CHIEF Minister Frank Walker says that he is not a liar and is angry at being portrayed as a fool over his role in the Harcourt fiasco.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Senator Walker re-emphasised that he did not knowingly mislead the States during the Waterfront debate. Nor, he said, had he ever done so in the 18 years of his political career.
It was the first time that Senator Walker has spoken of the Waterfront fiasco since returning from holiday in Bermuda. He said: ‘It has become clear over the last few days that I am being portrayed as a fool because I apparently didn’t check my information carefully enough; incompetent as a result; or indeed a liar.
‘I want to say I am none of those things. I have never in my political career knowingly misled the States, and I certainly did not do this in the Waterfront debate.’
Responding to the claims, he said: ‘I did check, double-check and triple-check, and was assured by the managing director of WEB that there was no court case. Those are among the questions I have asked because I am not pleased — to say the least — that I was allowed to stand in the States and unknowingly mislead States Members on such an important issue. I am personally looking for answers which will be made public with a chronology of what happened leading up to the debate.’
In the States yesterday Senator Walker said that he was ‘not happy’ with the role and performance of WEB.
He has pledged that all paperwork, background reports into the developers Harcourt, and facts and figures surrounding the entire £330m project will be made public by 1 July, in time for the States debate on the vote of no confidence in the Council of Ministers and the vote of censure into his position.
He said: ‘My job now is to fully provide that level of transparency that everyone is seeking and to address the very understandable concerns. I shall provide that level of reassurance and transparency. Whether that ultimately leads to the development agreement being signed with Harcourt will depend on the information that they provide.
‘I am aiming to have it all done by the no-confidence vote on 1 July. All the questions will be answered fully and openly and show who was responsible for what.
‘Serious questions need to be answered, and I have already asked them.’
Speaking about the vote of no confidence against the Council of Ministers and censure motion against him, Senator Walker criticised some States Members by saying:
‘It is political opportunism in an election year gone crazy. It is the worst I have ever known in my 18 years in the States. I am very sad that they are driving an agenda such as this in the way that they are.’
Article posted on 18th June, 2008 - 11.00am
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