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But Minister of Human Development Anthony Boots Martinez completely rejects Burgess’s testimony about her alleged transaction with him. She told the Senate that she paid him two thousand dollars to facilitate an immigration transaction.  He said no such thing happened:…

Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez - Minister of Human Development
"I've never met with Ms. Alvarine Burgess ever yet over no immigration matter. Several times I've met Ms. Alvarine Burgess once sometime when I was the minister of works, I use to assist her mother. When I became minister of human development I met with her about 3 different time, the last occasion she was wanting some assistance for her husband who was ill of which I gave to her, that was all; we never had no immigration talk nor nothing. As a matter of fact that my name was never called in any report and further more to that she said that she - I listened to a portion that she met me by Brodies in some white car, I never own a white car in my life yet."

Jules Vasquez
"She has told people that she saw you stuffing the money in your pocket."

Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Man put it this way, further more to that, let me be clear I am the minister of human development, that ministry is the only ministry entitled to help people with physical cash. For a 2,000 dollars sir man put it this way I'm not minister because I got my head under my foot bottom you know. I am minister because I got my head at the correct spot and it's screwed on properly. Man for a 2,000 dolllars as minister how would I run any risk? When I give people to the tune of over 8000 dollars a month, sometimes 20, 30 in terms of pauper burial, in terms of people with social condition and so; I'm not foolish enough to run any simple risk at all sir."

Jules Vasquez
"But 2,000 maybe bring a list with 40 and its 2,000 each, that's 80,000."

Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"She said she give me 2,000, she no say she give me 80,000, she said she give me 2,000."

Jules Vasquez
"This woman is testifying under oath you know."

Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"You could do anything you want under oath, I the tell you that she is making that up, I the tell you."

Jules Vasquez
"But all the times you meet, she's in this business, she's in desperate need of money for her husband's illness, she's in this business. You mean that she claims and Mr. Castro has met with her and has signed letters, he admits to that - she no at once raised this thing and say man just sign this for me?"

Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Nobody ever raise that, I the tell you, she not only the lie on me, she is lying on herself."

Jules Vasquez
"The last time your colleague Mr. Castro says she lied on him, he went to court and he looked bad. Would you consider taking her to court for defamation of your character?"

Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
“Man put it this way man, I think something wrong with the lady brains and I am not a doctor but I just think she wrong with her brain.â€￾

Martinez said he did give Burgess eight hundred dollars to assist with her ailing mother.  

Minister Erwin Contreras did not respond to our messages asking for a comment.