Tonight, it's looking doubtful that we will ever know what really happened in the Joseph Budna abduction. And that's because the Prime Minister has abruptly changed course, and said there will be no independent investigation into his abduction; instead the investigative file will now be sent to the DPP - leading back to the same police.
Here's how the PM put it today:
Reporter
"I had spoken with the attorney general about it. He had said that he would present his recommendations regarding the independent investigation for the October 14th cabinet meeting. It's been weeks since then. Has a format been chosen?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, yes. And I think we're coming to the, to the consensus that, quite likely, and I will make their recommendation tomorrow to Cabinet, I think is better then, time to just pass it on to the DPP and let them deal with it."
Jules Vasquez
"So no independent investigation?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Did you hear what I just said?"
Jules Vasquez
"I did."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Thank you."
Reporter
"But the DPP directs the police to go back and investigate further, if needed."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"So, then what do we need to do? What do you want us to do? Bring the FBI? I mean…what will you do?"
Reporter
"YOU ALL gave you the semblance that you are going to do something more serious."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No, no. I give this semblance that, once we get the report, the the police report, how best to move it. Now, the attorney general has pointed out to us that there's no law that we could put a body to investigate, unless…..I think Jamaica has that law. And so maybe that's something that we have to take a look for me, for the, for the future. And so we passed on to somebody to review it. Then what? And they said, well, what then? It still will have to end up to the DPP at sometime I believe. So it's something that we're considering right now."
Jules Vasquez
"A citizen is in a Guatemalan prison."
Reporter
"You all have passed a law in just a few days. So you don't give this any importance?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"That's your word. So, yeah."
We should note that while there is no law for a special investigator - there was also no law for a "special prosecutor" who would work independently of the DPP in the Ramnarace murder prosecution - but one was still appointed to the list of law officers of the Crown.
