Senator Courtenay Explains the Need for G.O.B.’s Acquisition of P.B.L.

Eamon Courtenay

Senator Courtenay then went on to discuss the many shipping woes faced by the private sector where exports and imports of commodities, as well as other goods are concerned.  In light of several lawsuits that have emanated from tension between the management of the Port of Belize Limited and their employees, Courtenay says that the Briceño administration met and came up with an urgent solution.

Senator Eamon Courtenay, Leader of Govt. Business

“The business community, particularly the productive sector of this country, has been frustrated by the refusal of the management of Port of Belize Ltd. to do a bulk storage facility to facilitate exports and imports of raw material.  Instead of using containers, they would use the appropriate machinery so that ships could pull alongside and receive and deliver things on a roller and bulk storage facilities.  Madame President, that has had a negative consequence on the productive sector of this country, it has retarded investments to expand export.  It has caused persons who were using that port to move to other facilities at cost.  It cannot be disputed, it is not open for debate, the absolute necessity for a bulk storage, a bulk facility at Port of Belize. And so, Madame President, in the context of poor labor relations, litigation, strong disagreements between government and management as to what needs to be done, the risks to the economy, the risks to Belizeans, we as a Cabinet, we huddled, Madame President.  We took advice and we resisted, and Madame President, we decided after mature consideration and deliberation and based on the advice provided to us, that we needed to act decisively  in the public interest.  We decided, Madame President, that the time had come to put Belize first.  We decided, Madame President, that it’s time to restore this essential public asset to public ownership in the hands of the Belizean people.”