The last time we spoke with the Prime Minister on the Senate inquiry for Portico, he told us that there is no reason for him to be called to appear before the committee. He said if the Committee needs information, then they can call in the Cabinet secretary.
Not surprisingly, the UDP party chairman Michael Peyrefitte was not impressed with what he thinks is a dodge by the Prime Minister. He told the media as much in a Zoom press briefing today:
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"I would say that what he is saying is rubbish, it's foolishness if the committee requires your attendance, you have to attend or else anybody who does not want to attend who is required to attend can take that position and then what you will have no hearing? The terms of reference for the committee are very simple, essentially what led to the signing of the document and what led to it being taken to cabinet for approval. the prime minister was the one who sponsored that cabinet paper so I can't see how he would not seek it necessary for him to to attend if he is called plus remember when you had the whole central bank fiasco he made it very clear I am the minister of finance, Chirs Coye is just the minister of state. if there is anything any situation that comes up then i am responsible not chris coye so how can he not attend if required to attend when the terms of reference of the committee which his senators voted for clearly stated that the committee wanted to get to the bottom of how this reached tp cabinet what policies decision negotiations took place before it even reached cabinet and what led to it going before the cabinet as a cabinet paper. I mean it is hard pressed to see how he doesn't see himself as required to attend."
The four independent Senators selected to sit on The Select Committee are Janelle Chanona, Kevin Herrera, Moses Benguche and Elena Smith. The other three senators are PUP Senators, Isabel Bennett and Bevington Cal, and UDP Senator Beverly Williams.
