A London Court has ordered the Government of Belize to pay Belize Telemedia
$38.5 million that it owes the company because of the Accommodation Agreement.
Government has secured an injunction against Telemedia from enforcing the order
in Belize and now the agreement is being challenged on another front. On April
9th the Association of Concerned Belizeans along with citizen Godwin Hulse filed
a claim in the Supreme Court challenging legality of the agreement. A hearing
was scheduled for today before Justice John Muria but it was adjourned. Hulse
says the agreement violates both the constitution and the PUC Act.
Godwin Hulse, Applicant
“It purports to give Telemedia now, formerly BTL, certain benefits
which are contrary to those pieces of legislation and we feel that indeed that
document, not withstanding anything to the contrary, can only be made in compliance
with the laws of the country and especially the constitution, section 114. So
we are asking the court to make a determination on that.”
Keith Swift,
To void the agreement?
Godwin Hulse,
“Once that is declared then the agreement is void. There are several
things in there that are completely contrary to the laws we have, particularly
our tax laws and the fact that you cannot be making these concessions outside
of the law.
There are two things that have to happen here in this country. We must
be clear that we are a country of laws and the laws must be respected. And if
there is any dispute as to whether that is so or not so, if there is any dispute
as to whether the then Prime Minister acted in accordance with the law, the
proper place to determine that is the Supreme Court. If it is right and we don’t
like that then we have to amend the laws to create the situation that we are
comfortable with. In other words if the Prime Minister is able to sign an agreement
which is lawful without the support of his Cabinet and without the support of
Parliament which is contrary to the laws which Parliament made, which the National
Assembly made, then we got to change that, if that is proven in the court to
be acceptable. We don’t think it will be.”
Lois Young is the attorney for Hulse and the PUC. Crown Counsel Phillip
Palacio is representing the PUC and government while Eamon Courtenay appeared
for Telemedia. Again, the case has been adjourned until Tuesday May 5th.
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