D.F.C. hearings postponed again

Viewers anxiously awaiting the resumption of the public hearings of the Commission of Inquiry investigating the Development Finance Corporation will have to wait a little longer. That’s the word from the commissioners tonight in announcing that sessions scheduled for this week have been postponed. According to Commissioner Merlene Bailey Martinez, several factors have influenced the decision but high on the list is the fact that several of the witnesses called to testify have decided to challenge the legitimacy of the proceedings through their lawyers. According to Martinez, while that’s being settled, on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, several major clients of the D.F.C. will be sharing their stories with the commission and public. With the appointment of Mark Hulse as the forensic auditor, the commission will use this week to finalize details with the accounting firm as well as conduct non-public hearings. It is hoped that by the time Hulse has completed his review, the legal issues will be resolved. The commission came to an abrupt halt in October following the critical illness of Chairman David Price. Price was flown to Cuba where he remains admitted to a specialist centre undergoing treatment for a host of maladies.