And while talk of the budget and Guatemala dominated today's house meeting, one interesting piece of legislation caught our attention. It will allow the Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration Beverly Castillo to sign certain immigration documents with full ministerial authority. We asked the Prime Minister if this was "legit":...
Jules Vasquez
"Are you crafting a law to in fact (I am no interpreter of laws), circumvent the express wish of the constitution that the powers vested in the minister."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"No, because I am saying that we did this before, just not by way of legislation and we took advice and we've taken advice again and it's perfectly in order. Under the constitution for the minister of delegate some powers to a Junior minister by way of an instrument - that's revocable and so no, we are positive that all we are doing is putting it on a footing where those that had their reservations about doing it as it were administratively, can be comforted."
"In the case of the Junior Minister in Immigration, we do want her to have as much operational day-to-day control as possible. We will make no secret about that."
Jules Vasquez
"How much about this is trying to appease a rift in your party wherein Minister Hulse too much power for an unelected person. That's the perception of the rank and file and that he doesn't want to let off on anything and that in fact you have to change the law in order to allow the representative for Belize Rural Central Ms. Beverly Castillo..."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"No, because from the start I made clear that we wanted Bev to have the operational control in the ministry and those over there will tell you that the substantive minister has been complete hands-off. He has no difficulty with that. It is just that certain things ultimately have to be sent over to him for signature."
That bill went for its first reading today. It will be debated after it comes back from committee.
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