Minister Martinez Says There is No Conflict of Interest
After making his point, Martinez left the National Assembly chambers where we caught up with him outside. Martinez defended his position, saying that he has not received any monies for rental from the government. The minister asserts that there is not a single document that can prove otherwise. News Five got a hold of the documents and the invoices show Anthony John Martinez as the vendor along with specific details such as the invoice number, amount paid, date of payment and reason for payment. Martinez, however, maintained that what the Leader of the Opposition said is false.
Hipolito Novelo
“The Leader of the Opposition is saying that you and your family have received hundreds of thousands of dollars from your ministry.”
Anthony Martinez, Area Rep., Port Loyola
“That is not so, sir.”
Hipolito Novelo
“He has documents.”
Anthony Martinez
Anthony Martinez
“He has documents? He has no document. That is an outright liar. He is a liar Sir and there is no such document to prove that. The four thousand dollars a month that is due to all elected representative including him and that comes from the Office of the Prime Minister. There is nothing on record where I Anthony Boots Martinez collected any money for rent. I don’t rent any building to any government.”
Hipolito Novelo
“He says that that four thousand dollars Is not for your office, but for sporting activities during COVID and we know that there hasn’t been any sporting activity.”
Anthony Martinez
“Do you hear what I am saying, sir? Listen good to what I am saying. I don’t know what paper he is reading from but I received no four thousand dollars from the Ministry of Human Development. I receive four thousand dollars every month like everybody else and twenty=three hundred dollars, all of us including him receive six thousand three hundred dollars a month every month. That is what is classed as community vote and office space.”
Hipolito Novelo
“He has several documents in there with a list of transactions showing that you and your family…”
Anthony Martinez
“But I am saying to you I don’t have, I am saying to you what is the fact.”
Hipolito Novelo
“He says those documents hold the facts.”
Anthony Martinez
“Form the fact of what? Where do they come from? I am certain that those documents that he has there, whatsoever we get in terms of community vote come from the officer of the Prime Minister.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So you don’t’ see a conflict that you are renting to your own self, that your ministry is renting to your own self?”
Anthony Martinez
“Listen to me, to me.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Or your daughter?”
Anthony Martinez
“Listen to me, to me sir.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Or to your daughter?”
Anthony Martinez
“To me sir? Are you hearing what I am saying? I am renting to myself? Listen to yourself. You are journalist so learn to listen to yourself and what you are saying?”
Hipolito Novelo
“But don’t see a conflict of interest there whether it be to you or your daughter? You are the minister. She is obviously your daughter. You are renting…”
Anthony Martinez
“Let me tell you something. The Ministry of Human Development.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Is under your leadership.”
Anthony Martinez
“Is rest, at you know where the Ministry of Human Development is at now? On Albert street.”
Hipolito Novelo
“When the Opposition Leader was talking, making those several allegations against you…”
Anthony Martinez
“I raced up.”
Hipolito Novelo
“You burst, you raced into the chambers, you sat down and your knees were shaking. You were agitated.”
Anthony Martinez
“Listen to what I am saying sir. I got up even after he was saying sir and what I am saying to you here I am saying to him.”
