Courtenay case was political witch hunt, says P.M.
When a reporter spends 4 hours on the road and finds the Prime Minister in a talkative mood the conversation is bound to be wide ranging. This morning Mr. Musa responded to some additional questions about recent developments on the political scene, including the cabinet shuffle and the withdrawal of the civil suit against V.H. Courtenay by the Social Security Board.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“The truth of the matter is that that case after the criminal charge was dismissed by a jury against Mr. Courtenay and the Courtenay firm, that case should have never been brought against them. It’s like double jeopardy, it’s like putting people to the flame again. It was blatant political harassment and witch hunting which our government should not have tolerated from the day after we won. So the truth of the matter is that the case should have been dismissed the day after we won the elections. I’m sorry that it took this long for the sake of the hardship and the pain and anguish that Mr. Courtenay went through. That’s the truth of the matter and I’m prepared to defend that any day because when you look at the facts, Social Security bought 5% of the shares in BECOL, they paid for it and they got the shares. What’s the big deal, I mean, the propaganda that’s been put out on this thing is what I find so amazing. So many libelous statements have been made on this matter that even right thinking people have fallen victim and prey to the propaganda. Even, as you know, a priest in church was preaching out against this thing so it’s really shameful that it’s come to this pass.”
Janelle Chanona
“The recent cabinet reshuffle, why did that become necessary?”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“It’s just another phase of our streamlining of government business in order to ensure we have more effective service to the people. I felt it necessary to make these adjustments. There’s nothing mysterious about it and certainly nothing sinister about it. It’s just a matter of improving as we go along and I said it from day one, this cabinet, no one in the cabinet should consider that they own a ministry. We’re all here to provide a service to the people and we should be ready to either give up a ministry or indeed to accept another ministry or a lesser ministry as the case may be.”
Janelle Chanona
“Any more changes in the works?”
Ptime Minster Said Musa
“Not at this time.”
