And, perhaps not surprisingly, the Chairman of the Senate Inquiry, Senator Aldo Salazar feels the same way. Yesterday he told the media that he only wants to call a few more witnesses, but PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay had a very different perspective. Here's what they both said:...
Hon. Aldo Salazar, Chairman - Senate Select Committee
"I would not want this to condescend to a political spectacle. I think that we've been at this from October and I think there is wisdom in trying to look at what is pertinent that's left and we write our report. There is enough material in my view and the only way to stop this or to prevent this from being a political spectacle is to transact our work expeditiously."
"For me I feel that I would need to see only 3 more witnesses, because there has to be some finality to this."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, PUP Senator
"There are a lot more witnesses that need to be called before we are finish. The terms of reference for the committee are very wide and I think we have a duty to ensure that we call all relevant persons to give their testimony to ensure that what has happened does not happen again."
Hon. Aldo Salazar, Chairman - Senate Select Committee
"If you have a situation where somebody has admitted that there were attempts at bribing him or her, good, there is evidence before us that we know this was happening. Does that mean that I have to go and find every instance where somebody was bribed and tried and get those persons to come in and ask them about that particular instance? No. That is not useful. We already know that this was happening. We already have evidence of it. So we can accept that this was something that we happening and we can move on."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, PUP Senator
"This inquiry is inquiring into evidence and we should do so until we have completed our task."
Hon. Aldo Salazar, Chairman - Senate Select Committee
"The longer we take, the more there is to criticize these proceedings which have so far been treated I would feel in a professional and impartial manner."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, PUP Senator
"For political reasons, people want this inquiry to end very quickly in order to the hemorrhaging. That cannot be the reason why you extend or shorten this inquiry."
Later on, we'll have more from yesterday's Senate Hearings: you'll hear what Elvin Penner had to say about all those nationalities he helped to secure before the 2012 General election.
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