The manager of the Hummingbird Citrus Farm, 33 year old Ray Ogaldez was today
charged with 19 counts of employing a person not in possession of an employment
permit. Police and Immigration officers raided Ogaldez’s farm in La Democracia
yesterday morning at 9.
They rounded up 19 immigrant workers – 17 men and 2 women. 17 of them
are from Guatemala and the two others are from Honduras and according to court
reports – none of them had valid work permits or proof that he entered
Belize legally.
Ogaldez pleaded not guilty and was released on bail of $3,000 which he met.
His case was adjourned to February 16th. If convicted, the fine for employing
an illegal worker is $1,000. That means Ogaldez would face a fine of $19,000
for the nineteen undocumented workers. There was no indication in court about
the fate of the 19 workers.
Email
Print