P.M. on Christmas Cheer
Dean Barrow
So when that good thing comes to an end, G.O.B. will deal with it. But for now, the coffers are chock full of the green stuff…overflowing even. And some of it will be tricking down this Christmas. As has been traditional, more will be trickling to U.D.P. Area Representatives than P.U.P. Area Representatives – a lot more. For the Prime Minister at least, there is some irony in the report that the P.U.P. will be participating in the Christmas Cheer program. Currently there is a lawsuit against G.O.B. involving those same Petrocaribe monies, brought by the Opposition. So does it matter, legally? The Prime Minister says it does, while P.U.P. Deputy Leader Julius Espat says the lawsuit isn’t about the money, but the use of it.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“I’m not quite sure what the applications before the court are for…but there’s this thing in law that if you come to equity you must come with clean hands. Mr. Espat who seems to be the chief applicant…I don’t know how he will say to the court that he is coming with clean hands if he ends up taking the money from Petrocaribe. I suspect they will have their difficulties.”
Julius Espat
Julius Espat, Deputy Party Leader, P.U.P.
“Our fight is not about the Petrocaribe monies. Our fight is about how the money was borrowed and the accountability that goes along with it. But when you come to an offer made by government to us…it wasn’t us requesting government, it was an offer made. They are getting one hundred thousand dollars while we are budgeted thirty to thirty-five so it’s a three to one ratio. At least it’s not a hundred to zero ratio. So if it would be me personally and if the money would benefit me, I would say no. But I am an area representative representing twenty-five thousand people, not all of them voting but residents in Cayo South and it would be difficult for me on their behalf to say no. The way it is structured we don’t get any money. We send in from the different suppliers so the product goes directly to the people that need it, and we have full accountability for it.”
