And while the press conference focussed heavily on foreign affairs matters - the press also asked about relevant political news - and that includes the controversy over government retaining Minister Courtenay's law firm to do government work.
So far, the government says it has paid the law firm $277,000 dollars.
Today, Courtenay explained that asking permission from the GG for his law firm to be contracted by the government is a routine procedure he does whenever he's in office. But why are their junior counsels more capable than the AG's Crown Counsels? That's what we asked.
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Every time I am appointed to the Senate, I write that letter to the Governor General and I get back a response. So there was nothing different. Every single time because I don't know, whenever somebody, there are nine lawyers in that firm, somebody calls them and they get business, I don't know what's going to happen, so I write that letter to make sure that I am covered, in the even that my firm is asked to do any work. It's as simple as that, nothing more complicated or secret."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you able to speak about the FARA process and this retention of law firms. My experience has been that it has been universally ignored to put out services to a competitive bid as is required that that little thing we called the finance and audit reform act. Were the services contracted by Courtenay Coye LLP put out to competitive or any type of selective bid?"
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Jules, when you need a lawyer, you put it out for competitive bidding."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, I am a private company, I'm not govern by FARA."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I'm serious. You should be an intelligent man and you should be asking intelligent questions. When you have a law case against yourself, you don't put that to competitive bid, you will go to the law firm you believe would best defend you. You want us to go to Michael Peyrefitte or to Pitts and Elrington? Obviously, we have to get the most competent lawyers and I will challenge you to find a better law firm in this country than Courtenay and Coye."
Jules Vasquez
"What you continue to characterize as a apex law firm is an apex law firm when Eamon Courtenay is the lead litigator and they are being hired in these instances that we know of for litigation work. So the junior that is being sent from Courtenay Coye I'm sure is highly capable, but is that person more capable than the crown's who you have put down so gentle?"
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"I have worked many times with the crowns in the attorney general's ministry. I've worked many times against the crowns in the attorney general's ministry and I would not question their competence. What we have here are examples, not all, some of the cases that is dealing with things on which they had advise under the UDP. It is very difficult to go back to any professional. Now that the tables have turned, I want you advised on the same thing. Secondly, some of these issues are politically sensitive and you just for obvious reasons don't go to somewhere whether by design or accident, information goes out. You have to deal with things in a way that is practical. I would not go to a law firm where my opponent has somebody in there who is working there and the have a loyalty to somebody I'm against. What is the point I am making? There are people in the attorney general's ministry like every single ministry in Belize who have connections direct and otherwise to the previous administration. I am not questioning the loyalty or competence of any of the crowns, but it is uncomfortable for them. Thats the point, because the minute something leaks, you point on somebody."
