Government Moroccan trip still festers many questions
Founding member of the Team Unity construct, and now a staunch critic of the body, Dwyer Astaphan, has called into question the government’s level of transparency with the apparent non-disclosure of an anonymous female when a high level delegation, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, travelled to Morocco.
Astaphan voiced his concern during his weekly radio program.
“Information reaching us, indicates that a lady accompanied the delegation to Morocco. Who is that lady, if a lady accompanied them? Was she a part of the official delegation? Was she a personal friend of one of the persons in the delegation? What was her business on that trip, if in fact a female went on that trip?” were some of the questions Astaphan asked.
While citing the need for accountability and transparency within government, Astaphan also inquired why the federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Mark Brantley, was not included in the delegation and was he duly informed about the Morocco visit.
“What was the purpose of the visit to Morocco? Was it a state visit or was it a visit to raise money for the upcoming elections or something else? Was it a visit to meet business people to try to bring investors here? If so, were the hospitality and security protocols of the Morocco government requested and obtained by the delegation?” the former minister of government asked.
“When was the Minister of Foreign Affairs informed of that visit? Was he informed at all? Why was he not included in the delegation and if he was informed was he informed at the emergency cabinet retreat that followed shortly after we spoke on this radio station about the prime minister’s trip to Nevis without having informed (Premier of Nevis) Mark Brantley,” Astaphan further inquired.
Ultimately, Astaphan question the reason for the trip.
“What was the purpose of the visit to Morocco? Was it a state visit or was it a visit to raise money for the upcoming elections or something else? Was it a visit to meet business people to try to bring investors here? If so, were the hospitality and security protocols of the Morocco government requested and obtained by the delegation?” Astaphan asked.
He also questioned the roles of Osborne and Powell in the delegation, noting that “if one is going to be a candidate or a political propagandist, you should not also be an ambassador. Articulate the state’s position and interests on behalf of all the people of the state.”