And while Finnegan is prepared to go to jail, Belmopan Representative John Saldivar is prepared to go right down to the wire. He says he cannot see himself voting for such a bill:..
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Would you support the government paying 90 million to the Belize Bank to settle this matter?"
Hon. John Saldivar, UDP Belmopan
"First of all, Jules, let me state that I am disappointed in the decision of the CCJ and secondly, I certainly cannot, under any circumstance support passing a bill to pay moneys to Michael Ashcroft."
Jules Vasquez
"However, that may be an emotional reaction, but - real talk- the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister, is obligated to take it to the National Assembly and you have to support your Prime Minister. You can't- it is an existential crisis for the UDP if members of his own government- if he says 'yay' and they say 'nay'. That's like a vote of no confidence in the PM."
Hon. John Saldivar
"Well, I think you're assuming that he will say 'yay'. What is clear from the decision is that the court has made it clear that the Ashcroft people cannot collect on this award unless it is passed by the parliament. And so it is clear also to me that the CCJ cannot direct or compel the parliament to pass a law. And so it is clear to me, also then, that the CCJ is saying that the parliament must decide if they will or will not pay this award."
Jules Vasquez
"And in your case it's will not?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"In my case, categorically, no."
Jules Vasquez
"You're a practical man. The bank likes when people don't pay because that is when interest starts to run. Now usually interest is at 5% per annum. This particular interest is 17% percent compounded monthly. That's over 200% a year."
Hon. John Saldivar
"I'm sure that there is some legal way to work it out so that interest does not continue to run. I am sure that we can get some kind of suspension of the decision pending the approval of the parliament. The CCJ has made it clear that the parliament has to approve, so I don't see that interest can continue to run if the parliament does not approve."
Jules Vasquez
"You are an old sports man. You know that sometimes when people lose a game, they blame the referee; they blame the rim was twisted; they blame the score board wasn't working right. Sir, you lost the game, and now you're complaining about all the terms of the game that you agreed to play."
Hon. John Saldivar
"And I disagree with you because I don't believe that the judgement is saying that we lost the game. The judgement is saying that we lost the game. The judgement is saying that for us to pay it must be approved by parliament and I am sure that the CCJ, that the judges on that court are aware that they cannot compel parliament. So in giving us that directive or that order it is basically saying that parliament must decide if they will or will not pay and the Minister of Finance cannot pay if it is not approved by parliament."
Email
Print