When it comes to the ongoing audit, the PM says he doesn't know anything about it, because the audit is independent. It will go all the way to 2015, which was before the time of Oscar Mira. Is this a way to distract from the activities specifically under the PUP?
The PM explained the rationale:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No, we can't. We can't. I don't talk to the auditor, to the auditor general. She's independent and she's doing her own job. She has been going meticulously through, I mean, it's a lot, a lot of files, because invoices and the POs, what they refer to as the POs, the purchase orders and the contracts, it's a lot of work and they have to compiling them."
"That's what the last I know from the CEO and whenever she has a report, she makes it available. I think it's important for us, for Belizeans to know, we're looking at what has happened during war time, but it's also important to be able to take a look back."
"And I believe that we can go back as far as 2015. I don't think that has been officially said to the Auditor General, but I will ask the Financial Secretary to speak with her and answer to requests that we go all the way to 2015."
"I think that a lot has been said, you know, and there's this impression as if this money has been paid and the soldiers and the Coast Guard are not getting food. If you want to be objective, every soldier will tell you that today they're getting way better than they did before we came into government."
