And while today's press conference was about debt, the issue of the fate of David Price, the Chairman of the DFC Commission of Inquiry had to come up. As we told you last night, the PUP issued a release challenging Price, and questioning his ability to impartially chair the commission. The PUP produced an unsigned letter supposedly from early 2005 in which Price is advising the labor unions on how to force the Prime Minister To appoint a DFC Commission of Inquiry. The PUP, working independently of its own leader, and in the interest of party hardliners, who have many DFC skeletons to hide, challenged the Prime Minister to dissolve the commission on the grounds of bias. And if he doesn't, they will go to court to get it done. So will he do it? Here's what the PM had to say.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"I think the release made by the party clearly exemplifies an important principle that is at work here, that there is a clear difference between the party and the government. The party has written to me as Prime Minister to make a certain decision. I became aware of this since yesterday, of this allegation of collusion between the Commission's Chair, Mr. Price, and the other party to the agreement with government, namely the NTUCB, for the establishment of this very same commission.
The underlying motivation for the commission's appointment, you will recall, was to review the DFC's transaction during the six year period, 1998 to 2004. As the Prime Minister, I recognize now, as I did then when I appointed the Commission, the importance of this exercise. And I believe it must be carried out in a fair and impartial manner without prejudice to any of the parties, or indeed any of the borrowers. This is the commitment that the Belizean people expect from the Commission and it is the commitment that I expect as well."
Question,
"Will you be asking Mr. Price to resign?"
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"I haven't said that. First of all I didn't understand the press release to be saying that in the event that I do not do anything, that they would go to court to force me to do something. I understood it to mean that that was the third option they were looking at; 'Mr. Price recuse yourself. If he fails: Prime Minister we should remove him on grounds of bias. If nothing is done, the party will take out an action in the Supreme Court to have him removed on the ground that he lacks objectivity, he has shown bias, and the lack of impartiality.' Jules I have tried to make it clear that what I am calling on Mr. Price to do is to be fair and impartial and carry out his responsibility as the law expects him to."
Jules Vasquez,
Is there any indication so far that he has not been doing that?
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Yes, certainly. Some of the very statements he has made to your television station clearly shows bias. It shows an inclination as opposed to searching for the truth, going towards a witch-hunt, to get at people and that is very clear. I am saying you have a job to do, do it impartially and do it objectively and don't allow your political agenda to get in the way."
Jules Vasquez,
Sire as the leader of your party, should you not be in charge of the public pronouncements made by your party? Is the party now working independent of its leader?
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"No, the party is exercising what I believe is a very robust democracy that we have in the PUP and it clearly shows that there is a clear difference between the party in government and the government. This is a very fundamental principle at work here."
Chairman David Price said he would not comment until he heard the Prime Minister's statement himself. Thought it now appears a legal challenge is imminent, even though the Supreme Court is on recess, Commission hearings proceeded as planned today and, later on, we'll tell you how that went.
