Is G.O.B. Considering Legislation to Address Port of Magical Belize?

The principals of Port of Magical Belize issued a release on Tuesday stating that Portico Enterprises Limited, Boskalis International and Royal Caribbean Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture to develop, manage and operate the Port of Magical Belize. The release references a memorandum of understanding signed with the Government of Belize back in 2017 with “the objective of developing a mainland docking facility for the largest cruise ships of today and tomorrow, while providing employment opportunities for thousands of Belizean stakeholders.” Now, a definitive agreement was reportedly issued under the previous administration which gives way for the development. Today, Minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde responded to reports that enabling legislation will be tabled at the next sitting of the House of Representatives as it relates to the Port of Magical Belize.

Cordel Hyde

Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources

“Those matters are being considered indeed, but those matters will certainly become litigious matters and so government is well advised to seek and get legal advice so that they can move smartly on the matter. So that’s all I am going to say on the matter for now.”

Reporter

“But is this paving the way for the port, for that port?”

Cordel Hyde

“If it ends up there, but we are not there yet. As I said, the government is getting legal advice on the matter because there are some legal persons who think it is a legitimate document and there are some who think it is not. As you know how it goes with legal persons; two different lawyers look at the same document and think two different things. But government is well advised to get it right.”