Minister Henry Charles Usher Reacts to Disputed BTL Legal Invoice

In related news, Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform, Henry Charles Usher, has reacted to reports that Belize Telemedia Limited has rejected a legal invoice totaling more than one hundred eighty-three thousand dollars submitted by Senator Glenfield Dennison.  The invoice was reportedly issued for legal services provided to the Belize Communications Workers for Justice during negotiations with BTL regarding the ongoing dispute over interest payments to former telecommunications employees.  According to documents circulated in the matter, the invoice, dated February 24, outlined professional legal services including legal advice and strategic consultation, drafting of legal opinions, research and briefing, and legal assistant support. The charges reportedly included sixty-one hours of consultation at nine hundred dollars per hour, seventy-three hours for drafting legal analysis, forty-two hours for research, and additional assistant support, bringing the subtotal to one hundred sixty-three thousand one hundred dollars. With General Sales Tax applied, the total came to approximately one hundred eighty-three thousand four hundred eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents.  Reports indicate that BTL has strongly disputed both the hourly rate and the number of hours billed, describing the claim as disproportionate and excessive. The company has reportedly argued that no formal court proceedings were filed in the matter and noted that the hourly rate cited exceeds what it currently pays other junior attorneys locally.  Speaking briefly on the issue, Minister Usher said the matter appears to be part of the broader dispute between the parties and reiterated the need for constructive engagement to resolve the outstanding issues.

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service: “Well, I think that’s something that you would have to ask Mr. Denison on. I’m not sure that his public pronouncements have been enough to really explain why it is that that invoice was prepared and, you know, it’s something that he would have to explain to the public.”

While the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling in the wider dispute did not order BTL to cover legal costs, individuals aligned with the workers’ group have reportedly maintained that compensation for legal representation during negotiations would be appropriate.