And the PM's hands are full right now, not just with the incursions into Belizean waters, but also with the Joseph Budna abduction. Earlier this week, he issued a statement announcing that the ComPol would be placed on administrative leave and that ACP Suzette Anderson would be leading the investigation.
As we have pointed out, his statement said nothing about an independent investigation nor that there is any plan to release the video footage of the abduction.
At today's house meeting, the media asked whether those are off the table.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Nobody has said no to an independent investigation, what I have said is that we will ask the police first to come with a report and based on that report we will decide what is next, if there is need for an independent investigation then we will do so but allow us to be able to get that report then we will decide what we are supposed to do."
Courtney Menzies:
"You called the report, the first one you got, unsatisfactory and incomplete, can you say why?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It was unsatisfactory and in complete because they did not have enough time to finish it. I think they did not expect me to just demand that report. Remember when I said it, I gave them about 24 hours to finish that report and so they did not have enough time and so what was sent to me was unsatisfactory and so I said, we need to finish the report."
Reporter:
"Is ACP Suzette Anderson a constituent of yours and could there be any possible conflict of interest because of that?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Why would you ask such a leading question when you know the answer?"
Reporter:
"I don't know the answer."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"You know the answer."
Reporter:
"What answer?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"What?"
Reporter:
"What would be the answer? So yes a conflict of interest is expected?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No, to the first part, if she's a constituent. Obviously he knows that."
Reporter:
"I don't have a voters list."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"You know it so don't play the fool. You know the answer. Yes she is a voter in Orange Walk Central but I have had no discussions with her, absolutely none, even when the appointment was made to have the acting commissioner, I have not spoken to him not by phone, not in person. I am allowing these professionals to do their job. I have every confidence in Bart Jones and Ms Anderson to be able to do what is right."
"I feel that we need to give the police who are the ones who do investigations in Belize to do the first part and then when we decide to do an independent investigation, who is going to be that independent person in Belize? If we bring a foreigner you will get vex, if we put someone in Belize, oh that one know this one, that knows that one. So let's try to work the process, that's all I'm asking. I am going to repeat it one more time, this was not sanctioned by the state. I can tell you, I had no idea of this going on and if I should have known, I would have immediately said that cannot happen in our government."
As for the surveillance video - which is critical to determining if police were involved, he said that it would be released after the investigation is complete:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I know the Minister of Police what he said but once we finish the investigation, we can release everything, we don't have anything to hide, but allow the investigation to finish. When the investigation is over and you guys want the footage, we'll be happy to give it to you but let the investigation finish first."
Courtney Menzies:
"Why would the report go to Cabinet instead of going to the DPP's office?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It's not going to Cabinet, it's going to me as the prime minister I am responsible so it comes to me and once it comes to me, then I'll probably inform my Cabinet of what was found there and I will make that decision not the Cabinet."
Courtney Menzies:
"Do you accept any at all that police might have been involved in this abduction?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I can't accept anything until I get the report and I get the evidence."
