P.U.P. request to ComPol unanswered, mandamus to be in effect

Dean Barrow

Today is February seventeenth, the last of seven days given to Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie by the Opposition to commence a criminal investigation against former Minister of State Elvin Penner. Well it didn’t happen and News Five has tried repeatedly to get comment from ComPol Whylie. Last Monday, he told us that he had not seen the letter and he wouldn’t take our calls the rest of the week. We travelled to Belmopan to his office on Friday, but he would not see us. The Opposition has said that it will move to seek judicial review against the Commissioner, but that’s another story. Today, the Prime Minister claimed that the Opposition’s case had no merit, and says that it was really only grandstanding.

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Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“That’s a matter for the Commissioner of Police.”

Reporter

“Sir, people have been saying in some quarters that the Commissioner has been intimidated.”

Dean Barrow

“Then you talk to the Commissioner about that. I don’t know that the Commissioner is a man to be intimidated. And if he is, I don’t know by whom, then speak to him.”

Reporter

“The case as made out by Senior Counsel Edwin Flowers…is it at all in your opinion compelling, does it have merit?”

Dean Barrow

“I don’t think so. And I think furthermore proof positive that this is political grandstanding is had when you refer to the fact that the P.U.P., the Opposition, is able to mount a private prosecution. If they feel so strongly that there is evidence to justify a prosecution, lodge a private prosecution. That’s perfectly in order, it’s their entitlement. The D.P.P. could, if that is done, intervene if she thinks that it is without merit, but that is most unlikely given the comments that I hear attributed to the D.P.P. So why don’t they just proceed with a private prosecution.”