Opposition Leader Says Senate Committee Abusing Power to Summon

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

The Senate Special Select Committee that is tasked with investigating the Portico Definitive Agreement will hold its third hearing on Wednesday inside the National Assembly building in Belmopan. Among those expected to make an appearance to answer the committee’s questions are Hugo Patt, the Deputy Party Leader of the United Democratic Party, and Erwin Contreras, the former U.D.P. Minister of Economic Development. It is expected that Patt will be questioned about the transfer of private parcels of land to Portico Enterprises Limited a week before the 2020 general elections. Today, U.D.P. Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow says he advised Patt not to answer any of those questions. Barrow argues that land transactions are outside the scope of the committee’s terms of reference.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“He will speak about nothing, because the terms of reference for the Senate inquiry makes absolutely no mention of any land transactions. If the Briceno administration wants to talk about land transactions that were conducted by the honorable member from Corozal north then they could convene a commission of inquiry and take the risk that they won’t lose in a court of law if they don’t convene it properly. But the Senate inquiry, they are abusing or attempting to abuse their terms of reference, and tomorrow, I have advised certainly my deputy to not answer anything. Obviously, he has to show up, because you have respected the summons. But I have advised him not to answer anything and I believe his lawyer will advise him as such. I cannot speak for his lawyer. This is my advice to him, I wouldn’t even say my name if I went there, because that is an abuse of power. The definitive agreement makes no mention of any land that government has to give in order to consummate the definitive agreement. Hugo Patt was not a member of any Cabinet subcommittee dealing with this matter. Hugo Patt has no knowe4ldge of this definitive agreement and that is what the terms of reference says, all documents relating to the signing of the definitive agreement and all documents related to the Cabinet memorandum which the Prime Minister and his ministry of finance brought to Cabinet. That is what the terms of reference say. You can’t deh all over the place the call everybody, you could call anybody you want to Senate, but that individual has the right to not answer any question that is outside the terms of reference.”