Usage of G.O.B.’s Helicopter for Consultation Sparks Controversy

When the Government team headed south, a B.D.F. helicopter was used to transport nine persons to three remote villages: Graham Creek, Dolores, and Hicatee or Machakilha. The fact that King was on the helicopter is not going down well. The assertion that the helicopter was used to benefit the oil company was shut down today by Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte. Peyrefitte told News Five that it’s much ado about nothing.

Michael Peyrefitte

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General

“Nine people were on that helicopter. Out of that nine people, eight of them were government workers from Forestry, Rural Development and from the Solicitor General chambers. One person from U.S. Capital, the Belize Representative was on that plane. This was not some U.S. Capital excursion to these villages. We want to use it for the safety of our public servants. And I will say this again, you can play it on radio, on talk show every morning to thy kingdom come I make no apologies for that because the safety. We were the ones charged with ensuring that these consultations get done and that the legal way was the way that was followed. It was my ultimate responsibility. I make no apologies to make sure that the safety of public servants was number one in my mind. So I make no apologies for that. I do it again tomorrow if I have to. So the fact that one person of the nine was a U.S. Capital Representative that makes it a crime? For me that is downright silly and people just wanting to make argument for the sake of making arguments. The Mayan people were saying we were not doing enough to get from them and now we are going above and beyond to make sure we get the information to them, people still complain. There will be complains and they can say that I am arrogant and whatever they want. My people went there safely. My people got back safely in one piece and that is the only important thing to me and I make no apologies for that. The fact that of the nine people in the helicopter one person was from U.S. Capital therefore what? Bloody murder? Insurrection? Please. If there is another excursion necessary to do further consultations we will request the helicopter again. I don’t care if it’s a billion dollars. Not because we are black we are to put ourselves in danger. If it were white people went on the helicopter none of you would have complained. Our Belizean people used our assets to do the consultation. You will not get any apology from me. I will do it again, ten more times.” 

Alistair King

Alistair King, Country Representative, U.S. Capital Energy Belize Ltd.

“The consultations are what the government has to do. The Geology and Petroleum Office told me that I had to go along with government people as the interested party, U.S. Capital. I did not have to catch any ride with the government helicopter. What really annoys me is we use to have three of our own helicopters and we use to take the government, the B.D.F. all over the place. So even if I was catching a ride surely these small minded people can see beyond that.”