PUP Believes Its Former Area Reps Caved Into Petrocaribe Dollars

While the P.U.P. leader and others in the opposition have had their say on the Melvin Hulse recordings, the Party also issued a statement today. The PUP says the Hulse recordings confirm what the PUP has known for the past seven months, that being, that the UDP government has been corruptly using Petrocaribe funds to trigger resignations by members of the House of Representatives leading to ‘buy-elections’.  Furthermore, the PUP agrees with the Hulse allegation that  Prime Minister Barrow is so obsessed with staying in power that he will do anything to win a third term in office. The release says that (quote) that the UDP has been grossly abusing both the Petrocaribe money and the Finance and Audit Reform Act to perpetuate itself in power. (Unquote) It goes on to say that Barrow is seeking, indirectly, to amend the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act not only to cover acts of criminality by his government but also to ensure that he can continue to spend the Petrocaribe funds anyway he likes, without oversight from anyone. The party calls it naked and obscene corruption, the more odious because of the attempt to give legislative backing to the abuse and illegality.