So, why did Courtenay leave the Senate hearings on Immigration last week Wednesday before they were done for the day? That's when the UDP offensive against him started, and he gave us a response while travelling to the US. The Government's press release from Friday also mentioned it, and said, quote, "Senator Courtenay easily and willingly cast aside his Senatorial obligations. He left Wednesday's session of the Special Senate inquiry prematurely... so that he could depart to Washington in the service of the Ashcroft Alliance."
The press asked about that and, in his response, Courtenay made some interesting disclosures about the Senate hearings, which continue tomorrow:
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"He said that I abandoned the Senate Hearing, how amusing. Let's again deal with that, right. First of all, I am not an attorney qualified to practice in the United States, let's start right there. So, I didn't go there to practice any law and represent anybody. For years now, for years, I have been travelling for clients who have matters in Belize and in other jurisdictions, not only the United States, in order to consult with lawyers, go and listen to cases that are taking place. This particular one had to do with the UHS award. It was an appeal by the Government of Belize, and I went to listen to it because Belize Bank has an appeal in the Court of Appeal over the same award. And so, I go just like how their lawyers come down sometimes, when there are matters here, listen to what is happening, we exchange notes, and see what is happening, absolutely nothing strange. So, that is what I went to do. I want to go further. They have said that I abandoned the Senate to go and do that. I went to the Senate for as long as I could, and then, I left. Why? I had already spoken to other senators, and we discussed the questions that were going to be asked, the questions that they were going to ask, and you can see how long and extensive it was. Let me say this. We have Miss Marin, the Former Director, who is going to come back. We have the Auditor General, who is going to be called back. We have Mr. Wade, who is going to come back, and based on information that has been leaked to us, since last week Wednesday, obviously, Miss Saldivar-Morter is going to have to come back. So, there was no problem in me leaving. The questions were put there to her, and we have the right to call her back, and I am more-than-likely going to call her back, and ask the committee to bring her back, so that we can put further questions to her. So, I left, satisfied that my other Senate Colleagues had sufficient questions to ask her. We get the transcript of those proceedings, and if there is any issue that we think needs clarified, we ask for documents, or we ask for the witnesses to come back. So my travelling on that day has absolutely no problem and no prejudice, and I am was doing what I was required to do, attend when I can."
Courtenay said that that the ruling party is using him as a distraction from the real problems facing the country, such as Government's financial difficulties and the Nationality fraud that been revealed in the Senate Inquiry.
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