Appeal court supports Printers Assoc.

The Belize Court of appeal today gave reason for optimism to the Belize Printers Association in their long campaign against the way Government turned its Printing Department into a private company, Print Belize Limited. According to a BPA release, the court upheld the Supreme Court’s ruling that Government must produce the original five-year contract with the company for printing services for inspection by the Court. The justice will then decide whether the contract is classified information or can be released to the public. Government has fourteen days to comply with the order.

The Court of Appeal also overturned part of the Supreme Court’s original ruling and ordered Government to produce an inventory of the assets sold to Print Belize, also within fourteen days. The Printers Association has consistently contended that the sale of the Government Printery was done in such a way as to prejudice the interests of existing private printers by providing Print Belize with a “sweetheart deal”, both in the original purchase and its continuing relationship with Government.