Senator Peyreffite Invokes FOIA Over Port Reacquisition
Senator Peyrefitte also invoked the Freedom of Information Act in pursuit of further details regarding to Port of Belize reacquisition. Today, Peyrefitte wrote to Prime Minister John Briceño asking if any private individuals, entities or companies were hired by the Government of Belize to facilitate the reacquisition process. The letter also questions the payments that were made to these entities, if any. We heard from Senator Peyrefitte on that letter.
Michael Peyrefitte, U.D.P. Senator
“It is a simple question, too simple and too precise so I am almost confident that the prime minister will flout the law and not answer, But, I have a responsibility o ask it. There was an acquisition back to the government from the Ashcroft crowd and we want to know how much it is going to cost us beside what we have to pay to the Ashcroft group. In other words, were private people hired, consultants hired, who are those people and how much did we pay them. It is tax payer’s money, we have a right to know and they have not been forthcoming with that information. If you use the AG Ministry’s crowns to negotiate the deal then naturally it is no additional cost to government other than what you are already paying them. But if you pay private attorneys if you pay private consultants, anybody other than the financial secretary, the minister of finance, we want to know what other entities of individuals the government of Belize paid and how much they paid them to close this deal.”