The DFC public hearings started on August first of last year, and after so many months of stop and go, today, finally, was to have seen decisive and dramatic moments. The DFC all stars, former Chairman Glen D. Godfrey and former CEO Troy Gabb, the men fingered by some as the architects of the corporation's ruin, were scheduled to appear and testify under oath. But...they didn't. And no one was more disappointed than Jules Vasquez; he was there with his blue and white pom-poms and an Intelco t-shirt and was the first to get the bad news.
Merlene Bailey-Martinez, Commissioner
"It is a very interesting morning for us."
In fact, it was anything but interesting - the witness table that should have featured Troy Gabb in the morning and Glenn Godfrey in the afternoon was empty. Bailey Martinez explained why.
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"We were supposed to have in house today Mr. Troy Gabb this morning. We have been served with a letter from his lawyer Mr. Dickie Bradley and I will just the contents of that letter since it is matter of public information because he was summoned to be here so the public needs to be informed why he is not going to be here. It is a letter from Dickie Bradley and it is dated the 14th of February and it says, 'Dear Commissioners, re: Troy Gabb. I regret to inform you that Mr. Gabb is not able to attend today's hearings because he is ill. I enclose a copy of his sick leave certificate.
We have also received one on behalf of Mr. Godfrey from his lawyer Mr. Dickie Bradley and it is dated the 13th of February but it was delivered this morning the 14th of February. And it says, 'Dear Commissioners I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 8th February with reference Mr. Glen Godfrey. I have been unable to hand him the summons document as he is out of the country from last week."
The notices came together, hand delivered by messenger 10 minutes before the hearings were to start. And it left the co-chairs stumped.
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"Since we just got these letters and we were actually in full gear to have these people testify today, the Commissioners have not really met to decide on the new course of action. We will be meeting most likely sometime today to decide what is the new course of action. It is a serious setback for us. We have concerns over this setback, serious concerns because these people are key to these hearings."
It's schedule total thrown off, the commission did have a brief and unremarkable 30 minute hearing with auditor Mark Hulse basically discussing housekeeping matters before the final forensic audit is submitted tomorrow. The meeting was over by 10:30, leaving the media to pack up shop after an uneventful and anticlimactic day. Later, co-chairs Bailey-Martinez and Lord met and this afternoon, she told us what they decided about how to proceed.
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"We met after the non-session this morning and we're looking at two things, the availability of witnesses and also the availability of BIM. Once we confirm contact with the other witnesses, then we can confirm another schedule date."
Jules Vasquez,
I know Minister Ralph Fonseca is scheduled for next Tuesday, will he be appearing or will it be Troy Gabb and Glenn Godfrey again?
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"We had a certain order of witnesses because we thought that it was necessary for us to do that in order, we have asked our secretary to write to defer the witnesses which should have appeared next week."
So now Fonseca, won't appear next week, and the Commission still isn't quite sure who will.
Jules Vasquez,
Do you feel that there is orchestration of some deliberate attempt to frustrate, undermine, or slow the work of the Commission of Inquiry?
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"Jules for proprietary sake, I would not want to comment on that. But I must say this is the second time that we've gotten a medical certificate for a witness that was supposed to appear. Of course it begs the question."
The next session had been scheduled for Tuesday February 20th, but that date will have to be changed. We'll tell you when it will be re-scheduled for. Also, we noted that the final forensic audit is scheduled for submission tomorrow, but because of the requests made today, auditor Hulse has been given an extension.
