In his press conference, Barrow called out Ministers and members of the Public Finance Committee to publicly declare whether they support the newly revealed loan note. Well asking them to come forward might be a bit much, but we did catch up to one Minister who is a member of the Public Finance Committee. That's Minister of Health Joe Coye and Keith Swift put the tough questions to him today.
Hon. Jose Coye, Minister of Health, Transport, Communications
"There was a guarantee, there was a debt under that guarantee, the people are very displeased about it and I understand why and I think it is a legitimate concern and as a government we are obligated to respond to the concerns of the people and we must make every effort to ensure that that burden will be reduced on the people."
Keith Swift,
But Sir even as the Prime Minister asked the public finance subcommittee to renegotiate the agreement with the Belize Bank, he reportedly went ahead and signed a loan note, he went ahead and signed a settlement deed. Do you as an elected representative support what he did, that he went behind your back and signed this deed of settlement?
Hon. Jose Coye,
"I think those kinds of issues are better dealt with internally."
Keith Swift,
But it involves public finances.
Hon. Jose Coye,
"That's what I am saying, it does involve public finances..."
Keith Swift,
Sir now the Belize Bank says it wants its money.
Hon. Jose Coye,
"I would expect that they would be saying that. We on the other hand have to ensure indeed as representatives of the people, myself as a an area representative and a member of the cabinet, we will put our heads together and we will look at what best to do."
Keith Swift,
Do you maintain full and complete confidence in leadership of Said Musa as Prime Minister of Belize?
Hon. Jose Coye,
"Questions like those I would prefer to leave for us to decide internally.?"
Keith Swift,
Sir it is a straight question, does the Prime Minister maintain your full support?
Hon. Jose Coye,
"We came out of our parliamentary caucus very recently and we did endorse support for the Prime Minister and we did say that yes we were responding to Barrow's demand for resignation and we said no. I am saying again we are having an internal issue and we are going to deal with it internally."
Yesterday the acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance John Briceno said he didn't know about the letter from the Belize Bank to the Prime Minister.
