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They were some of the most odious contracts to be revealed in recent memory and tonight those airport security contracts have been suspended.

A release from the Belize Airports Authority this afternoon confirmed what we reported two days ago. The board has decided to suspend payments for the contracts awarded to ISECURITY and Four Diamond Security.

That's $43,333.34 monthly for ISECURITY and 124,610.63 monthly for Four Diamond.

This comes after exactly one month of reporting on these previously secret contracts by 7News. So secret, even the PM claims he didn't know when they were being signed in December of 2024. Here is that excerpt of our story from last week Friday:

John Briceno, Prime Minister:
"Was I involved in the process? No. Had I known, I would have probably given advice that we need to go a different route."

But, it was the PM's job to know, actually his legal obligation. The Belize Airports Authority Act says explicitly "The Authority shall appoint a Tenders Committee from amongst the Board of Directors and all contracts above forty thousand Belize Dollars awarded by the Authority shall require the prior approval of the Minister.

In this case, the Minister of Civil Aviation, PM Briceno. These contracts were way, way above that threshold.

And, as the Minister of Finance, the PM also had a duty of oversight, because the act says:

Except with the approval of the Minister of Finance after consultation with the Minister for Communications, no further sum shall be expended during any financial year other than is provided in the estimates relating to such financial year.

So, that may have given the Airports Authority the out it needed. The contracts were unlawfully entered into by the previous board. And indeed, their release today blames it all on the former board, saying "The newly appointed Board of Directors is conducting a thorough investigation of the procurement process employed and due diligence processes employed by the previous board members. The newly appointed Board of Directors has instructed legal counsel to provide a legal opinion as to the validity of these contracts and the said board has taken the decision to suspend all payments under those contracts with immediate effect pending the board's investigation and that legal review and opinion."

It goes on, "The new Chair stated, ‘After careful examination, it appears as though the proper procedures may not have been observed in the award of these security contracts. The new Board has taken swift action to rectify this matter and ensure that all future contracts are awarded in full compliance with Belizean laws and best practices."

The release adds that "Going forward, the BAA will initiate a new, transparent tender process to secure qualified security service providers for the nation's local aerodromes."

So, there it is, a renunciation of past errors and a commitment to move forward and do better.

But is it all really that simple? I'm joined by News Director Jules Vasquez who has been leading the reporting on this for the past month. Jules, it seems like a happy ending and in the public interest, and that 7News should be taking victory lap - but is that all there is?: