Senator Courtenay Corrects Senator Peyrefitte

Eamon Courtenay

Senator for Government Business Eamon Courtenay quickly corrected Senator Peyrefitte. Courtenay produced a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister sent to the Public Services Commission, expressing the Prime Minister’s intention to appoint a new Comptroller of Customs. That letter, however, went unanswered, and the government proceeded with its plan. Courtenay stressed that the office was lawfully designated, and the comptroller is lawfully appointed.

Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government Business

“Senator Peyrefitte if not outright questioned our sincerity. Dot it! Do it! Beat his chest. He researched. He called. He investigated. He looked into this. One-zero-seven. How could they dare…assign comptroller of customs to one zero seven without complying with the constitution. Let me help you. Call me. Text me. When you have a doubt contact me. Please be advise that the Prime Minister intends to advise the Governor General that the Office of the Comptroller of Customs to designated to its section one zero seven of the Belize constitution applies Therefore advising the Governor General, the Prime Minister hereby seeks your views and the above mention intended advice to the Governor General by responding  by no later twenty ninth December 2020. An early reply would be appreciated sincerely His Excellency Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary. Do not come to the Senate and say that the Public Service Commission was not consulted. They were consulted. The Public Service Commission as it has been said here before has not responded up to today’s date. Let me tell you this, listen carefully, you know and Senator Pitts would help if you are not sure about it, that is a fundamental principal of administrative law that you write to the designate person, you give them an opportunity and if they choose not to respond you move forward. We are not waiting on the U.D.P. controlled Public Service Commission, they were consulted. They did not respond. We complied with our duty under the constitution. The office was lawfully designated and the comptroller is lawfully appointed. What the Latin call erat demonstrandum quite easily proved.”