It's a small moment that most would have missed, but we caught it - and on Friday when we spoke to the Prime Minister via telephone we asked him about Vega's unexcused absence on Friday, and the wider implications for a division in cabinet. The PM indicated that indeed Vega did oppose the government position on the section 53 judgment. Here's the phone interview from Friday evening:...
Rt., Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"He wasn't in cabinet when the decision was taken not to appeal and he has indicated that if he'd been there he would have voted against that position. So that much is clear. But I spoke to him yesterday and he gave me no impression that he's not coming to the house meeting as consequence of his dissatisfaction. So, I'm afraid you have to chase him down to find out the reason for his absence. He has not been in touch to say that I wasn't there and here is why. So I really can't go beyond that."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"However, perhaps you have heard these rumors which we have all heard that there is discontent in the cabinet and that 6 ministers, maybe more, want to resign or are making certain threats."
Rt., Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I think that's absolutely nonsense. They certainly have not made any threats to me and have given me no indication, no 6 ministers have given me any indication that they want to resign. So If I were you - I can't speak of Mr. Vega, it is true that he didn't show up today. Everybody else showed up. So I think limit the speculation to Vega. That would be legitimate. I can understand how is absence would provoke speculation."
Again that interview was done on Friday evening - before today's Cabinet meeting.
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