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The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are sparring tonight, but not in the House of Representatives, they’ve gone old school, with a war of words in long letters that they have exchanged.

The Leader of the Opposition threw the first salvo with his four page letter on Friday, which is over a thousand words long. He points to, quote, “Unconstitutional and Criminal Public Spendingâ€￾ end quote.  Her’s referring to the January judgement of the Chief Justice on Supplementary Appropriations Acts which eh said were unconstitutional. 

Briceno says, quote, "This confirmed the view long held by the People’s United Party that the profligate spending under your leadership was illegal and most likely corrupt.â€￾ End quote.  Briceno then points to the constitutional amendment which the Chief Justice has urged the government to urgently make.  It will require a two-thirds majority is required in the House - meaning bi-partisan support.  Bricneo says, quote, “Before any such Bill should be tabled in the House of Representatives we will insist that there be a Commission of Inquiry into scandal, and a forensic audit into this unconstitutional expenditure.â€￾

The PM fired back this evening and it was salty.  His letter says, quote, “you and your Party are the most outrageous hypocrites and frauds ever known in the modern politics and governance of our country.  One of the principal points in your screed of a letter, is the unbelievably self-righteous rant about the so-called illegality of Supplementary Appropriations. The history of Supplementary Appropriations started under our Independence Constitution with the People’s United Partyâ€￾ 

Barrow adds, that his government intends to appeal the Chief Justice’s judgement and seek a stay.  He adds, quote, “We therefore have no intention of seeking any Constitutional amendment any time soon. It therefore follows that your attempt to lay down conditions for any cooperation you might consider giving the UDP, is merely another empty charade. If you actually meant to be taken seriously, I tell you now that-no doubt fittingly-you are on a fool’s errand.â€￾  End quote.  And, we believe, end of story on this one.