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Chairman of CGA, Eccleston Irving told us how the decision was made:

Eccleston Irving, Chairman, CGA
"He was terminated just a while ago and the others particulars will be put in place. It was a meeting of the company and as a majority shareholder we had the right to call this meeting and put in place the necessary particulars for Dr. Canton's termination."

Andrea Polanco
"How did you come about with a decision? Was it a vote that led to his termination?"

Eccleston Irving, Chairman, CGA
"Well this was a meeting of the company and as the majority shareholder, we call a meeting and therefore what is you see playing out here its just the shareholders that are allowed to be in the meeting following a corporate procedure and company procedure so that's what we see here playing out."

Andrea Polanco
"An Interim CEO, has that person been named?"

Eccleston Irving, Chairman, CGA
"No that person has not been named, after these procedures are finish and completed and that in the next few hours then all those particulars will be dealt with by the directors of the company."

Andrea Polanco
"Did CGA know about the letter that was sent from the CPBL employees, they sent it to the Prime Minister, they sent it also to the Deputy Prime Minister stating that they believe this move by CGA will not only threatened the viability and the survival of the citrus industry and that they are strongly against the CGA's decision to terminate CPBL, have yiu maybe seen that letter?"

Eccleston Irving, Chairman, CGA
"We have seen the letter and the employees of CPBL can rest assure that the majority shareholder has no intention of terminating anybody services at CPBL except for what has been done here today and they can rest assure that the citrus growers investment company is there looking after the company business. Presently the company is running loss in every area of its business line and therefore we are very concern and so we have taken steps to alleviate and to put in place system hopefully that can bring about profitability to that entity."

Well the CGA says that he's out and even though there's no interim CEO there will be business as usual at CPBL, as if he's on vacation until a new CEO is appointed.

But today we spoke with Dr. Canton via telephone and he told us that the way his removal was conducted was illegal and he will not surrender his position just like that. Canton even told us he will continue to run the company:

Dr. Henry Canton, Claims he is still CEO - CPBL
"They terminated me and pass some other resolutions. The shareholders have that right but that does not mean that I am automatically terminated. I need to be terminated by directors or a resolution or direction from directors or a court ruling so I am not walking out of here and I am not accepting the letter that was sent to me saying that I am terminated. "

"Well I know that they carry a 51% vote but it not as simple as carrying a 51% votes. What is really is an agreement; a shareholders' agreement between 4 parties; the company, banks holdings, ICL and CGA and in there it speaks about how the business of how the company should be conducted along with the articles of association and this process is not normal. They are going directly from shareholders to management and not including the directorship. I am not recognizing the letter of termination unless it is done properly and through the right channels. I am saying legally it's the board of directors that deal with me and my employment and termination and not shareholders."

Andrea Polanco
"So I understand that there was suppose to be an interim CEO taking over but it was decided today that CPBL will be operating normally as if you are on a vacation."

Dr. Henry Canton, Claims he is still CEO - CPBL
"Well I don't think there was a CEO, my understanding is that there was no CEO appointed so I don't know how it's going to operate because I will continue to operate as CEO so the company will not be running as if though I am on vacation. I will be still currently running the company."

Andrea Polanco
"So how do you plan to forge ahead Dr, Canton at CPBL?"

Dr. Henry Canton, Claims he is still CEO - CPBL
"The way I always did, I am the chief executive officer of the company and the is answerable to me and we will continue to run the business until I am legally disappointed from my job if that is what the intention is. "

And while Canton says he's still the CEO - what about the prime minister? 300 employees of CPBL signed a petition earlier this week asking him to intercede and save Canton's job.

Today the PM expressed visible surprise when we told him that Canton had been terminated…..

Jules Vasquez
"Dr. Henry Canton was terminated today; I know the workers has ask you to intervene."

PM Dean Barrow
"He was terminated?"

Jules Vasquez
"By the resolution of the board."

PM Dean Barrow
"There was not an injunction given by the court?"

Jules Vasquez
"The injunction was denied by Judge Hafiz."

PM Dean Barrow
"'My God' well I thought that it would have been otherwise. But sorry now that I......"

Jules Vasquez
"The injunction was denied, a resolution was taken. At noon today he was terminated. This is our understanding. You have been ask to intervene, I know it's a private company but a public interest. Will you so intervene? Will you look at it?"

PM Dean Barrow
"I don't see how I can, BSI was a completely circumstance, that was a matter of financing which government could help to put in place. This is a commercial dispute, Henry Canton is part of a commercial dispute because the foreign investors in CPBL have made it plain that contractually they are bound to keep Henry Canton and that therefore they consider the effort by the CGA - the majority shareholder in CPBL to remove as in breach of the contract between themselves and CPBL and by extension CGA."

"I really don't see how government can solve that particular difficulty; I believe their contract for arbitration. I believe the banks holding people have ask for arbitration. We would be more than happy to sit with all parties and try to lend some good offices but at the end of the day it has to be clear that we simply do not have any legal basis to impose a solution."

Well the letter sent out to Canton stated that his termination was effective immediately, Canton says he is still the CEO…so we'll just have to wait and see how that one turns out….