B.T.L. Miami trial to start in June

The legal drama playing out in a Florida Federal courtroom in the United States over control of the majority shares in Belize Telecommunications Limited will enter its second, and perhaps more crucial, second act next month. This afternoon, News Five’s Janelle Chanona spoke with Belize’s attorneys in Miami at the law firm of Hunton and Williams who confirmed that the trial date for the case is scheduled to start June eighth. Partner Juan Enjamio, who is one of the attorneys trying the case for Belize, maintains that Judge Ursula Ungaro-Benages has already ruled on Jeffrey Prosser’s charges of fraud and claims regarding the share pledge agreement.

Via Phone: Juan Enjamio, Partner, Hunton and Williams
?Originally the plaintiffs in this case, Belize Telecom and I.C.C. filed an action that included in their complaint, issues such as fraud, rescission of the share pledge agreement, the payment agreement that the Government had entered into. The judge dismissed those claims from the trial, so the only thing that is pending right now as we speak, are claims for a breech of contract, and claims that violate what?s called the Uniform Commercial Code of Florida. So claims for things like fraud and claims for rescission of the agreement, that is to undo the agreement, have already been dismissed by the court.?

Janelle Chanona
?What will be the format Mr. Enjamio? Will witnesses actually take the stand to testify, and if so, who will the government be calling in its defence??

Juan Enjamio
?First, trials of this nature are tried by the judge; this case will not be tried before a jury. There will be first, the plaintiffs in this case, Belize Telecom and I.C.C. will go first. They will put on witnesses that they decide and when they rest their case, when they finish putting on witnesses, it will be the government?s opportunity to put on witnesses. The government expects to put on testimony from a couple of legal experts or experts, and we have not decided at this point who else the government will call as witnesses in this case, it?s still a bit early for us to make that decision.?

Janelle Chanona
?What of the matter of the contempt charges from the earlier proceedings, has there been a determination on…

Juan Enjamio
?No. I?m sorry. There are motions pending before the court. We have asked the court to determine that the government has complied with the prior orders. That matter is pending before the court right now. We have also–the government has appealed the previous contempt findings to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal here in the United States. That matter is pending on appeal right now.?

Tonight News Five understands that the trial dates for the B.T.L. case in Miami have been set for June eighth to tenth, June thirteenth, and June twentieth to the twenty-fourth.