at the George Price Center in Belmopan?”

John Briceño

“Well I would like to point out that that is not true; that they went through a swift process because I remember many of our colleagues in frustration saying that this was just taking way too long. So what is being done today has never happened before. Right now, people without even following due process are getting their documents, are getting their nationality. That is what we are concerned about.”

Dolores Balderamos Garcia

“And may I add Jose and if you allow me Madam Chair, we are focused on what is happening now. We are satisfied that this is absolutely unprecedented. But focusing on what is happening now, we as a government in waiting and providing the impetus for us to move forward with what the pledges will be to the people of Belize, we want to assure you and we will be reiterating it later on that this is not going to happen under a government of the People’s United Party. We have already spoken about a fixed term of government and we will make proposals within our party and a also promulgated out to the public that a cutoff date will be made for the obtaining of citizenship so that there can be absolute transparency and that this kind of thing will not happen.”

Channel 5

Hubert Elrington guides his missile to Barrow

Earlier in the newscast, we told you that the Opposition is condemning what it calls the mad rush in the granting of citizenship in time to get the new Belizeans on the voters’ list for the upcoming elections, including nationals from across the western border. Hubert Elrington, a former Minister of the U.D.P. this morning recalled an incident back in 1998, involving the now Prime Minister, Dean Barrow. According to Elrington, Barrow at the time, objected to the registration of a group of Guatemalans.

Hubert Elrington, Attorney

“There was a big fallout in ‘98 between the present prime minister, who was then in charge of the system when it comes to whether these people were going to be registered or not. And the area representative, Mr. Usher wanted to bring in a whole bunch of people who were living here a long time but were Guatemalans. And the feeling was at the time, well you can’t do that.”

Marleni Cuellar

“Well, the laws have a particular point that says if you’re…”

Hubert Elrington

“It was seen at that time that it was against the law. The objection to Usher’s application was that it would be against the law; you can go to jail if you do this and I am not going to do it. But today, it’s no longer against the law and the law hasn’t changed. So we have a serious problem because, as I have said, when the tire hits the road and when push comes to shove, electorally, the politician is going to do what is necessary to save himself and his party and that is just the way things have been.”

Channel 5

The Last Gasp of Pre-election Naturalizations….

Usually, a naturalization ceremony for new Belizean citizens is held once a month or so - and typically about 200 new citizens are sworn in.

But in the past two and a half weeks there have been at least four ceremonies and as many as 1,100 new citizens have been sworn in. As we've been reporting, the increase in numbers is because political operatives are pushing and paying for many of these new citizens to be processed - in time to register for the next election in March.

Registration closed this evening and the last intake of new citizens was also held this afternoon at the George Price Center in Belmopan.

7news was there -where the media was allowed to freely tape the event. Here's how it went:..

Jules Vasquez reporting
Today at the George Price Center, hundreds of new Belizeans waited patiently for swearing-in ceremonies to start. These folks were lucky - their files were completed and they got to wait inside while others had to queue up outside as their paperwork had to be ferried in from the city.

After about an hour, around noon, their nationality certificates were put together and they were called in, but not all their names were called today - as some of the paperwork was still in process.

But they'd have to take their oath without it - because the minister had en emergency

Jules Vasquez
"Minister, they've had to pull up the swearing in as I understand it because there is a medical emergency, so the process is a bit switch around today, am I right?"

Hon. Carlos Perdomo, Minister of Immigration
"Yes a little bit. My wife is in a little bit emergency with her health situation. She has been revived but I have to rush down quickly, but I have to finish off this right now."

Jules Vasquez
"So they will do their swearing in and the they will have to sign their certificates?"

Hon. Carlos Perdomo, Minister of Immigration
"The certificates are already signed. What we do here is to prevent some and then the certificates have to be embossed on the seal and like that."

"The only change has been that we have had more swearing-ins in the last two weeks but this is normal what you see today and we usually do this once a month. So our officers are used to it."

"The biggest change has been that its elections time and the political people are out."

Jules Vasquez
"The Ministry and this department has come under a lot of criticism in the past two weeks."

Hon. Carlos Perdomo, Minister of Immigration
"A lot of it is political of course but for me I would say that I personally would not sign a nationality that knowingly has not fulfilled the legal requirements. so my directive to the director is we are going to help but let's make sure that our modus operandi, our work can hold up to scrutiny at any time."

"I don't know if you all know the director but, Ruth Meighan is a very tough lady and she has assured me that we can stand up to any scrutiny whenever or wherever."

Jules Vasquez
"You would agree that is it unseemly when the office is open until 11:30 at night we see political operatives going in and out of the office at that time."

Hon. Carlos Perdomo
"I don't know where those political operatives that they showed on TV with manila envelopes were. I do know that in Belmopan is where we do all the work and if they were working late it's because of the increase number of applications and the increase numbers of swearing that we be having, so that everything is done properly."

"A lot of that work at night is to fix up the nationality certificates and put the seal and then send it to the Minister. I have to sign each one plus the two copies, so its not like you can get this cross the counter and I have insisted that we do it here, every swearing in so that it is legal."

Jules Vasquez
"How many have you sign within the past two weeks?"

Hon. Carlos Perdomo
"Every month we do over 100 - 200 people. Every month when it's regular. But at each swearing in so far we are so far to 200 each time."

Jules Vasquez
"But is it the job of the immigration department to facilitate politicians who want to naturalize citizens so that they can register them."

Hon. Carlos Perdomo
"I would turn that around and say it is our job to facilitate people who come to us for consideration to become citizens."

So, in the early afternoon everyone crowded into the room at the George Price Center. There were 238 seats - and every single one was full, forcing the new citizens to crowd the back of the long hall - with about ten still spilling out of the room. Everyone had to get in, after all, this is the last naturalization ceremony before registration closes.

Now, if you want to stoke your nationalist sentiments or be inspired about Belizean patriotism, a naturalization ceremony is not the thing to attend. Most of the new Belizeans do not know the anthem - or do not know English well enough to sing it. Some try mouthing it, but in the end most just give up - and listen.

Next was the all-important oath

Ruth Meighan, Director Of Immigration
"Note that today only in swearing allegiance that you become a Belizean."

A pivotal moment, but again less than inspiring - again, most didn't know enough English to follow court commissioner Patrick Bernard as he read the oath - all we heard was a low murmur. Indeed some did faithfully say it, but at the back of the room - which you don't see form this angle - it was almost a complete disconnect.

Not quite a celebratory mood, but typical of such an event:

Hon. Carlos Perdomo
"Sometimes I feel like I am in church. Today is a very happy day, so I want to see big smiles and I want you to greet each other and I want you to feel happy about today and I want to see your smile."

And while Perdomo tried to liven and loosen up things - he also gave them a little civics lesson

Hon. Carlos Perdomo
"Countries where you come from might have religious freedom. Countries you might have come from might have the military running it. Countries you are from you might not be able to trust the army or the police, so you choose Belize for a special reason and its nit just for the passport. You chose Belize because you see something different here."

And while it was un-inspiring - as were other such ceremonies we've witnessed before, while the spirit of the room may not have projected it, speaking to these folks they are happy to be Belizeans:

Jules Vasquez
"How does this moment feel for you? you are a Belizean."

Walter Robles, Resident in Belize For 8 Years - Peru
"I am really happy. I am going to enjoy now being a Belizean."

Marcos Rolando Segura, Resident in Belize 10 Years - Guatemala
"I feel good because the truth is I want betterment for my children because I have children who were born in Belize."

Francisco Cuc, Resident in Belize For 31 Years - Guatemala
"We came here just by jumping the border. But the bad part is that if we go to Guatemala again there is no land for us to stay and I will say thanks to the whole country of Belize. I hope we cooperate with the people that actually born here, I hope we get together and hand in hand we will move forward."

Official figures on this month's naturalizations have still not been tallied - but we estimate it at 1,100. In 2008, the PUP are reported to have naturalized between 1,300 and 1,600 new citizens in the run up to the election. One party with clean hands on this is the PNP, the People's National Party out of Toledo, which has called for a change in the law which would not allow newly created citizens to vote until they have been citizens for a year.

Channel 7

The mad, mad citizenship scramble!

Last Wednesday afternoon, Amandala witnessed firsthand as many as fifty individuals, mostly of Hispanic descent, lining up outside a private home on Amara Avenue in Belize City, behind St. John’s Primary School, with the apparent intention of being facilitated with acquiring their nationalization papers.

The house, said to belong to a United Democratic Party (UDP) Belize City standard bearer, was the site of constant activity, as the individuals - man, woman and child - had their documents checked and were sent inside to continue the process.

None of those present were inclined to comment to this reporter, but information toAmandala from observers in the area prior to our arrival, is that, according to some of the would-be citizens, they were simply there to be facilitated in the process of becoming the newest citizens of the Jewel, and one was even heard to say that he would vote “for whomever gives [him his] papers.”

The mad rush to naturalize new citizens and make them registered voters is happening nationwide.

In Corozal, the Opposition PUP has been refused the opportunity to sit in on the process. In Orange Walk, a number of established residents have told PUP officials that some of the persons applying for citizenship and registering to vote, who have listed the residents’ addresses as being their addresses, don’t in fact live there, and are completely unknown to them.

In Benque Viejo, alleged “carloads” of Guatemalans are being brought over the border to change their allegiance to Belize, as is especially required for them.

In San Pedro, on Tuesday night around 7:00, an aspiring UDP municipal candidate was caught inside the elections sub-office with what appeared to be lists of registered voters, in front of the office’s only computer, in a matter that has resulted in the recall of the local registering officer and the launching of an investigation that’s now underway.

In Ladyville, this past weekend, there were scores waiting at the office of the area representative and Minister of State, Michael Hutchinson.

While it has been a countrywide “epidemic,” it has been especially wild in Belmopan, where the main office has been open late several nights, and the George Price Center has seen no less than three mass swearing-in ceremonies of new citizens in as many weeks.

But is it legal? And is it fair?

Belize’s laws are clear. Only Belizean citizens over the age of 18 can vote, and if one is not born here or has not descended from someone born or living here, one must register to become a citizen.

Observers of the process have commented on the apparent haste with which the applications are being processed. The camp of the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) has alleged that Immigration officers, Justices of the Peace, and even the Police Department are looking the other way as the putative citizens line up with documents and receipts that, they allege, have not been fully vetted by the authorities.

And what is most surprising of all is the sheer numbers, the volume, almost an avalanche, of first naturalization and then registration. Many of the applicants are Guatemalan, or from other Central American republics.

Since this morning we have sought direct comment from the Director of Immigration and Nationality, Ruth Meighan, concerning the process, and whether all the bases have been touched. Information has been posted on online social media, including photographs, of activity taking place at the Belmopan Immigration office up to eleven p.m. last Thursday, as the January 20 deadline for registration to take part in municipal elections due on March 7 and general elections that will likely be called before the end of the year, loom.

We wanted to know how many citizens have been added to the rolls, how many more the Department is planning to swear in, and why the process requires late nights at the office even as the deadline draws nearer.

So far, Mrs. Meighan has yet to return our calls, because she has been either busy or in meetings, but she has publicly told other media houses that the process established for registration has been followed and that the Department is not processing applications that do not meet the requirements.

Answering the specific allegations of fast-tracked police records for the new citizens, Minister of Police and Public Safety Douglas Singh told us this afternoon that one-day service for pickup of police records in Belmopan costs $25, but if one applies from the districts it may take a little longer despite costing less - $14. He categorically denied anything untoward happening on the issue of police records for new citizens.

We also asked the Minister whether the Police Department is assisting in conducting background checks on new citizenship applicants, but he has yet to offer a reply as of this writing.

Those applicants willing to speak publicly, mostly to local radio and television, say they have been frustrated by the complex process of acquiring Belizean citizenship. They say they have been living here for many years, that they married here, work here, and have children here. And they insist, for the most part, that they are simply trying to “legitimize” themselves, to become truly a part of the Jewel.

But why now, and so frantically?

Some admit it is because they want to participate in municipal and general elections. Of that number, a few have made up their minds, while others intend to look more closely at the political leadership seeking their vote.

But many believe that the UDP, as incumbents and the party that is registering and facilitating new citizens, have the inside edge, just as when the PUP were in government, they had the “inside edge.”

We are told that at least one more mass swearing-in ceremony will be held tomorrow, Friday, January 20, the last day for registration for elections.

In related news, nomination day for municipal elections has been announced as February 15, 2012.

The Reporter