P.B.L. Intends To Bring Claim Against Erwin Contreras for Damages

There is a new development to report on tonight, pertaining to the controversial signing of a Definitive Agreement between Portico Enterprises Limited and the Government of Belize, signed by former Minister of Economic Development, Erwin Contreras. Attorney Godfrey Smith has written a Notice of Intended Proceedings to Erwin Contreras on behalf of Port of Belize Limited. The notice states that the Port of Belize Limited intends to file a claim for damages against Contreras for misfeasance in public office, arising from the signing of the Definitive Agreement with Portico Enterprises Limited. The notice describes the ratification as “deliberate, willful, unlawful and clandestine”. It further states that the signing resulted in financial losses to the Port of Belize Limited. And, while we wait to see how that will play out, this afternoon reporters were at the Phillip Goldson International Airport awaiting the return of Prime Minister John Briceño from his trip to the Bahamas where he attended a U.S- Caribbean Leaders Meeting. Here is how the media’s interaction with him played out at the PGIA, as we sought to inquire about the tabling of the Definitive Agreement before Cabinet and government’s next steps.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“There is no update right now man.”

Reporter

“Minister Mahler is in Miami, what is the meeting there about?”

Reporter

“PM will there be an inquiry on the Definitive Agreement PM?”

Reporter

“Have you responded to the Stake Bank attorney saying that the Definitive Agreement won’t be valid?”

Prime Minister John Briceno

“Hold on man don’t let us make a story out of nothing man.”

Reporter

“But you do owe a response to the public sir.”

Prime Minister John Briceno

“Yes you do, so do I.”

Reporter

“Sir you signed up for this job though.”