Ever since his daughter and employee, April Parchue was implicated for forging
receipts at the Department of Immigration; embattled Director of Immigration
Peter Parchue has been the subject of public speculation and the cause of internal
disquiet.
And now, senior sources in government this evening told 7NEWS that
the decision has been taken to transfer Parchue. No date has been finalized
but those sources say that he will be transferred to the NEMO office in what
is still an unspecified capacity. But for the time being, Parchue remains in
place at the Department of Immigration and government's point man at the Ministry
Gian Ghandi who is responsible for Immigration Affairs confirmed that he is
still director despite hot and heavy rumors today that he had been removed.
Ghandi also confirmed reports that a broader investigation into irregularities
at the department is underway. Those irregularities extend far beyond the April
Parchue false receipt flap and involve the illegal issuance of visas which,
when fully revealed, looks to be another black eye for the department's badly
bruised public image.
And on the back of all this, 7NEWS has received credible reports
that an investigation is also underway into what appears to be glitches with
a pair of permanent residency cards issued by the Belize Tourism Board under
the retired persons incentives program. The program encourages foreigners to
retire in Belize in exchange for permanent residence.