The media also took the opportunity to ask the PM about several important topics of urgent national interest, including the public concerns raised about the proposed SSB investment in Pharmacy Express.
As we told you, this multimillion-dollar pharmaceutical supplier, which operates out of a unmarked building located at mile 5 on the George Price Highway, has applied for a loan with the Social Security Board. After reviewing their documents, the SSB's investment committee looked favorably on their application for 7 million dollars to purchase inventory and re-finance its existing debt.
The SSB loan approval has been criticized in the public domain, and sources told our newsroom that the topic came up at yesterday's Cabinet meeting - where it did not received a warm reception. Here's what the PM had to say when we asked about it:
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"Legally, remember that they are an autonomous body and if I - if the cabinet were to give a position right now, we would be opening up ourselves to a lawsuit. And, you know, there is a certain person chomping at the bit to be able to come out and sue us. So, we cannot say anything right now, but the Ministry of Health has expressed some concerns. And they, I think, have written to Social Security, and they and I think other citizens would probably also express their concerns. This shows that the process is working. You start off. You put in your application, then there's the Investment Group Committee from within Social Security that makes a recommendation to the investment committee. The investment committee then passes it on to the board. Then when the board agrees, they informed the individual, the company that is approved. But then, it is publicized to hear back from the people. Remember, this is a part of the reforms that were done after the G-7, when we were saying that, you know, we have to put tighter controls on our money. Thank you very much, everybody."
