‘Take it to the DPP’

PRIME Minister the Right Honourable Freundel Stuart last night challenged the Opposition Barbados Labour Party to take any evidence of corruption against any Minister in his Government to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

 

“If there are problems of that kind in public life of Barbados we need to have them removed and if there is anybody in the present government of Barbados over which I preside who is guilty of corruption of any kind, I will be the first person to stand up, once the information is made available, I will give all the support that is needed for that person’s successful persecution because I believe that corruption in public life is a betrayal of the most sacred trust of the people of this country,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister was speaking at a branch meeting held at the All Saints Community Centre in St. Peter where he noted that almost weekly there are some “dark hints” from the Opposition that there may be a Minister of the Crown that is corrupt. In fact, he noted that the word “corruption” is contained in the no-confidence motion which was filed by the BLP.

 

Speaking to the crowd in the packed community centre, the Prime Minister said his party continues to strive to create a Barbados that is socially balanced, economically viable, environmentally sound and characterised by good and transparent governance.

 

“If anybody anywhere in Barbados has any evidence that any member of the Cabinet of Barbados is corrupt, do not say it, Section 79 of the Barbados Constitution makes provision for a Director of Public Prosecutions, nobody can give him any instructions.

 

“There is a DPP in Barbados with those powers. Frightening powers. But those powers are at the centre of our democracy. Nobody can give him any instructions, therefore if anybody has any evidence against any Minister of the Crown, that that Minister has been corrupt, and you want to be taken seriously, don’t tell me, go to the DPP.

 

“Carry the information you have and I want to make it public now, if corruption can be established you will have my 100 per cent support because I didn’t come into politics to be corrupt and anybody who comes to sully the good name of the DLP can’t count on my defence. I know this. You can go to the DPP as often as you like, you can’t carry Freundel Stuart’s name,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister said that such a move would send a clear signal to the people of Barbados, the people of the region and international partners that Barbados is serious about dealing with corruption in public life.

 

“If you have evidence carry it and take it to the DPP. Nobody can give him any institutions. When I pass him I say ‘Hello Sir’ and go on. I don’t let anybody see me talking to him,” he mused.

 

“You can’t be his friend because his powers are virtually unlimited. Go to him and let him start the prosecution against the offending person and you have my 100 per cent assurance you are going to get all the support you need from me because I believe that if there is dirtiness in public life, that dirtiness has to be taken out. Those are the standards of the DLP. But walking around the place and dropping hints and trying to sully people’s reputation that is not going to get us anywhere.”

 

The Prime Minister also told the party faithful in attendance that using a no-confidence motion just “to do damage” is a simplistic use of such a mechanism.

 

“The truth is we should be concentrating on solving problems rather than doing damage and if there is anyone in the government who is corrupt, I don’t walk around peeping behind the Minister that is not my role in politics, I am not going to do it. I give people work to do and I believe they should do it and do it to the best of their ability remembering always that they are the servants of the people of Barbados and accountable to them,” he stated. (JH)