On Tuesday Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh dismissed the charge of theft
against former Prime Minister Said Musa. The Chief Justice ruled that Prime
Minister Dean Barrow and his CEO Audrey Wallace’s statements along with
an affidavit from former CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amalia Mai were
insufficient evidence and could not support the charge of theft. Today we asked
Barrow for reaction to the decision and he didn’t have much to say.
Keith Swift,
The charge against Said Musa was quashed this week by the Prime Minister. Any
comments or reaction to that?
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
“We must respect the decision of the court even if we don’t
agree with it.”
DPP Cheryl Lynn Branker Taitt has said she will appeal. And today we
asked PM Barrow about another matter in the high court – that of the Mayans
of southern Belize versus the government over customary land rights. The Chief
Justice began hearing arguments on Wednesday from the Mayans who want communal
land rights declared for 32 villages. Government has said it will put up an
energetic defence but today Prime Minister Dean Barrow made it clear the case
will not end here.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“The government certainly is convinced that this issue must be ventilated
at the highest level. It is a huge policy issue, it is a huge national issue,
and I believe that no matter which way this decision at first instance goes,
there will be appeals.”
Argument sin that case continued today.
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