A newly sworn-in Commission of Inquiry is now tasked with hunting down government assets that were sold, allegedly at fire-sale prices. Back in November, the PSU suggested that the Barrow Administration was selling off government assets for a fraction of their value, including government vehicles.
The PUP government has now established a commission that will investigate and assemble a report. After that, the Cabinet will make decisions based on the recommendation of the commission. At today's swearing in ceremony, Prime Minister John Briceno spoke about the importance of the commission's task.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Even before the elections we were hearing a lot of stories about the previous government selling off a lot of the government assets and it was pretty much a fire sale and in some instances next to almost giving it away. Once we got into government we started to realize the extent of what has happened especially in the vehicles unit. And so the cabinet felt then that it is important for us to be able to do an inquiry unto the sales of these assets. And it is important to do, in my mind, two things, one is to find out what happened and secondly to be able to take steps into ensuring that this does not happen again."
Hon. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"The commission of inquiry is tasked with discovering if the procedures were followed, what happened with those assets, and whatever recommendations they make, those matters will be taken to cabinet. Now when it comes to recovery of those assets, it is something that the cabinet has also taken seriously so if it is in the view of the cabinet that the assets should go after them,, then certainly that's a measure that might happen as well."
Reporter:
"Can you give the public an understanding of all the offices you would be looking into that would have involvement."
Hon. Henry Charles Usher
"The commission is an independent body, they have been giving a wide latitude to look at the disposal of government assets to do a discovery expedition and to make recommendations so the chairman would be able to answer in terms of what all departments and ministries he will be looking at."
Andrew Marshalleck, Chairman
"As I understand it, there are no limitations as to the witnesses that can be summoned and questioned by the commission, that includes everybody, that includes prime minister, that includes ministers, that include public officers, that include private persons. The work of the commission must be led or informed by the information discovered so we will go where the evidence leads us."
Courtney Menzies:
"Are there any intentions to investigate the financial secretary, considering that he was the FinSec during the UDP administration as well and the sale of government assets cannot happen without his go ahead?"
Andrew Marshalleck, Chairman
"The commission hasn't yet met and I'd want to preempt the participation of Mr Blake and Mr Martinez. But as I said, nobody's off the table."
The members include chairman, Senor Counsel Andrew Marshalleck, PSU's representative Luis Luke Martinez, and BCCI representative Marcello Blake.
