Mike Peyrefitte Shares His Knowledge of the Origins of the Definitive Agreement

This afternoon, Senator Michael Peyrefitte, the former attorney general, appeared before the committee.  He spoke about how he first came to learn of a request being made by his former law partner to sign a definitive agreement that had been drafted.  According to Peyrefitte, he referred his former law partner to the chair of the investment subcommittee.

Janelle Chanona

Janelle Chanona, Chair, Senate Select Committee

“When did you learn that your former firm had been retained by certain investors and was this the only matter that this overlap happened?

Mike Peyrefitte

Mike Peyrefitte, Former Attorney General

“If you look, as far as I am aware, yes.  If you look at the letter that I will give to you, it’s dated June first, I think it was 2020.  The one that member for Albert, Panton, said that Morales sent to her, it was around a couple weeks before that.  David Morales telephoned me and said that he has been retained by Portico and that he wants a definitive agreement to be signed that he has.  I told him, we cannot be talking about this, he knows better than that.  Secondly, I told him, all communication go directly to the chairperson of the committee.  They don’t come to any other member, naturally.  If you want the committee to consider something, send it to the chair, and that thirdly, I did say to him, “But did I miss something? Because as far as I know, we’re not at the definitive agreement stage with that particular project.  I know that there has been no indication that the principals could have the financing for the project.  I know that there is no indication and that there was a discussion as to the land ownership and I know that thirdly, there was no environmental clearance yet for that project, all of which you have to have before you reach a definitive statement.”