Inspection of Embassy Belize City, Belize (ISP-I-02-19)

 

 

The chancery and annexes at Embassy Belize City are unacceptable from a security standpoint, and the layout of the buildings is not conducive to efficient embassy operations. A new office compound has been recommended. Operationally, management controls in some administrative areas are weak and must be strengthened.

There are significant deficiencies with respect to property management, certification of vouchers, and in the separation of duties. The government of Belize has an active ?investor? citizenship/passport program that allows people, primarily Chinese from the mainland and East Indians to purchase a second Belizean passport. Inadmissible aliens, including terrorists, can use these second passports to enter the United States. The report recommended that the embassy make the prompt elimination of this program a priority goal, and the program has been terminated.