P.M. Briceño Does Not Foresee Legal Challenge in Government Contract OBRS Policy

Prime Minister John Briceño

And, reporters also pressed the prime minister further on the new policies that guide the Online Business Registry System. Those policies were written to protect the identity of business principals and shareholders through their registered agents. So, what about personalities behind companies that are engaged in legitimate business with the Government of Belize? Prime Minister Briceño contends that those entities will be obliged to make public the names of owners or shareholders. We asked him if he foresees any legal challenges as a result of such policy. Here is what he told us.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We have already instituted the policy and now we have the attorney general looking at what laws we need to amend to ensure that does not take place. As a government we believe we have a right to say we are controlling, we are managing the people’s monies and if you want to do business with us, the government, then you cannot operate in a company that has a registered agent. I don’t see how they can challenge that. Now, if two private entities want to have a deal with one another using a registered agent then that is your constitutional right. But, when it comes to government any business, private or public can say I am not doing any business with a company that has a registered agent. So, it is our right. We are saying if you want to do business with us you cannot use a registered agent. We want to know who the members of your board are and who are the owners of the shares, the share holders, and the ultimate beneficiaries.”