National Assembly QuestionTime-VP explains diplomatic passport issue |28 October 2009

Mr Belmont, speaking in his capacity as the minister responsible for Internal Affairs, was answering a question by elected member for Beau Vallon Colin Dyer, who wanted to know how many such passports were issued and who the recipients were.

Regulations state that diplomatic passports are issued to important and high-ranking citizens based on the nature of their jobs and their official status, Mr Belmont said.

He added that these passports have been issued to the president, former president, vice-president, ministers, speaker of the National Assembly, secretary of state, principal secretaries, leader of the opposition, ambassadors, special advisers, president of the Court of Appeal, commissioner of police, governor of the Central Bank, members of the National Assembly and mayor of Victoria, among other high officials.

Mr Belmont noted that the cabinet can decide to restrict the issue of diplomatic passports by national order and can also agree that the president may use his power and discretion to allow for the issue of diplomatic and official passports.

He said apart from former presidents and ministers, the other holders should return their diplomatic passports once they no longer occupy the relevant positions. But again he noted that it is the president who has the final say on the matter.