And while the Minister of Public Service kept going back to the DPP - he flatly rejected the notion that the conduct of the government and the police so far has all had the appearance of a less than artful cover up - which begs the question of whether there is any commitment to transparency:
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service, Governance, and Disaster Risk Management
"Let's be very careful with the language that we use because there is not in any instance a cover up happening. The attorney general's ministry gave the advice and the report coming from the officer who carried out the investigation said very clearly that the public information out there is already too much they are already prejudicing the case and that is what I am saying if you want to see justice done if you want to really get to the bottom of this let the authorities that are responsible doing it let them do their job we can't try it in the media, we can't try it in public, this is not law and order, this is not something we see on television and I think sometimes the media tends to go that route. The information coming out of the media has already prejudiced this case. It has already done that and so it is important to understand that we have to make sure that the processes are followed and that the investigation reaches the conclusion that it needs to reach."
REPORTER-
"I think what those in leadership and in governance are not understanding is a lot of this has played out in the public domain. You had the reaction of the commissioner of police which left a lot to be answered and he literally lied. We could have put those things together based on how everything transpired. So the public does not have any confidence in the police that they are going to get any proper investigation out of this. No one should have held up the police report. That should have gone to the DPP immediately for the process to follow but it did not go like that."
Henry Charles Usher
"So in terms of steps taken, again you're drawing conclusions where you should not draw conclusions and I think it is important, you gave your opinion, fine. I can't agree with everything you've said in terms of the steps taken. I think that, yes, there were instances where it could have been done more efficiently, it could have been done differently but..."
REPORTER-
"Transparency that is lacking sir and again you all have gone to the house, amended laws in one sitting, then it has gone to the senate, so it takes just a few days, why is it that for this very important case for the public you cannot do the same?"
Henry Charles Usher
"It is important but remember it is not cabinet carrying out this investigation, that it Is done by the police, the matter is turned over to the DPP as what the constitution requires and the DPP determines if charges need to be filed. In the instance of the commissioner of police that is something of the media, it is fair for you to ask him the next time you have an opportunity to ask him why it happened that way but I think it is something to understand that this investigation is being done in accordance with the law and that is what is there."
