And while he doesn't want Portico to get off the hook, as the former PM said - it's also on him. And the UDP cannot escape from that - if Erwin Contreras went rogue he did so on Dean Barrow's watch.
So what does that say about the fallen state of the UDP at the time Contreras signed the agreement - which was October first, 2020? That's what we asked Barrow about his former second Deputy Leader and three term Minister:
Jules Vasquez
"If as you say the minister was on a frolic on his own, knew the rules, knew where the document was in the approval process, but still went on a lark and did this. Isn't it then indicative of some level of a rot or indiscipline in your government that a minister would do something that you believe is so out of line with legal norms and cabinet procedure?"
Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister
"Well things that untoward happened. That's a fact, but nothing like that took place when I was there. There was no similar type of agreement that came forward that was signed utterly unauthorized by a minister. So, if that has happened, for damn sure it would not have happened a second time certainly from that minister, because I would have fired somebody for doing something like that."
"Remember that this was done at the end of the administration."
Jules Vasquez
"5 days before parliament was resolved."
Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister
"I had pretty much exited the building. There was no way when it came to light that I would have been in a position to do anything about it."
Jules Vasquez
"Yeah, even if you found out about it the week after. You dissolved parliament October 6th."
Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister
"But I would have made a stink about it. I'm sure, even if it was a symbolic gesture, I would have done something."
Jules Vasquez
"You wouldn't have, because everything was on the line Mr. Barrow. The election was on the line."
Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister
"No, I'm saying even if it was symbolic, I would have done something, but its speculation. I didn't know. It never happened. Look how long it took to be unearthed, until now. So, there we go."
