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The Prime Minister also spoke out on the case of Area Representative for Orange Walk East Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez. As has been widely reported, he has been accused of child molestation, and was charged for six counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature. The PUP has suspended him from all party functions, but today the PM said it's not enough for what he calls an outrage:

Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister

"It's outrageous and I feel that legal proceedings aside, he and his party should be called to account in an unambiguous fashion over what has happened and I don't see it taking place."

Jules Vasquez

"You think he should resign as a member of the house?"

Hon. Dean Barrow

"Absolutely."

Jules Vasquez

"Would you think the same of Elvin Penner?"

Hon. Dean Barrow

"He should resign too, shouldn't he? Nobody can force them to resign but since that is the case, then the parties have to do more than engage in the kind of tokenism that we've seen from the leader of the opposition. I am absolutely astonished over the fact that, people generally, don't seem to have focused on the clear difference between the way the UDP handled the situation with Penner and the way the PUP is handling the situation with Marco Tulio Mendez. We in effect, constructively expelled Penner. I see the leader of the opposition trying to tip toe through the tulips. There's nothing forth right at all about his response to the issue."

Later on, we'll have a little more from the Prime Minister – as we ask him about a meting he held yesterday with the NTUCB. They have been boycotting Social Security's Board of Directors Meetings in protest of government's position that CWU Secretary General Floyd Neal cannot serve on the board. The PM will tell us about the compromise he's trying to work out with the unions.