7 News Belize

Fighting Over Fees
posted (March 23, 2016)
Another topic that Musa took on are the legal fees that the Barrow Administration is paying the Prime Minister's relatives: brother Denys Barrow, neice Naima Barrow, and ex-wife Lois Young Barrow.

Now, you might want to call this a case of political double jeopardy since this was a centerpiece of the PUP campaign in the November 2015 general elections – which the PUP lost.

But, Kareem Musa, himself an attorney, brought it back to the house today – following his father who did so yesterday. But this time, UDP Party whip Michael Finnegan – ever a defender of the Prime Minister – didn't let him go unscathed. Here's what they both had to say:

Hon. Kareem Musa - Area Rep., Caribbean Shores

"And you want to know how much money the Prime Minister and as the Minister of Finance gave to his family members and friends in legal fees? If you turn to page 46 of the budget Mr. Speaker, at 41.10 you will see that over the last 3 years, the Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance has paid out a whopping 14 million; this isn't monopoly money by the way, this is real money, 14,895,432 dollars to his friends and family in legal fees but that is only one line item, 14 million plus. It does not end there (get back, we look to pay 300 million member, where part you live?). It doesn't end there, if you go down on the same page 46 to line item 1808; now somehow this found its way mysteriously into a capital 2 project, legal fees, capital 2 project, the Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance paid out to his family and friends an additional 12,719,926 dollars. Bringing the grand total of this parallel underground operation to 27, listen good members, 27,615,358 dollars, you heard right. That is the magic number members that this Prime Minister has time and time again refused to disclose to the Belizean people, even though he was asked right here in this very house; all he said is you are getting value for money."

Hon. Michael Finnegan - Area Rep., Mesopotamia

"He cause aspersion and family members of the Prime Minister in connection with their legal profession and try to paint a picture and give the public an impression that these family members collected some 40 million dollars in terms of legal fees being paid out to them, Mr. Speaker that is absolutely not true, that is a lie Mr. Speaker. He fabricated the notion, he used the figure that is in the book and he decide as the Pharisee who will get 5 million, who will get 4 million, who will get 3 million. Mr. Speaker that is not so, those are monies that were allocated for legal contraction as far as the government is concerned. All those monies are not monies for legal fees Mr. Speaker."

Back in October when we asked him about it, Denys Barrow explained in detail that government was getting fair value for an attorney at his current experience and level of practice.

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