And the Sunup on 7 hosts also asked CEO Martinez about the Commission of Inquiry payouts that the government will now have to pay - from out of the public purse. Already, their bill is at $330,000 - in a time when the economy is still rebounding.
But today CEO Martinez said that GOB will be appealing.
Dr. Osmond Martinez, CEO, Ministry of Economic Development
"I understand and I do agree with you historically I believe governments have always made some significant mistakes, some technicalities. Under the Barrow administration I think there were about 250 million dollars that was paid out. Not $134,000, $250 million dollars in court fees and all the other fees that were because they took the government to court. One of the famous one was BTL. After costing $250 million, they ending up paying around 600 million which is about 350 million dollars more. Historically, I think we have had some problems which as a government we will definitely need to make some improvements. I understand that the issues with Hugo Patt were more of a technicality and these are things that needs to - because its tax payers' money and so we definitely need to improve in that aspect."
Host
"What is the Briceno administration doing in terms of these debts now? What will they do in order to offset that pay-out?"
Dr. Osmond Martinez
"I understand that there will be an appeal."
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