Senator Courtenay Says Senate Special Committee needs to “check itself”

The Special Senate Select Committee got a bit of a tongue lashing today by the government’s lead Senator, Eamon Courtenay.  The senior counsel represented both witnesses yesterday, namely Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie and Minister of State, Chris Coye, who were both limited on what they offered to the committee.  Today, Senator Courtenay spoke on yesterday’s proceedings indicating that the committee needs to check itself and stop wasting taxpayers’ dollars. 

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, Leader of Government Business: “I do not understand that there was any adversarial appearance yesterday. These two gentlemen were invited to appear before the Senate, they accepted the invitation, they attended, they gave their statements and indicated that they would not have any further evidence to give and on the basis of my advice we left.” 

Reporter: Sir you have participated in Senate hearing in 2017 you saw the parade of ministers that went through, substantive questions were asked led by you. Don’t you think that these persons should also be fundamentally answerable to their public actions ? 

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, Leader of Government Business: “They are fundamentally answerable for their public actions. The issue that we have to pay attention to is what is being inquired into and whether there is any evidence, relevant evidence that the Cabinet Secretary has to give and whether there is any relevant evidence that Mr.Coye has to give. If the Senate Select Committee believes that the position that they have taken is not the correct one they know what to do. The position in my view, speaking for myself, I think the inquiry needs to be brought to an end, it is costing tens of thousands of dollars, tax payers money and it is on a frolic. Until Mr.Contreras goes before the Senate Select Committee we are wasting public resources. That is my settled opinion personally.”

Courtenay was asked if he believes it was a slap in the face for the men to refrain from answering questions.  The question posed to the Senator drew a parallel to Hugo Patt’s testimony which essentially allowed for questions but refrained from responding, saying he knew nothing about the Portico Agreement.  Here is how Senator Courtenay responded to the media. 

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, Leader of Government Business: “I think for you to bring somebody who said “I won’t answer a question.” and ask the person ten, fifteen, twenty questions, so that the person simply says I am not going to answer I’m not going to answer seems to me to be quite a charade. And there is no way that I would advise my clients to participate in that.”

Reporter: Sir this matter of Cabinet confidentiality, do you think that through the People’s Constitution Commission that could be reversed ? 

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, Leader of Government Business: “It absolutely can be reversed if we think, and when I say we I mean Belizeans, if we think that that is an appropriate thing.”

Reporter: Will they come back ? 

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, Leader of Government Business: “I don’t know what they’re going to do but.”

Reporter: Your advice ? 

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, Leader of Government Business: “You know I find it remarkable that they got an invitation, my clients attended, and then the Senate Committee puts out a release that says that we did not participate. It is a lie. It is a lie. So the Senate Committee needs to check itself.”
The opposition has since denounced and condemned Leslie and Coye’s actions