Email

Print

Maria Marin was Acting Director of Immigration from early 2013 until mid-2016.  That was a time of sweeping change in procedures at the Department – and it’s also when the Auditor General’s team was in there.  When they left, they had no kind words for Marin, accusing her putting up resistance to the audit team, basically denying them the access needed.  That single accusation is what drove Marin to our studio today to make it clear that she never denied anything to the audit team.  We also used the opportunity to ask her to defend her reputation against the many alleged cases of irregularities at the Department while she was in charge.  Here’s her interview with Jules Vasquez:…

Jules Vasquez
"In the nationality report in particular your name is in there 72 times. Just about maybe minus 4 so your name is in there 72 times involved in various irregular immigration procedures. Were you ever asked to answer well yes I can explain that or alright no comment."

Maria Marin - Former Immigration Director
"At no time."

Jules Vasquez
"You were never interviewed about these various…your name is mentioned 72 times in the nationality."

Maria Marin - Former Immigration Director
"Absolutely not; the officers visited me on the 15th of November 2013 when they came to advise that the department would come in to carry out the audit exercise. When I saw the officers it was at the end of the exercise when they came to advise that okay we are through, we are finished; we are now going to prepare the actual report."

Jules Vasquez
"Were you involved in immigration irregularities at the department?"

Maria Marin - Former Immigration Director
"At no time; I can tell you Mr. Vasquez I spent countless days and hours, weekends including late into the night ensuring that each file or application that was brought to me met the requirements and followed the procedures. But really what I want to clarify today and to set straight today is the fact that at no time did I not cooperate or did I refuse to cooperate or obstruct in anyway the provision of the access of information that they might have requested."

Jules Vasquez
"In one case it says that the name printed on replacement certificate was Ralph Fonseca but was replaced on 8th May 2013 by Maria Marin."

Maria Marin - Former Immigration Director
"You know Mr. Vasquez I support, I encourage, I look forward to an inquiry because those details are going to be addressed in that inquiry. I can't wait for that to happen, in fact I pray that it happens at the earliest possible because those details will be addressed or can be addressed."

Jules Vasquez
"What was your reaction when you saw these in the national report as I said over 65 times your name appears. What was your reaction when you saw that?"

Maria Marin - Former Immigration Director
"To be honest with you Jules I felt that was a disservice to the nation because in my mind these are issues of national interest and I believe that an audit should be a proper exercise, it should be an objective and comprehensive and every step of an audit process at least as I know it should have followed. Management was at no time provided with a copy of the preliminary report. Management was at no time invited to give an explanation or to clarify or to verify information that the auditor officer might have obtained from somebody else to ensure what went into that final report was a proper indication or what was happening at the department; at least during my tenure as the acting director."

Jules Vasquez
"You say in extremely clear language you are not involved in the irregularities. Are you willing to concede though that a great deal or irregularities happened in that department while you were acting director?"

Maria Marin - Former Immigration Director
"At no time, I can answer your question with a straight face Mr. Vasquez. At no time did I engage in any irregularity; in fact it was because of my modus operandi of resolutely adhering to proper protocols and procedures that I think of what happened, happened through another door, a back door."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you feel like your name has been taken through the mud unfairly Ms. Marin?"

Maria Marin - Former Immigration Director
"Definitely, definitely; I always stood for high ethical standards, always. Mr. Vasquez I've been working since the age of 16 and I can tell you I have never been accused or dragged in front of a court."

Jules Vasquez
"But if you're working in a corrupt environment that it taint of corruption may stain your name. You were the head of a department that by all outward indications was corrupt."

Maria Marin - Former Immigration Director
"And that was the reason why I ensured that we cooperated because in my mind this audit exercise would allow for the reform that was so desperately needed at the department."

You can see part two of that interview in tomorrow’s newscast.