Opposition Keeps Up Pressure on Land Scandals

According to the Opposition Leader, Prime Minister Dean Barrow has not responded to his letter last Friday that outlined his demands with regard to the land issue. But that does not mean that the pressure is off, or that the P.U.P. is willing to give up. John Briceño told News Five this afternoon that there is enough public outrage to sustain the movement, but that his party is hardly rejoicing at the results of this unfortunate turn of events.

John Briceño

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“Surprise, surprise: the Prime Minister has not responded. But we are not going to let up; we are going to continue to work at it; we are going to keep this issue alive. We plan to meet with the social partners – I’ve been in touch with the social partners as it is; and we are seeing now more and more people are prepared to stand up and to speak out against the rank corruption that is entrenched in the United Democratic Party.”

Reporter

“It has been said in some outlets that this is an issue that the P.U.P. feels it can make gains on, make traction on, to pressure the Government to at the very least change its ways and at the worst fall, as the Prime Minister once said. Is that something you believe as well?”

John Briceño

“I want to put on record that we are not celebrating or rejoicing that here we have a former Minister that has probably now gone on record to be the most corrupt Minister this country has ever seen along with this very, very corrupt government: we don’t rejoice for that, we are ashamed of that. And we are angry about what he was doing because, simply, he should have been there helping the poor people, and instead of helping the poor farmers, the young couple that is trying to start a new life together in getting a small home, obviously his intent from day one was to go in there and find ways that they can enrich themselves.  The Prime Minister accepted that he had seen, he felt that the charges were credible; the Prime Minister said that. And based on that, the Prime Minister said he is canceling those grants that were issued – the one fraudulently issued to [Amy] Forte, and the next one that was transferred to Andre Vega. And then Andre Vega immediately said I’m bringing back the land. It makes no sense: if Andre Vega bought this legally, why would he rush to give it back? And why would he say ‘I bought it from an agent’ and you don’t know who on earth is the agent. It does not fit, the story noh di work out; there’s a lot of holes in the story. But again, the U.D.P. as they usually do, they try to spin and spin and intimidate people so that they can continue their merry way in plundering the resources and the monies from the people of this country.”