The moral authority of the P.U.P. is questioned

Francis Fonseca

Back to the P.U.P. Press Conference. The Opposition, as well as other social partners, amid the ongoing scandal, has been calling for an inquiry into the issue of impropriety at the Immigration Department.  But while the business community and other groups have asked for an open probe into the matter, the moral authority of the P.U.P. came under question.

Reporter

“Two hundred passports went missing when Mr. Zetina was in office.  Under Mr. Max Samuels twenty-five passports were approved by Mr. Samuels for Taiwanese who never entered the country.  I am saying that passports have been, continue to be an ongoing area of, I won’t use the word hustle, I would say an ongoing area of irregularity.  The social partners certainly have the moral authority to ask for anything but not the PUP which has been a part of it throughout the irregularities.  How can you all muster the authority to ask for any inquiry?”

Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition

“We not only have the moral authority Jules, we have a duty and an obligation to do so.  I think I really, I think you’ve fallen victim to Mr. Barrow’s hindsight approach to governing.  Mr. Barrow, hold on let’s answer, Mr. Barrow and the UDP and those who advise him, and you may be among those who advise him, they would love nothing more.  They would love nothing more than for us to keep talking about what took place ten years ago, fifteen years ago.  The reality is that you are right, the system is broken.  It has been broken under both administrations but we are saying that we are prepared to do something about it.  That gives us the moral authority to speak on the issue.  We are not only prepared, we are not only prepared Jules to say that this matter must be investigated and looked into but we are also saying that there must be a parallel track on which we operate which is to be put in place and that’s why Senator Shoman today and I, and others addressed this question when Glen asked it.  We are working on specific proposals for us to fix the system, just as Senator Shoman says, so that this does not continue to happen.  So we recognize that the system is broken and it needs to be fixed.”