Senate Presents Motion to Investigate Definitive Agreement

Janelle Chanona

It took the news by storm in May, when word got out that a Definitive Agreement existed between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited, a thirty-one page document that proposed huge concessions for an ambitious project. In part, it called for, “development, construction, operation and management of a cruise ship docking facility, including access channel and other maritime and offshore structures required thereto, and strategically locate therein duty free stores, concession stands, beaches, restaurants, bars and a hotel of three hundred rooms with casino throughout the terminal and its surroundings. The project would be located on the coast of the Belize District, three miles south of the Sibun River. And when that document saw the light of day, it raised the brows of many who questioned its validity, and whether there were any tacit arrangements for a developer to enjoy the kinds of concessions contained in the agreement. The agreement dated back to October 2020 and was signed by Portico and former Minister of Economic Development, Erwin Contreras. The current government has gotten two legal opinions on the validity of the agreement, which was tabled in Cabinet for consideration before it was set aside and later trashed. But the Definitive Agreement has raised so much concern that the senator for the non-government community, Janelle Chanona had previously indicated the intention to present a motion for the appointment of a Special Select Committee to investigate the Definitive Agreement. And today, the Senate held a Special Sitting for just that – the presentation of a motion that passed through with unanimous support. Now the Senate will appoint the committee that will investigate the Definitive Agreement, the terms of which will be made clear when it is set up. The government will have two representatives on the seven-member Special Select Committee. But from the sequence of events that have led to today, the investigation will look at the Definitive Agreement, and all accompanying documents, the terms, as well as the conditions of the agreement. Today, after presenting the motion, Senator Chanona explained to the media why this matter is such an important matter to investigate.

Janelle Chanona, Senator, NGOs

“I rise to present a motion for the appointment of a special select committee to investigate all documents, communications, and processes tied to the signing of the document titled Definitive Agreement by and between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited, (DBA) the Port of Magical Belize, dated October 2020, and to investigate all documents, communications, and processes that resulted in the document titled Definitive Agreement by and between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited, (DBA). The port of Magical Belize dated October 2020 being presented to Cabinet accompanied by draft legislation and cabinet white paper in May 2023. I think it is important to stress to the public that this is a serious matter, we brought this as independent senators in the interest of good governance. And it’s really that going forward, this is what it’s going to be, getting to the bottom of what we’re dealing with. I don’t think any of us feels comfortable trying to piece through interviews and all these ads and all of that. So it’s really about treating it as seriously as it is. And we also want to signal from now that anyone called before the committee should also treat it just as seriously. The Senate Select Committee is empowered by the Constitution that speaks specifically to empowering members of the Senate to call for inquiries, particularly into national interests. Further, perhaps because of lessons learned from other exercises, you will note that under the terms of reference that we have provided, that anyone that presents witness statements and information will have an opportunity to review the report within 14 days of receiving the report, so that if they differ, then at least it can be stated that they differ and whoever is reading it, because it will be a public document, will be able to say their piece.”