Petrocaribe Case Adjourned to December

Magali Marin-Young

For the other side, Senior Counsel Magali Marin-Young held brief for Espat and fellow Senior Counsels Eamon Courtenay, who was busy, and Andrew Marshalleck, who is on holiday. Marin-Young says that the advancing of the legislative process is as much to blame.

Magali Marin-Young, Attorney for Julius Espat

“Following the legislative process, government has not even gazetted the amendment to the Finance and Reform Act. So we don’t even have a complete legislative process so that’s one of the reasons why it was adjourned. As well as other lead members of this team underestimated the time to get ready for trial; had other major cases come up, but we will be ready next time at the hearing.”

Reporter

“Is the claimant serious about this case and getting it dealt with properly?”

Magali Marin-Young

“Yes, the claimant is very serious. This case is a very serious case; has major national implications in terms of spending of public money. So it is very important, it is just supervening events and as you can appreciate the legislative process has not yet been completed.”

The two sides will meet a week before trial on November twenty-third at which time the claim may be struck out if the claimants are not ready. In court Justice Abel said that while the legislation except as interpreted is not his domain, the arguments and litigation are and there will be serious consequences as a result of any further delay. We also understand that the P.U.P. will not join the claim as originally thought. The November seventeenth, 2014 motion authorized spending of over two hundred and thirty million dollars dating back to 2010, which paid for many projects including the starting of the National Bank, infrastructural improvements and building of sporting facilities under the Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL).