I'm taking a stab in the dark here, just trying to be helpful.

Stating the obvious, the 5.16 version doesn't mind that you've got some self-signed certs. 5.22 doesn't like the self-signed certs.

Perhaps 5.16 is configured to disregard SSL errors?

Lastly, I don't know anything about invoking with /usr/bin/env perl, but perhaps it's adjusting the environment (variables) such that the two Perls behave differently? (Running the programs under two different user accounts could have a similar effect.)

Good luck.

EDIT: What happens when you use an absolute path to the 5.22 installation in the shebang instead of using env?

Cheers,

Brent