Landowners Assn and Government Back in court
Today was the second day of arguments in the appeal case between the government and Barry Bowen and the Landowners Association. The appeal follows a ruling in February of this year when Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh ruled against a proposal by government to amend section seventeen of the Constitution. Today News Five spoke with attorney for the Landowners Association, Dickie Bradley, who said that there are serious implications involved. Bradley contends that government wants to take away property and rights to access the courts.
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
“The government had also proposed preventative detention. They withdrew that because the Prime Minister told us he was coming a little unhinged from his constitutional moorings. But we now hear talk that they are going to bring legislation to listen to our telephone, to interfere with our internet, with our private correspondents and so on. The question is where does a government stop? They are coming now to interfere with the right of land owners to come to the Supreme Court, a basic fundamental right of justice that any citizen of Belize; rich man, poor man, beggar man, chef has a right. That is part of the very democratic process in the country. If you’re going to interfere with that, then sooner or later you’ll come and interfere with something else and interfere with something else and little by little we lose the rights which we consider to be sacred. So in essence, that is what is being fought out in the Court of appeal in this country, in front of Justice Madison, the president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mottley and Justice Cleary. It is a significant constitutional matter. It has to do with the fact that oil is in Belize; oil has been found in Belize, petroleum has been found. There is a law that governs petroleum that says that the petroleum is vested in the government of Belize. There’s a law that says it. Why do you need to interfere to take away the sacred right of every person to come to the Supreme Court if they feel aggrieved that you have chanced them? Why would the government want to do that? In fact, we should be putting forward amendments that make it even more easier for citizens to access the Supreme Court to fight for their rights. We should be putting forward amendments that strengthen our constitutional protection.”
Bradley adds that the respondents’ position bolsters the plight of the Mayas in southern Belize and the Mennonites in Spanish Lookout who have had varying levels of concerns over petroleum drilling in their respective areas. Lois Young is representing the government while Bradley, Eamon Courtenay, Anthony Sylvestre and Magali Marin Young are representing the respondents.
Meanwhile, the case of the Mayan Leaders’ Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes’ Association was adjourned until July eighth. That’s because Attorney for the government, Lois Young, has other matters before the Court of Appeal and the C.J. will be travelling.
