Will PM Briceño Testify Before Senate Select Committee?

Prime Minister John Briceño

As we reported on Thursday, a Senate Special Inquiry into the Definitive Agreement signed between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited commences on August fifteenth. The members of the special select committee have been impaneled and comprises of the senators on both sides of the floor, including those representing civil society. While the dubious agreement preceded the current administration, the million dollar question is whether Prime Minister Briceño will be summoned before the committee since it is believed that he was the one who introduced the contract to Cabinet. Here’s his response to that question.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“There’s no reason for me to be called.  Actually, remember, we need to remind everybody that Cabinet discussions are confidential and that not even a senate inquiry can ask for ministers to go and discuss what is discussed in Cabinet, because once you do that, that means that ministers are going to be very careful as to how they speak in the Cabinet.  So I am not sure if I am going to be called and there is no reason to call me, but I think they may want some kind of information which, if it is within the law, the cabinet secretary would be able to provide.”