Section 1

24 Commissions of Inquiry Ch.70. [28th March, 1998.] WHEREAS, the Report of the Auditor General on the Belize Economic Citizenship Programme for the period 1989- 1993 was presented to the House of Representatives on the 12th September, 1997; AND WHEREAS, the House referred the said Report to the Public Accounts Committee for examination, consideration and report; AND WHEREAS, the Public Accounts Committee having found several irregularities in the handling of large sums of money and the blatant disregard of Government rules and regulations in the conduct of the Economic Citizenship Programme during the period under review, recommended to the House that the Prime Minister be requested to appoint without delay a Commission of Inquiry to hold a public inquiry into the said allegations in order that the public interest be better served; AND WHEREAS, the House at its meeting held on the 23rd January, 1998 accepted the said recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee; AND WHEREAS, it seems to me desirable to appoint a Commission of Inquiry to enquire into the said allegations Commissions of Inquiry 25 and to make recommendations in all matters connected therewith; NOW KNOW YE that by virtue of the powers and authority in me vested by section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, Chapter 70 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980-90, I, MANUEL ESQUIVEL, PRIME MINISTER of Belize, do by this Commission appoint you the said HARRY LUI, ESQUIRE and WILLIAM TILLETT, ESQUIRE, to be the Commissioners for the purposes aforesaid with all the powers by the said Act conferred and I DO authorise you the said Commissioners in the manner in the said Act provided to make a full, faithful and impartial inquiry into the said allegations with specific reference to the following matters, to with– (a) to examine the allegations of irregularities and gross mismanagement of the Economic Citizenship Programme during the period 1989-1993, and the flagrant disregard of rules and regulations resulting in a loss of $7,535,833.38 to the Government of Belize, as pointed out in the Auditor General’s Report; (b) to determine whether the fees payable for Economic Citizenship were properly waived by the Minister responsible for Immigration & Nationality; (c) to identify the person or persons responsible for the said loss and to determine whether any criminal or other offence has been committed, or any rule of the Code of Conduct has been breached, by any of them. (d) to make recommendations on any of the matters related to the above. 26 Commissions of Inquiry I DIRECT that you the said HARRY LUI, ESQUIRE, shall be the Chairman of the said Commission to hold the inquiry aforesaid and I also direct that each of you having made and subscribed an oath or affirmation as required by law and having deposited the same with the Secretary to the Cabinet, you do hold your meetings at such place or places and at such time or times as you the said Commissioners may appoint and that you the said Commissioners do make report as soon as may be practicable of the result of your inquiries with such comments and recommendations as you may think fit, furnishing me with a full statement of your proceedings and of the reasons leading to the conclusions and recommendations at which you may arrive or report. I DO HEREBY DIRECT that the Inquiry shall, except when you deem it necessary or advisable to do otherwise, be held in public. AND I DO HEREBY REQUIRE AND DIRECT that all public officers and other persons to whom you may apply for assistance or information for the purposes of your investigation to render all such assistance and furnish all such information as may be rendered and furnished in that behalf. MADE at Belmopan this 23rd day of March, 1998. Prime Minister