Courtenay Says It’s High Time for Senate Inquiry to be Concluded

Has the Senate inquiry into the Definitive Agreement between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited, for developing the Port of Magical Belize, come to a close? This question is buzzing around after a dramatic walkout by Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie and Minister of State Chris Coye on Wednesday.  Both officials were summoned to the Senate Special Select Committee’s seventh session, accompanied by Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay. Leslie, the Cabinet Secretary, told the panel he couldn’t share details from Cabinet discussions due to strict confidentiality rules. Despite Senator Kevin Herrera gearing up to ask a question, Leslie made a swift exit from the building.  Not long after, Junior Minister Coye took the hot seat, also with Senator Courtenay by his side. He read a prepared statement, refused to answer any questions, and promptly left the hearing as well.  This might be the first time a walkout has occurred since the constitution was amended to allow for senate inquiries. The dramatic exit forced the session to adjourn and eventually led to its cancellation. This morning, we caught up with Senior Counsel Courtenay, who expressed that it’s high time to wrap up the inquiry.

 

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney-at-law

“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 a senate hearing in 2017.  You saw the parade of minister’s that went through, substantive questions were asked, led by you.  Don’t you think that these persons should also be fundamentally answerable for their public actions?”

 

Eamon Courtenay

“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 [Special] Select Committee believes that the position that they have taken is not the correct one, they know what to do.  The position is, in my view, speaking for myself, I think that the inquiry needs to be brought to an end.  It is costing tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayers money and it is on a frolic.”