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And from the beer factory to the Liquor Licensing Board....the rules say that any business establishment can be denied a liquor license especially if the alcohol is sold beyond the time permitted, if the service provided to the neighbourhood becomes a public nuisance. And today the Chairman of Belize District Liquor Licensing Board Wilmot Simmons told us that’s just what happened with Belize City businessman Archie Lee who was denied a renewal of what he described as the only convenience store liquor license of its kind to be issued to any applicant in the country.

According to Wilmot Simmons all they want Archie Lee to do is to abide by the law and that in no way is the Belize District Liquor Licensing Board is responsible for Archie Lee’s Convenience Store and Restaurant to be shut down. He told us the long story of the board and Mr. Lee.

Wilmot Simmons, Chairman – Belize District Liquor Licensing Board
“Mr. Archie Lee had a convenience store which was a shop license which also had attached to it a convenience store liquor license. Then Mr. Lee also had a restaurant with a restaurant liquor license. At the beginning of the year, Mr. Lee said he would no longer operate that restaurant and he was asking for an upgrade in his liquor license to a nightclub. On the other side he was also asking for a renewal of his convenience store liquor license.

He is the only shop in the country that has a convenience store liquor license. Well when we had the meeting, I think it was the 9th of January, the Police Department which is an advisory body to Liquor Licensing Board vehemently opposed Mr. Lee being granted either a night club license or a renewal of his convenience store liquor license.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Why?

Wilmot Simmons,
“For the reasons that they, the Police Department had many run ins with Mr. Archie Lee at that time at both his restaurant and at the convenience store which was opening up until twelve ‘o clock at night selling alcohol, and the restaurant I believe was opening up until two, in the sense that especially at the convenience store that Mr. Lee was always selling alcohol beyond twelve o’clock at night and causing a nuisance in the neighbourhood.

The board decided it is a nuisance to the neighbourhood and it is a threat to law officers so they would not renew the convenient store liquor license and they would not upgrade the restaurant to a night club. He could keep the restaurant but the convenient store liquor license would be reduced to just a regular shop liquor license, meaning he can only sell until nine o’clock at night.

So we allowed Mr. Archie to sell with a shop liquor license, meaning that you would close at nine. However the reports that came back after January 31 after his convenience store liquor license expired was that Mr. Lee was still selling beyond twelve o’clock. So the first week of February he operated and he was not disturbed for selling alcohol until the reports that he was selling after nine. So last week when the bank called the City Council and told the City Council that Mr. Lee’s cheque that he had paid for his convenience store liquor license and the cheque that he had paid for the restaurant trade license both bounced according to the bank and the proof is here. "

Jacqueline Godwin,
Because Mr. Archie Lee did mention in his interview he did with the media that once he paid for the renewal of his license and he found out that the license would have been denied he had put a stop order to the cheque. You are saying that is not the case?

Wilmot Simmons,
“Well according to what I have here and I hope you get a shot of, the bank did charge the City Council for both cheques and it is stated right on it not sufficient funds and the City Council was charged that fee. So where I am concerned it is was returned for not sufficient funds and that was from the fourth of February. So Mr. Lee operated from the fourth of February all the way to the second week of February with what we would refer to as no license whatsoever because the liquor license cheque bounced and the restaurant trade license also bounced according to the bank.

So on Friday it was the 13th the police asked the council, because they were on patrol, they asked the Liquor Licensing Board if Mr. Lee had a legitimate liquor license and I told them that he had applied for a convenience store. It was not approved but that he could sell liquor until nine. But as of today the thirteenth when we got back the cheque from the bank that it was not approved, he doesn’t have no license whatsoever. Therefore the reason the convenience store liquor license, he was told he could not sell liquor in the convenient store anymore but he could operate the convenience store for his groceries and stuff like that, but just take the liquor off the shelves and out of the freezer and continue to sell as any other shop but no liquor whatsoever because your cheque was rejected by the bank. And in addition you cannot operate the restaurant because that cheque for the trade license was also rejected by the bank so you cannot open the restaurant whatsoever. “

Jacqueline Godwin,
So the reason his convenience store remains closed is because you are saying he chooses it to be that way?

Wilmot Simmons,
“Oh definitely. Mr. Lee has a legitimate convenience store trade license, a regular shop but he insists that he must sell alcohol I guess so he has closed his convenience store in protest of that having a convenience store liquor license. That is all up to him, he can reopen that store any day he wants.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
And once he comes up with the money to pay for the permit or the license for him to sell liquor, he can do so but once he does so it is only up to nine he cannot go beyond that?

Wilmot Simmons,
“Exactly, exactly. Mr. Lee will be given a liquor license certificate for a shop liquor license like any other shop in Belize and once he pays up for his trade license on his restaurant he can continue opening the restaurant as simple as that.”

The Belize District Liquor Licensing Board told 7News that they extend a hand of friendship to Mr. Archie Lee and invites him to reconsider this position and apply for a special meeting to sit with them and agree to be a law abiding business owner of Belize City. Simmons told 7News that the Belize District Liquor Licensing Board has extended a hand of friendship to Mr. Archie Lee and invites him to reconsider his position and apply for a special meeting to sit with them and agree to be a law abiding business owner of Belize City.