Commission of Inquiry Resumes on August 16th

The Commission of Inquiry into the fire sale of public assets, including vehicles, office furniture and electronic equipment, under the previous government resumes on August sixteenth.  The continuation of the public hearings comes after several months of pause, following a firm position taken by National Trade Union Congress of Belize President Luke Martinez who sits on the three-member panel.  Viewers would recall that on April fifteenth, broadcast of the inquiry from the House of Culture here in Belize City was abruptly cut during a speech being delivered by the president of the umbrella organization.  Earlier today, News Five spoke with Andrew Marshalleck, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry.  He says that orders have been sent out for witnesses to appear before the commission when it resumes. He also assured viewers there will not be any break in transmission this time around.

Andrew Marshalleck

Andrew Marshalleck, Chairman, Commission of Inquiry

“That list of witnesses was settled from the last occasion when the hearing was discontinued, so it’s the same list.  The same people are being served again with summonses to attend but so far only about half of them have been served.”

Isani Cayetano

“What assurances, if any, can be given to the public based on what transpired that ended with the commission being put on pause?”

Andrew Marshalleck

“I think the whole experience itself and the termination of the broadcast because the proceedings were recorded and the recording was eventually made available to the press.  So it just wasn’t broadcast live.  I think the whole experience with the cut and the fallout that happened is itself sufficient to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.  I think, given the opportunity to do over what transpired, the feed would not have been cut on the second occasion.  I think it was just an unfortunate decision and it was an error, and it won’t be repeated.”