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Here’s what Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington is up against: two former PUP Ministers of Foreign Affairs and one PUP Deputy Leader have said he should come out and apologize; his own Prime Minister has said he would do the same; his Cabinet colleague Michael Finnegan has also said he should say sorry and move on; and the lawyer who has at least once acted for Elrington as Attorney General when he was out of the country, Lois Young has given the same advice. So if all those are against the still defiant Elrington, who is with him – or we should say, who is with him that is bold enough to speak up? Well, we didn’t have to look far. Minister Wilfred’s brother Hubert – who is known for outrageous outspokenness predictably had nothing to say against his brother when we spoke to him today. He told us that he stands by Sedi’s comments and feels his brother is being unfairly persecuted.

Hubert Elrington, Brother
“I don’t think my brother’s statement means anything more than that.”

Keith Swift,
“Do you think that he should rephrase his comment?”

Hubert Elrington,
“I don’t see the issue. Look at Europe, Europe has practically gotten rid of their borders.”

Keith Swift,
“But they don’t have a sensitive situation like we do with Guatemala. So do you think that given the sensitivity of the situation that maybe he should clarify what he said?”

Hubert Elrington,
“Well everybody knows that the whole of the Elrington have been among the most vocal people when it comes to fighting Guatemala. So if they are saying that now we are being pro-Guatemala, Guatemala’s claim remains a ridiculous thing, it is just ridiculous. We have always said that but as Foreign Minister he can’t go and tell the Guatemalans listen to this, your claim is ridiculous. He can’t do that.”

Keith Swift,
“He also shouldn’t tell them that the border is artificial.”

Hubert Elrington,
“But if I tell you that a line of longitude or a line of latitude is imaginary, I am not saying anything that is not so.”

Keith Swift,
“Do you believe there is an agenda behind all of this?”

Hubert Elrington,
“Well obviously there is an agenda. We are grassroots people, we are known to be born grassroots and we have chosen a life that defines us as grassroots people and we are seen as some kind of a threat to other people who pretend to be leaders of the grassroots people. So there is that long term agenda there. But that is legitimate, they have their axe to grind, we have our axe to grind but I don’t have to quarrel with anybody from behind the zinc fence. I have always advised my brother, as he can tell you, don’t go behind there. I have tried to persuade him not to. I only went behind there very reluctantly.”

We tried to contact Foreign Minister Elrington for further comment today but could not reach him.