This evening, we did get a chance to speak with former Government Minister Godwin Hulse.
In the report, the Commission asserts, quote, "It is also more likely than note that the Honorable Godwin Hulse also acquired a 2013 Mahindra Pickup (which he continues to regularly use) in the name of Carl Gillett during the relevant period." End quote
Via Telephone, he told us that this allegation against him is completely false and that the Commission did not afford him natural justice. Here's his expression of outrage that his reputation is being called into question:
Voice of: Godwin Hulse, Former UDP Minister
"When I read that portion of the report which is housed in section 18, I found it to be absolutely reckless, irresponsible, malicious and attempt at character assassination. The commission covered themselves by using the terminology "it is also more likely than not" nobody puts that in a report which is supposed to be accurate and it supposed to report the findings of serious investigations. That is what you called cover you A words, more likely than not. They also hid behind the fact that of course they know well, especially the chairman who is a senior counsel, he knows full well that the commission under section 9, subsection 2 of the commission of inquiry act chapter 127 of the laws of Belize says no commissioner shall be liable to any action or suit for any matter or thing done by him as such commissioner. So they feel that they could get away with this sort of character assassination."
"I have had 2 Mahindra's, the first was purchased by myself, I paid for it from Motor Solutions in May 28, 2012 to be exact just after the agricultural show, I bought that first Mahindra. I ran that Mahindra for 6 years and 3 months and then I purchased the second one, the one I am currently using, licensed plate C-38754. I purchased that on the 21st August, 2018. I licensed it then, in 2019, in 2020 and 2021. A simple check at the licensing authority would have shown that those were licensed in my name from the day of purchase. So I can only conclude that this is an attempt at some form of character assassination 'we wah get Mr. Hulse, because have had some deal' and so its worthless, its malicious, it's irresponsible and of course as I said its reckless and when you do that in a report, to my mind you discredit the complete report, because what else in the report is inaccurate, a simple check would have done this. The commission never got in touch with me, never called me, never touch based with anyone associated with me."
