Liquor board revokes Putt-Putt license, manager cries foul

It’s one of many little Belize City bars but lately Putt-Putt has been the source of big controversy. First it was over the sale of the land it occupies, then it was the shootout that claimed the life of nineteen year old bartender Deandra Zetina. And as News Five’s Marion Ali reports, tonight Putt-Putt is back in the news because of its liquor license.

Marion Ali, Reporting
According to Chairman Adrian “Danny” Madrid, based on numerous noise complaints from neighbours, Belize District Intoxicating Liquor License Board has decided not to renew Putt-Putt’s liquor license.

Adrian “Danny” Madrid, Chairman, Bze. Dist. Liquor Licensing Board
“The problem with Putt-Putt and I kept getting letters and complaints is because Putt-Putt is not sound proof. At the time we had no problem with Putt-Putt with violence because that is the job of the authorities to do. But our main concern with Putt-Putt is that they were not soundproof and we got—everyday we got calls calling that Putt-Putt is making noise and as I showed you, every week when I gave Putt-Putt an extension I would call Mr. Elrington, I would write it on the extension trying to work with him and work with the people; please play your music low. Sometimes I wouldn’t give him an extension and he’s come in and talk to me and we’d give it. So it’s not something that’s very new, it’s something that has existed since 2005—from the time they opened.”

Orson Elrington, Proprietor, Putt-Putt Bar & Grill
“He says that he puts forth that there are many complaints. I said well then please give me the paper, sow me the papers, show me one complaint or one person who has complained and if anybody has complaint let them come to the Liquor License Board meeting. On two or three occasions I applied for special meetings because I was being victimized and attacked by these people. I asked them, I applied for special meeting and I said anybody who has a problem, please let them come.”

But Putt-Putt’s manager Orson Elrington strongly disputes Madrid’s findings. He produced his own documentation: a successful application for extension on his liquor license.

Orson Elrington
“Right here clearly, none other than by himself, signed by himself, clearly signed by himself, here it has extensions after that date. It says clearly here from the first to the third and clearly here it says in the Liquor License Act one again that no extension—therefore if I didn’t have a license, how could I be granted an extension?”

MarionAli
“Are you saying you have a license?”

Orson Elrington
“I cannot be granted an extension unless I have a license.”

Marion Ali
“So you have a valid license. When does it expire?”

Orson Elrington
“Listen to me … it’s a matter of they know what is the procedure and how it works when it comes to that, when it comes to the liquor license alright. They know it. In the past few weeks, obviously it was the weeks leading up to the election and everything so I didn’t go and collect. Sometimes liquor license certificates are there for months upon months. Last time I didn’t collect my liquor license until the middle of the year.”

Marion Ali
“But did you renew, did you …”

Orson Elrington
“Yes, I applied, I applied, they have the cheque and how come I haven’t been refunded since so be the case.”

Madrid says in fact Elrington’s money is at the City Council’s office ready for pick up. He insists Putt-Putt is in violation of the law.

Adrian Madrid
“Unknow to us, they reopened again last week and I was away and I instructed the Deputy Chairman not to give any extension to Putt-Putt because Putt-Putt has no liquor license. In turn he spoke to the persons responsible to monitor liquor establishments and we told the persons responsible for the Special Constables, Mr Yama, that Putt-Putt doesn’t have a license so please monitor it, look into it. Nothing was done. I came back last week and again I was presented with an application for an extension to Putt-Putt. I didn’t sign it. As I showed you I put no extension.”

Marion Ali
“Extension to what?”

Danny Madrid
“Extension to operate beyond the hours when they have a license, meaning he had a license, he was allowed to open until two in the morning and normally they would apply for an extension to open until three. He doesn’t have a license so he has no right to apply for an extension.”

But for Elrington, the board’s position is politics.

Orson Elrington
“The only resident who has publicly said anything obviously, is Dr. Cob and his wife who are also politically motivated, obviously. No residents have ever made any complaints to me. None whatsoever have ever made any complaint to me. The first person as I have said that have ever made any complaints publicly was Dr. Cob them.”

Marion Ali
“So maybe they went to the authorities who are the ones responsible.”

Orson Elrington
“I asked the to give me in writing whatever complaints they have and they have refused to me several times. I had recordings.

Marion Ali
“So you don’t agree with the records dating back to 2006, March?”

Orson Elrington
“I don’t agree with any records. No, I don’t because how come I haven’t seen them?”

Marion Ali
“If you were asked to enclose the place and have it soundproof, would you be willing to do that to get your liquor license?”

Orson Elrington
“Once again it goes back to the same thing that I said before. That has been something that has been in the planning forever but because of the corrupt P.U.P. government … no, no, no, no I must say this because it is all connected. You can’t put one thing—put the basket over here and say why can’t you put the eggs in the basket if they don’t want to give you the basket because it’s all connected. Everything is connected.”

Marion Ali
“He tells me that if you enclose the place and make it soundproof no problem with giving you your license.”

Orson Elrington
“Alright, if I get my title to the land, there’s no problem, I’m gonna enclose; simple and straightforward. I’m not gonna make a hundred thousand dollar investment if my investment is not secure. Any fool on the street will tell you that that’s a stupid move and it’s impossible, no lending institution is going to allow that so it’s impossible. So as soon as I get the title, I’m gonna start, I’m gonna do my whole renovation. We have our whole plan, my architect has already drafted out the whole thing but obviously …”

Marion Ali
“The land has already been sold to Mr. Chakron?”

Orson Elrington
“Well, Obviously as you see the government has already put that into question, put that into question. And like I said already, the legal courts are gonna deal with it. The legal courts are gonna deal with it. My lawyers are gonna deal with that. That’s gonna take its legal course. Obviously that was an illegal transaction so therefore it’s null and void. But the courts are gonna deal with that, obviously.”

Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.

According to Madrid, until notified otherwise by the new government, he and the rest of the current board will continue their duty, which includes ensuring that businesses within their jurisdiction operate within the confines of the law.”