Earlier in the news we showed you our interview with Attorney General Vanessa Retreage. We also asked her for an update into the investigation into the issuance of a fraudulent birth certificate to accused murderer William Danny Mason.
You'll remember it as that fake document which claims that Mason was born in Crooked Tree Village to parents James Mason, a farmer from Cooked Tree, and his common-law wife, Sharon Tillett. The last time we asked the Prime Minister about it, 21 days ago, he told confirmed that the Investigation from the Attorney General's Ministry reveals that 4 public officers from the Vital Statistics Unit was implicated in the document's origin.
Today, when we asked the Attorney General, she told us that the report has been passed on to the police, and it is up to them to take criminal action against 4 named persons:
Daniel Ortiz
"Your ministry was to be the lead government agency to deal this particular issue."
Hon. Vanessa Retreage, Attorney General
"The Vital Statistics Unit falls under the purview of my ministry and within that portfolio and as such the registrar embarked on an investigation and based on that investigation she has briefed me that she has made a report to the police. Whether or not charges will be brought against persons signaled in that report, is a matter for the police and the DPP at this stage. So we have concluded our investigation and have provided information to the police as a result of that investigation."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is it from the perspective of the investigators that something irregular took place with that issuing of that birth certificate?"
Hon. Vanessa Retreage, Attorney General
"It is the understanding from the registrar that that is the case, yes."
Daniel Ortiz
"Was there collusion or participation from persons within the ministry to get this done? Or was this just a fraudulent transaction?"
Hon. Vanessa Retreage, Attorney General
"The specifics of that investigation you would have to ask the registrar in relation to that. She would have that information more readily than I do."
And in other news related to William Mason, the Belize National Trade Union Congress released their position on the beheading of the man he's accused of beheading, Pastor Llewelyn Lucas.
The Congress says that Lucas was an active member of the General Council's table, and he was a representative of the Southern Worker's Union. The NTUCB is also calling for an independent investigation into the gruesome death which they continue to view "with disgust.
Explaining their prolonged day to make a comment, the NTUCB says, quote, ".While...the Congress has been silent on many issues, which have been plaguing our nation, rest assured that this silence does not mean that the National Trade Union Congress is content with the way these national issues are being managed. The NTUCB is in earnest working on strengthening its internal operational mechanism…" End quote.
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