And we also asked the minister about UDP chairman, Michael Peyrefitte's request, through the Freedom of Information Act, for the amount the government is paying the Courtenay - Coye law firm, which they have retained for several matters.
To an outsider, it may seem like easy picking for the law firm owned by a PUP minister & a minister of state. But to Musa, there's a logical explanation:
Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
"As you know, there are some big legal battles that are going on in our court system at the moment, as in the past. And you certainly want to have the best possible representation on behalf of the government, I believe that Courtenay and Coye have one of the best reputations in the country, it's not something new, that is normal for us as a government to contract other private law firms in instances like that where big cases are involved and can have huge ramifications for the government."
Courtney Menzies:
"But out of all the law firms in the country, you contract the one that has a minister of state and a minister."
Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
"You didn't expect us to contract one of Dean Barrow's law firm, or Barrow and Company, or any of the other law firms."
Courtney Menzies:
"It would have been a nice change of pace."
Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
"Maybe Musa and Balderamos. No, but they were not contracted. But certainly Courtenay and Coye, they enjoy a very good reputation, as a law firm, a prominent law firm in the country with a very good track record."
Courtney Menzies:
"But what does this say about the Attorney General's Ministry?"
Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
"Well, the Attorney General's Ministry does a lot of work as well, we have some very good crown counsels there, yes some of them are junior, and some of them of course are involved in these big cases as well, junior to the senior attorneys, we don't have any senior counsels per se in the Attorney General's Ministry that practice in the court of law."
