Last night we previewed today's sitting of the Senate Special Select Committee investigating the Portico Definitive Agreement.
You heard UDP Leader Shyne Barrow say that he had advised his first deputy and former Lands Minister Hugo Patt to not volunteer any information about 17 lands transfers he authorized on November 4th 2020.
So, would the former minister stonewall and try slipping away from his inquisitors? Well, instead of finding out - we ended up witnessing a major anticlimax. Jules Vasquez tells us what happened:
Those who tuned in to see the former big fish from the Dean Barrow Cabinet testify today, instead saw an hour of this,
A public notice that the hearing had been rescheduled to next month. It says that some members of the committee are sick, traveling and going through family emergencies.
Chair Janelle Chanona explained:
Senator Janelle Chanona, Chair - Special Select Committee
"It was simply a lack of quorum for today's session that has forced today's session to be postponed."
"We have determined that February 14th will be the next date and the witnesses that were invited to appear today to give information will be asked to come at that date."
Reporter
"Is it disappointing that you guys had to cancel today's because I know that these sessions are for the public's benefit?"
Senator Janelle Chanona, Chair - Special Select Committee
"No, absolutely and again we asked for the patience and understanding of everyone that has been following this process very closely. I can tell you that the membership is very, very keen on moving this process expeditiously along and it is indeed disappointing that today's session was forced to be postponed and we will be moving to make sure that that does not happen again in the future if at all it can be avoided."
Reporter
"If the commission does require someone to come, do they have to show up?"
Senator Janelle Chanona, Chair - Special Select Committee
"I think everybody is entitled to their beliefs. We can only operate as guided by the constitution and the constitution makes very clear what we can do and whom we can call and I will leave it there."
