Govt tries to take over Commerce Bight… but fails

There’s a development in the case of the Commerce Bight Port in southern Belize, which is controlled by businessman Luke Espat. Late information to News Five is that three government officers showed up at the facility this morning and told the security guard that they were there to take over the compound. But that was easier said than done because attorneys for Port of Belize, which is owned by Espat, provided a copy of the injunction and a letter to Ports Commissioner, which essentially prevents the Minister of Ports, Melvin Hulse, from terminating the lease for the port. After reviewing the documents, the officers left without incident. Last week the Ports Commissioner, wrote a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Belize Limited, Raineldo Guerrero reminding that Minister of Ports, Melvin Hulse, had revoked a lease Espat holds for the Commerce Bight Port. The letter was contrary to an injunction granted by the Supreme Court and Justice Minnet Hafiz, which prevents government from taking over the Port. The court injunction orders that the government, whether by its agents, employees or otherwise, and specifically including Hon. Melvin Hulse, Minister of Public Utilities, to desist from assuming control of the Port.