But even as internal politics dominates his agenda – Briceno is aware that a consequential political happening is on the immediate event horizon. As we’ve been reporting, the Barrow administration intends to bring criminal charges against Said Musa and Ralph Fonseca in their capacities as former Prime Minister and Housing Minister. So with the new guard trying to generate distance from the old guard, will Briceno’s PUP offer cover to the former leader? That’s what we asked the new Opposition Leader today.
John Briceno, PUP Leader
“The former party leader, the Right Honorable Said Musa is competent of taking on whatever charges that are being brought. We don’t know what those charges are going to be. As he pointed out to me when we met yesterday, he has gone through this between 1993 and 1998 and he vindicated himself. He claims that he is innocent and that he will have his day in court. What we need to do as a party, we need to ensure that should that happen, we need to ensure that the court acts without any bias and that he be given a fair chance to defend himself. The whole basis of our law is based on the principle of innocence until proven guilty.”
Jules Vasquez,
But another principle of law is that all of us are equal under the law and no matter if you ‘Right Honorable’ or an average joe in the street –if you have offended the law, you must face the consequences of it. That is also a principle of our justice system.
John Briceno,
“Did I say anything different to that?”
And when will those charges be brought? Well rumors today said that the arrests were imminent, but best indications to us are that it will not be before the end of this week.
