Valley shuts up

The ebullient and effusive Trade Minister Ken Valley yesterday went virtually and suddenly silent, claiming no response to everything that was put to him.

Valley, who was very vocal last Thursday on the issue of whether the proper procedure was employed in arriving at Malcolm Jones’ salary, turned reticent by the end of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. When Newsday contacted him, even before the first question was put, he blurted out: “No further comment.” You have nothing to say on the controversy which your statements generated? “In big, capital letters, No Further Comment!” Valley replied. Did that mean that he was recanting? He laughed and said “Is so?” Told that the matter was raised at the post-Cabinet briefing and it appeared that he (Valley) was misguided when he said that the proper procedure was not followed, Valley stated: “All I said was that the thing did not come to the Cabinet.” Told that he was seen on television saying that all the other sub-committees of the Cabinet reported back to it and this committee did not follow this process, Valley laughed. Then he said: “Other than that, I have no further comment”. So was he satisfied now that the procedure used by the PSNC was correct? “I have no further comment. That is all I have to say”.