Lawyers burn credits Telemedia case back in court

Litigation in a tandem of matters involving the re-nationalization of Telemedia, as well as the subsequent wresting of Belize Electricity Ltd. by the Barrow Administration, was scheduled to begin this morning in the Court of Appeal. The case against the government, filed by the British Caribbean Bank, was set to be heard before a panel of judges, including justices Manuel Sosa, Samuel Awich and Douglas Mendez.  But Queen’s Counsel Nigel Pleming, who appeared on behalf of BCB, requested the recusal of Justice Samuel Awich from presiding over the matter, which led to an adjournment and a lengthy delay.  That request was made under the view that there would be a bias should Justice Awich take the chair in a successive matter involving former Telemedia chairman Dean Boyce, who is also challenging a Supreme Court decision in favor of the AG’s ministry.  Shortly before midday, the panel ruled that the application had been refused.  At two o’clock this afternoon a battery of seventeen lawyers, a majority of whom appeared on behalf of BCB, Dean Boyce and Fortis, returned to the courtroom where the proceedings began with arguments from the government’s side.  The half-day adjournment, according to Justice Sosa, will extend the time necessary for the Court of Appeal to adjudicate the matters.  Representing the Attorney General’s ministry are Senior Counsel Denys Barrow, and attorney Magali Perdomo while BCB, Boyce and Fortis’ attorneys included Lord Peter Goldsmith, senior counsels Eamon Courtenay and Godfrey Smith, as well as Nigel Pleming.