The National Stadium looks like a national disaster area, but at least government
has successfully resisted a lawsuit brought by the jilted contractor for $2.5
million. Yesterday the claim for breach of contract brought by Bella Vista Development
Company Ltd. and Lopez Equipment Ltd. Owned by Javier Berbey and Wilhelm Lopez
against the Government of Belize was dismissed by Supreme Court Justice Oswell
Legal.
The claim arose out of a contract signed by in December of 2007 for the construction
of the Belize Sports Center at the Marion Jones Complex on Princess Margaret
Drive. The contract was signed a mere 2 months before the general elections,
and the government terminated it only 3 months later in March of 2008.
The companies argued unsuccessfully that they would have derived a profit
of $2.5 million, 15% of the $16 million contract. Justice Legall also dismissed
the government’s counterclaim against the contractors for repayment of
money that was allegedly disbursed to them as an advance to initiate the project.
The claimants were represented by Godfrey Smith, while the Government was represented
by Crown Council, Phillip Palacio.
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