We also asked Barrow about the UK-Belize Investment Treaty that the Ashcroft Alliance has invoked because of the unfair treatment it claims to have received in NEAC's handling of the Waterloo Port project - which has been twice rejected.
So now that the treaty has been invoked, it could mean many costly years of legal battles and international arbitration ahead - that is, unless government quickly capitulates and agrees to a settlement - which, we expect would still carry a hefty cost at this stage.
Shyne Barrow, who is usually pro-Ashcroft urged compromise and a green light for Waterloo.
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"My hope and my prayer is that rather than litigate with Lord Ashcroft and the Waterloo proprietors and PBL, it is that you find a solution. There has to be a solution to see the Waterloo project green lit which is the best project. You talk to anyone that knows, that's an expert in this field, they will tell you that it is the best project."
Jules Vasquez
"But the environmentalist has said it is not."
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"What did they say about Gegg?"
Jules Vasquez
"They approved that, sir."
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"Government approved it. If you speak to the environmentalist they were complaining, so I am saying that I support the idea of allowing all of the projects to proceed and allow the best project to win. More jobs, more economic development."
Jules Vasquez
"There are acts of parliament in the case of Stakebank. There is a definitive agreement in the case of Port of Magical Belize. With the Waterloo project they don't have any of these things, plus they have been twice rejected by the supreme environmental decision-making body in the country. Now, is it that you are saying the Ashcroft Alliance maintains that in fact the treatment afforded to Waterloo has been unfair. Do you believe Waterloo has been unfairly treated by NEAC?"
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"I agree with that assessment."
Jules Vasquez
"You agree with that assessment, because you are in hock with Mr. Ashcroft or you agree with that because you have a scientific basis for your knowledge?"
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"I have seen that they've made hurdles for Stakebank as well, because there are things that Stakebank wants with the causeway and there is a big confusion as to whether or not a letter of approval was given for that and there are many hurdles that they are going through as well. So it wasn't just a Waterloo discrimination. I believe that there is a favouritism being show to Port Magical in my opinion."
"Let us find a solution. There has to be a solution. I don't come from the world where there is no solution. They find solutions for what they want. There is a solution for everything. It may be that Waterloo doesn't get exactly what they want, but a project of that magnitude, a project with that integrity should be given the greatest consideration for it to work, because that is for the benefit of Belize."
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