Commission of Inquiry into Fire Sale of Government Asset to Commence

The selling off of public assets at a steal by the financially-burdened Barrow administration in the months leading up to the November eleventh general elections will be fully investigated.  This morning, the persons tasked with carrying out that investigation were sworn in at the Biltmore Hotel where the oath of office was administered by Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford.  The three-member Commission of Inquiry is being chaired by Senior Counsel Andrew Marshalleck.  Marcello Blake and Luke Martinez are representing the business community and unions, respectively.  The period under review is from 2019 to 2020 when government vehicles, office equipment and furniture were sold at dirt cheap prices.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Andrew Marshalleck, Chairman, Commission of Inquiry

“I, Edmond Andrew Marshalleck do swear that I will faithfully, fully, impartially and to the best of my ability discharge the trust and perform the duties devolving upon me by virtue of my appointment as a commissioner on the Commission of Inquiry into the sale of government assets, so help me God.”

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

An investigation into the liquidation of government assets in a fire sale just prior to the last general elections will commence in the days ahead, following the swearing-in of a three-member commission of inquiry.  The decision to launch a probe into the disposal of vehicles, electronic equipment and office furniture at rock-bottom prices was taken at the Cabinet level and was announced by Prime Minister John Briceño last week.

John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Even before the elections we were hearing a lot of stories about government, the previous government selling off a lot of the government assets in a pretty much a fire sale and in some instances, next to almost giving it away.  Once we got into government we started to realize the extent of what has happened, especially in the Vehicle [Care] Unit.  And so, the Cabinet felt then that it is important for us to be able to do an inquiry into the sale or disposals of these assets and it is important to do, I believe in my mind, two things.  One is to find out what happened and secondly, is to be able to take steps into ensuring that this does not happen again.”

The purpose of the official review is to go over the steps and processes that were undertaken to sell off those assets, however, there is also a likelihood, depending on what is unearthed, that those assets can be recovered.  Providing assistance is the Ministry of Public Service.

Henry Charles Usher

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service

“The government’s assets are the people’s assets and certainly the Commission of Inquiry is tasked with discovering if the procedures were followed, what happened with those assets and whatever recommendations they make, those matters will be taken to Cabinet.  Now when it comes to recovery of those assets, it’s something also that the Cabinet has taken very seriously.  So if it is in the view of the Cabinet that the assets should be, we should go after them then certainly that’s a measure that might happen as well.”

According to Chairman Andrew Marshalleck, the commission has the authority to summon anyone who is relevant to the objective of the inquiry to come forward and testify, including former Prime Minister Dean Barrow.

Andrew Marshalleck

Andrew Marshalleck

“As I understand it, there is no limitation as to the witnesses that can be summoned and questioned by the commission.  I mean that includes everybody.  That includes prime ministers, that includes ministers, that includes public officers and that includes private persons.  The work of the commission must be led or informed by the information that is discovered, so we will go where the evidence leads us and the public officers who will be summoned to testify, the other persons, the witnesses who will be summoned to testify will be those people that we believe can assist in the discovery of the relevant evidence.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.