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But Elvin Penner did attend the meeting – his first since the Citizen Kim scandal broke in September.  He missed three meetings, and today became the first representative to sit isolated at the far end of the government back bench. 

He didn’t say anything or interact publicly with his parliamentary colleagues – and he slipped out before the meeting was finished – so we didn’t get a chance to question him.

But we did get to ask the PM about his status, and here’s what he said first about the 7 thousand dollars monthly Penner continues to get for his community vote as area representative, even though his office is closed:

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"These funds are given to all of us as area representatives for specific purposes, but he's not the only one who is not using the money for the purposes for which they're given. The practice is that its done by way of depositing money in their accounts, it's pretty hard to be able to actually ensure that they open offices. Obviously, I have tried to shine the light in this house on the fact that a number of area reps don't have offices open. I had hoped that in that way, they might be shamed into opening offices. All I will say is it clear that some people have no shame."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, but is he still in receipt of the Government's monies for purchasing fuel, phone this sort of thing?"

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"No, not for phones, I had explained that he is still chairman of a house committee, and the practice has been from the time of the last administration that chair persons of house committees are given a Government vehicle. So, yes, he still is in possession of the government vehicle. If he ceases to be chairman of a house committee, then the vehicle will be taken away. For him to cease to be chairman of the House Committee we would have to convene the committee of selection and in fact procure that result. I had indicated that he had not come to house meetings, and so, it appeared to me that we would have needed to move in that direction. It's a matter that clearly will be under advisement."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, but you can remove him from being the chair of a house committee."

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"The Committee of Selection would have to do that. There is a process, not that we can’t get it done, if we the majority, we can get it done. I am trying to say to you that there is a process. That process has not been triggered."

Jules Vasquez
"Isn't in the interest of the Government to preserve the status quo and not to rock the boat with representative for Cayo North East."

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"I don't think so; I think we can win that Cayo Northeast constituency very easily. So, I have not difficulty if there were to be a bi-election. I do not give 2 hoots whether or not Mr. Penner resigns those forcing a bi-election. So I will do nothing to keep him there. There is no question in my mind as to Penner’s guilt. As to the wrong that Penner did, and that's why he's been fired.”

The fuel allowance afforded to Committee Chairmen is 80 gallons per month.

The PM said he recently had to call Penner because his government vehicle was seen in Chetumal, which is not permitted.

And while Penner continues to tax the government politically, the Prime Minister did not put much stock in the statements by public officers that Penner basically tricked them into processing the Citizen Kim passport, on the understanding that all the required documents would be coming at a later date.  The PM says they are on their own if they claim that defence:

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“Now, public officers are clearly under the gun. For them to say that the Minister, who we all access was guilty of wrong-doing, as it were, leaned on us to or persuaded us to do things without the proper documentation, to do things that were wrong, to my mind, that the Nuremburg defence, you know. That can't serve. No minister should be able to tell you as a public officer to do something that you know is wrong." 

Penner’s statement to us via email regarding Citizen Kim is that, quote: