And we also asked Peyrefitte his thoughts on what can be perceived as the PM's top advisor jumping ship. What does Courtenay's departure, only three years in, say about the state of the Briceno Administration? He says it means it's time to call an early election.
Jules Vasquez:
"It is seen that Mr Briceno has Eamon Courtenay as the instrumentality of his power, Eamon was supposed to be the guy who guide Mr Briceno and who helped protect Mr Briceno and help provide, almost that co-leadership, that's the perception."
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"The de facto prime minister."
Jules Vasquez:
"I did not say that. But now that he is abandoning the mission at the third year, what do you make of it from a political perspective that he's saying, ey, you're my friend, but I gotta roll, I can't deal with this."
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"Well the perception has to be, if your best friend and counciliary and chief lieutenant abandons your ship I think it's time, Mr Briceno, accept that he has failed and call for fresh elections for a new mandate. If your own general is telling you, I am abandoning ship because I believe you're un-coachable, you're unteachable, your head is hard, in short, you are not a good prime minister. So if you're not a good prime minister, what do you do? You go to the people for a fresh mandate and have the people vote on what you have done from 2020 to today. And seek a fresh set of endorsement from the people. However, I don't think that that's the case, because I don't think that he is leaving, I think that this is a strategic move, done by all of them, or the key people involved for Mr Courtenay to deal with something that would not conflict with him having official Cabinet powers and then he will come back."
