2 weeks ago
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Prime Minister John Briceno has told Love News that the government will not be paying out any monies to BSI/ASR reference the recent court ruling. In an interview this morning, the country leader explained that the entire point of the legal recourse was to establish precedence rather than collecting compensatory damages.
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I think that is something that was expected from the ruling. But I think it’s important to clarify. And I think some people in the media try to make a big deal out of nothing. When you’re in my position and there’s a crisis, you have to make decisions. You can’t wait to call a cabinet meeting or go to a host meeting. We had an issue. The roads were blocked. We needed to open BSI. I spoke to the people from BSI and then I said what if we were to give them this indemnity because BSCFA was already worried because they already heard that BSI was going to sue them so I told them listen end the strike, move the trucks we’re going to give you an indemnity. BSI had already told…. assured me that they have no interest in in in suing BSCFA to get monies. So afterwards when everything was calm, when everything calmed down, they decided as a management, as a strategy to go to court so they could get a ruling so that there can be a precedent set. It was never about the money. So they got the ruling. BSI has assured us, assured our deputy minister of state, I have not met with them formally, but they have assured us that they have no interest in collecting money. They wanted a ruling. So now in the future should any other association or for any company they go and do these illegal strikes now they know that they could go to court. Now obviously, and I’ve made it very clear to the BSCFA after that, that if they do any kind of illegal actions they cannot expect the government to be covering them.”
Reporter: So no taxpayer monies will be spent during this ruling?
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize:“As far as I know, no. As far as I know, they’ve been assuring us that they have no interest in collecting that money. All they wanted was a ruling so that there can be a precedent set in the courts of Belize.”
Last Tuesday, July 29, the High Court ordered BSCFA and two of its members to pay over half a million dollars in damages to Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) and its energy subsidiary, Belize Cogeneration Energy Ltd. (BELCOGEN). The judgment stems from a three-day blockade of the sugar mill in December 2021, which the court found was orchestrated by the BSCFA and intentionally interfered with the companies’ economic operations. BSI was awarded over five hundred and twenty thousand dollars while BECEL was awarded just over forty-three thousand dollars plus 6% annual interest from January 1, 2022. The ruling in the lawsuit was handed down by High Court Judge, Rajiv Goonetilleke
English (US) ·