Despite injunction, P.M. expects 2nd D.F.C. report soon
For the past week, Herbert Lord’s name has been praised … and cursed … in equal measure for his decision to publish an independent report of findings and recommendations following his investigations as a member of the Commission of Inquiry into the Development Finance Corporation. But today Justice Lord maintained that his action was not taken lightly. Lord declined an on-camera interview but speaking to News Five on the record, Lord reiterated that he had on several occasions attempted to write a joint report with co-chair Merlene Bailey-Martinez but with no success. The judge says he then sought legal advice and once he was assured that he could write his own report, that’s exactly what he did. Lord’s ninety-three page submission was officially handed to the Prime Minister on Monday, who then read it, had it posted on the internet, and then forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Since then, attorneys acting on behalf of former D.F.C. Chairman Glenn Godfrey have secured an interim injunction against the publication of the report. This afternoon Prime Minister Said Musa maintained that in accordance with the Chief Justice’s ruling, the report has since been removed from the Government’s website. But the P.M. says the latest developments should not hinder Commissioner Bailey-Martinez from completing her report.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“I’m hoping that within a very short time, a week or so, we will get the report of the other member of the Commission and then both the reports can be published.”
Janelle Chanona
“I was just going to ask where do you see Mrs. Bailey-Martinez phasing in on all of this knowing that she has maintained to the press that she has still been unable to secure certain documents that would allow her to finalize her report?”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“I don’t know what is her position quite frankly except what I’ve heard her say. I do know that there were extensive hearings and they had every opportunity to call in people. If people refused to attend well then they should have utilized the legal resources available to them to get the attendance of these people but we can’t go on indefinitely. As I said, I believe that the integrity of the Commission will be called into question if we just leave this thing in abeyance. My concern is to ensure that I called for an inquiry. I believe extensive enquires have been carried out, the Belizean people have heard the hearings because they were publicized and televised to a large extent. So I can’t understand why there should be a further delay so I’m really awaiting her report urgently.”
Janelle Chanona
“P.M., in reading the Lord report it is clear that several political appointees are being criticized for what they did or did not do while at the D.F.C. As leader of your party how would you respond to that knowing that the Lord report makes those criticisms?”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“Well let’s put it this way, that all those people who have been criticized as far as I can see in the Lord report, and I read it very quickly myself, have since been relieved of their offices at the D.F.C. and we have a new board that has been working at the D.F.C. carrying out the liquidation process and they’ve been doing a good job.”
The Universal Health Services loans and government guarantee was a prominent feature of the D.F.C. public hearings and are sure to be highlighted in both reports from the co-chairs. According to the P.M., negotiations for a private sector group to take over the hospital continue.
