In the interminable legal battle with the Ashcroft Alliance, the Government of Belize won an important round today in the Supreme Court. Justice Oswell Legall dismissed claims by the British Caribbean Bank and Dean Boyce and found that the Government of Belize's nationalization of Belize Telemedia Limited in August of 2009 was in fact legal and constitutional.
Thought recent history would strongly suggest that the decision will inevitably be appealed by the British Caribbean Bank, it is a sweet victory nonetheless for the government's legal representative, Attorney Lois Young :....
Lois Young, GOB Legal Representative
"The first thing is that the legislation is constitutional. The acquisition is constitutional according to the court and the second thing is now that the government can move ahead and deal with compensation for the shares that were taken. What we had was a situation where the same people that were challenging the acquisition were at the same time claiming compensation so the government I think was a bit reluctant to move ahead with the compensation until it was ascertain by a court of law that the acquisition is constitutional. I have no doubt that they will appeal this to the highest which is the Caribbean Court of Justice. I have no doubt about it. But you know what; we will worry about that when it comes. Right now it's a victory and it's like victory like you had like there were some contest between the two parties but it's nice to
know that at least you have cross the first hurdle and what was done was properly done, I feel it was properly done and the court felt that it was properly done."
Monica Bodden
"Anything else you might want to add?"
Lois Young
"Well it took a lot of work to get the case ready, I was up against major opposition, the people who came against me had resources but I think I did my best to lay a very good foundation and if they go and appeal I think that all the material is there for the court of appeal to uphold the decision. I haven't read the judge's decision yet its rather long but i am comfortable with the case we put forward."
Our calls to the British Caribbean Bank's legal representative, Attorney at Law, Eamon Courtney were not returned.
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