Port of Belize to Return to the Belizean People

The House of Representatives met today in Belmopan where a raft of bills was tabled in parliament.  Among them is a written proposal for a new piece of law that would clear up all monies owed from previous lawsuits to businesses related to Lord Michael Ashcroft.  In essence, the Government of Belize is seeking parliamentary approval to authorize the payment of almost two hundred million dollars to various Ashcroft interests.  The Briceño administration, via the introduction and subsequent passage of a Port Acquisition and Settlement Deeds Bill, is seeking to resolve all claims and litigation, as well as outstanding judgment awards.  The move will also see the immediate withdrawal of claims made against the Government of Belize, including the Waterloo UK-Belize Treaty Claim relating to, “the denial, on environmental grounds, of an application for environmental approval to construct a cruise port, a lawsuit against the Christian Workers Union and the stevedores claiming business interruption damages, an injunction blocking an ex gratia payment to stevedores”.  Here is the bill, as it was presented this morning.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“This is the Belize City Port Acquisition and Settlement Deeds Bill 2023.  Madame Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill for an act to facilitate the acquisition of certain shares in and movable assets and real estate for the Port of Belize Ltd. by the Government of Belize, for and on behalf of the people of Belize and the implementation of the terms of deeds and settlement among the Government of Belize and Port of Belize Ltd. and Waterloo Investments Holding Ltd. and the Government of Belize, Midway Investments Ltd., and Belize Social Development Ltd. to settle certain arbitral awards owed by the Government of Belize on outstanding litigation among the parties and to provide for certain exemptions from the General Sales Tax Act to facilitate the effective renovation of the Fort George Hotel and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental to.”