What Does Francis Fonseca Make of Government’s Latest Controversy?

With two of his Cabinet colleagues now on administrative leave, Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca returned to work facing tough questions of his own. On his first day back, Fonseca weighed in on the unfolding controversies surrounding Oscar Mira and Florencio Marin Jr., both sidelined as investigations and audits move forward. We also asked whether similar practices, including split payments, occur within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Here’s how Fonseca responded.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“As the minister responsible for the ministry of foreign affairs and the ministry of education, that is not a practice that I certainly am involved in or engaged. I have always made it very clear that my role is a policy role. But I do not get involved in finance officers or spending or contract in the ministry. That is not my role.”

 

Reporter

“Do you think this constitutes a crisis in the ministry?”

 

Francis Fonseca

“No, I don’t think it is a crisis. Obviously, it is a serious matter. And I think it is being treated with a great sense of gravity. I think the prime minister is doing the right thing. He has ensured that the ministers who are responsible for those ministries are on leave while a comprehensive audit is being done of those ministries and whatever the outcome is of those audits will determine what future actions have to be taken. So, i think that is the right approach. Let’s get the information, all of the data and then decisions can be made. I don’t think its a crisis. I think it is being handled responsibly and then we see where we go from there.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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