P.U.P. Will Not Agree to Government Majority on Committee
John Briceño
If the motion for the Senate Select Committee is approved on Friday, the composition of that committee is crucial. Prime Minister Dean Barrow has repeatedly stated that the committee should have a government majority, but will the P.U.P. agree to this?
John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader
“I think this is something where our senators will have to sit down and speak with the senator from the church and then to try to find which one would be the best option that would work.”
Reporter
“Are you as flexible to go to two?”
John Briceño
“Well, I haven’t read his motion so I think it would be unfair for me to say yes or no. What we want is for us to be able to have an open and fair investigation into what has transpired in the Department of Immigration. If it means that you have to have two members from the Government side and two members of the Opposition, if that is what it requires to happen, I don’t think our senators will object.”
Reporter
“Sir, but at the same time, the Party has said that a mechanism has been used before?”
John Briceño
“I agree with you. I have been saying over and over that we have precedent. That a precedent has been set where under the PUP Government we had one from each government and opposition, which we believe is the best way. But at the end of the day what is that we want to have an open and transparent investigation into the criminal activities that have taken place in the Department of Immigration. And if it would require and I don’t know because I haven’t read their motion, but if at the end of the day it requires that we have two from government and two from opposition, I don’t think our senators would object. The important thing is that we want to get to the bottom of what has taken place in that Department.”
Reporter
“The Government insist, the doctrine of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, the doctrine is that majority rules. So, if you are talking about two- two; the government is saying that they must maintain a political majority of at least two-one. Would you all be agreeable to that?”
John Briceño
“We are going to fight the Government every step of the way when it comes that he wants to have a majority. In 2004, he was the very one, along with Minister Hulse, who was saying that the Government cannot have a majority. What has changed? The Prime Minister is being a hypocrite; he is being deceitful; just like the Minister of Immigration and Minister of Police. How can we have the Minister of Police investigate the Minister of Immigration- When the Minister of Police is the Minister of Immigration. And just like the teachers have been saying, he cannot be wearing the two hats and must decide which ministry he is going to remain with. You cannot investigate your own self.”
