AG Says Chamber Didn’t Properly Invoke FOIA for Imer Hernandez Contract
The Freedom of Information Act remains at the centre of a failed request by the Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry to get its hands on a copy of Imer Hernandez’s contract to pave the Coastal Highway. The mega contract is for a whopping one hundred and thirty million dollars. The call for a facsimile of that agreement comes on the heels of concerns raised by the opposition at the last sitting of the House of Representatives in 2019. While a formal letter was written to the Government of Belize in early December, the only correspondence the chamber has received thus far is that the Ministry of Works is in possession of the request. So what is stopping them from gaining access to the document? According to Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, FOIA has to be properly invoked in order for the information to be released.
Isani Cayetano
“Where are we now as to why the Chamber is still not in possession of that copy?”
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General
“Have they requested it by virtue of the Freedom of Information Act? If they haven’t then how can you get a response? If you requested…”
Isani Cayetano
“Is that the only prescription though?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Well I mean it’s not the only prescription, but it’s the best, most professional prescription. You are the Chamber of Commerce, you are a body of successful businesspeople. You are supposed to set an example as to how to do things properly. If the Chamber of Commerce requested that matter through the proper channel and they did not receive it then they have a legitimate complaint. But if they just write letters and complain and say, “Dear Ministry of Works, give me the contract.” Then that is something that is not the best, not the best way to do things. So I would urge upon the chamber to do things properly and once you do things properly and then you are refused then you have a legitimate complaint. But until then, I don’t think that they can legitimately complain. Very, very few people ask for information through the Freedom of Information Act, but when they do, they get it. So just do it. The law is set up for you to do a particular way. Once you do it that particular way then you should have no issue getting what you want.”
