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Rt., Hon, Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"The chamber is entirely cognizant of the practical organizational and resource difficulties that will arise upon Belize accession to the UN Anti-corruption convention. We have therefore agreed, the chamber and the government to set up a working group to examine all the ramifications so as to ensure that when we accede and accede we will, we are in a strong position to effectively implement the obligations that will accompany accession. That working group is to be convene very early and certainly not later than the next two weeks."

"The chamber also accepted government's position articulated from the time of our last administration that the reconfiguration of the public accounts committee to include the social partners in the senate must still result in a majority GOB membership of that committee. With that acceptance, work can start quickly on the revision of the parliamentary standing orders so as to enshrine what will now be a bicameral public accounts committee."

"The chamber executive yesterday also supported government's proposal that the public hearings to be held on the immigration special report be carried out by a joint select committee of the national assembly as opposed to just a senate select committee. The feeling is that the composition of that special purpose joint select committee should reflect the balance of representation we have agreed for the reconfigured public accounts committee and of course we are united in our feeling that the hearings will be held in public and will be televised and broadcast live."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"You make a concession on these two things: you amend the standing orders, so that the public accounts is now bicameral multisectoral - all these things. You also make a concession on the UN on the convention. Wouldn't not the interpretation then be taken that in fact it is an attempt to maintain your footing from a political perspective and at the same time torpedo the opposition proposal for a senate inquiry?"

Rt., Hon, Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"It is not a matter of convenience or trying as you say to maintain political footing and to the extent that that might be a factor. What is wrong with that? If things have gone wrong with immigration and this report is causing the government a political firestorm, and people out there are saying among other things as a consequence of this, you better sign that damn report now and I give in. Isn't that what democracy is all about? Isn't that what responding to the people is all about? So quite frankly it's not quite the way you put it, but even if it were, even it is that I am now agreeing with the chamber as a way of trying to ease the political temperature, don't be cynical. See that as my trying to be a good responsive public servant."