Elrington Says U.D.P. Handling Corruption Better than P.U.P.

Charges of rampant corruption continue to plague the Barrow administration, amid ongoing scandals involving former Minister of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega.  But the Prime Minister Barrow has responded saying, “What it is, is what it is.”  Foreign Minister Elrington admits that corruption is somewhat intrinsic to government, but says that PM Barrow has done more to address the issue than his predecessors.

Isani Cayetano

“Would you as a member of the United Democratic Party government, admit that there is corruption which involves elected members of government insofar as perhaps your Cabinet or in the House of Representatives, that there are people who have proceeded to fleece the public purse?”

Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington

Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“The allegations are widespread that elected public officials are guilty of corruption.  As a matter of fact Isani, that was what brought the People’s United Party government down in [2007/2008].  The G7 and the G8 movement consisted of elected representatives of the People’s United Party who were accusing the leadership of that party of corruption and they were prepared to bring the party down and they conduced to bringing their party down because of the perception of corruption.”

Isani Cayetano

“Is it your fear that the same charge would be made against this U.D.P. government, that there are persons who have engaged in corruption?”

Wilfred Elrington

“To some extent Isani, the charges are already being leveled.  The difference between the People’s United Party and the U.D.P. really is that whenever the prime minister forms the view that look, these charges are worrisome, he not only apologizes to the public, you know, but he takes action against those members of his government who are accused of that kinds of thing.  So had taken action against Castro one time.  He took action against Penner.  The deputy prime minister, who was very close with the prime minister, resigned his position.  So it is not that we haven’t done anything and the police were allowed to take action against Penner.”