And though the former Foreign Minister resigned, he still holds his position in the Senate as the Leader of Government Business, and still has Cabinet privileges. But you've heard the UDP chairman say that certain government businesses cannot be moved in the Senate without a sitting minister. And you've also heard the PUP say that the UDP did it before. And with the Senate meeting scheduled for next week, the media asked the PM whether Peyrefitte has a point.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I could say a lot of things about the chairman but I will just answer straight. If he were to look back in history, it was the United Democratic Party government that had Fred Martinez as the Leader of Government Business in the Senate and also having him attend Cabinet meetings for that very same reason. In our instance, it's slightly different in that we maintain Senator Courtenay, maybe he's afraid to debate Senator Courtenay and wants him to get out of the Senate but Senator Courtenay has the confidence of our government and is prepared to continue to serve our government as Leader of Government Business and so there's nothing much more to it."
Reporter:
"You're saying in colloquial terms, do suh noh like do suh, or basically two wrongs don't make one right."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"But who said it's wrong?"
Reporter:
"It's in contravention of the standing orders."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Who said that, just because he said that? Please man, like I always said if I need a lawyer, that is certainly not the person I am going to use."
