2 months ago
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Prime Minister John Briceño today pushed back against continued allegations by the United Democratic Party regarding the government’s engagement with Mexican investor Raúl Rocha Cantú, particularly in connection to the proposed Deep South Port project in Dangriga. The Prime Minister’s response followed remarks made yesterday by Queen’s Square Area Representative Godwin Haylock at the UDP press conference, where claims were made that the government failed to conduct proper due diligence before allowing Rocha to operate as a potential investor in Belize. At the press conference, Haylock questioned why the government would engage with an individual now facing criminal charges in Mexico and alleged that agencies such as the Financial Intelligence Unit and Special Branch failed to raise red flags or were ignored. Responding today, Prime Minister Briceño rejected these claims, stating that the UDP’s assertions misrepresent the facts.
John Briceño, Prime Minister: “Again, that’s the UDP just grabbing a straws trying to come up with some issue. The people from the Deepwater Port from down south said they’ve been meeting with different people. They’ve been meeting with different companies. And the local group, I forgot to add, the legacy group was just one of them. And but as they pointed out, they have no agreement, they did not sign up with them so there’s nothing there, as they said. There’s nothing there. So again, desperation on the part of the opposition.”
According to the Prime Minister, Belize’s investor vetting systems remain fully operational and that no government approval is granted without the appropriate regulatory checks. He added that the UDP’s allegations are politically driven and misleading, and insisted the public should not be alarmed by statements that do not accurately reflect the status of the project or the government’s procedures for safeguarding Belize’s national and financial security.
English (US) ·