And while that is the political dimension of the story, what about the business side? That's Portico Enterprise which has an MOU with one of the biggest cruise lines in the world to build a 355 million US dollar cruise facility.
In the past 8 days, that company Portico, once obscure, has gone from the sidelines to center stage of a national debate over the Definitive Agreement. Through it all, the company has kept quiet - but it's speaking up today in a 3 page press release. The statement declares right at the top,
"PORTICO...VEHEMENTLY DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION/WRONGDOING REGARDING THE DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE."
What else does it say? Jules Vasquez read through the release:
Portico's first beef is with the letter written by the Leader of the Opposition to the Ombudsman asking him to investigate the Prime Minister for wrongdoing in relation to the Definitive Agreement.
Shyne Barrow also made certain claims about alleged land holdings of Trade and Investment Ambassador, Haisam Diab.
The statement says that Portico has acquired in excess of 1,000 acres of land for the development of Port Magical Belize.
It adds, quote, "None of these lands belonged to Ambassador Haisam Diab or any person related to him. Portico has no intention to purchase any other property in that vicinity and it is not aware that Ambassador Diab owns any property in that area."
The statement then goes after UDP Senator Michael Peyrefitte, the former law partner of David Morales - who is Portico's attorney. The statement says Morales and Peyrefitte was the only firm...initially retained by Portico after its incorporation. The statement adds, quote,
"It was the firm of Morales Peyrefitte LLP which drafted and negotiated the Definitive Agreement with the Government. Morales Peyrefitte LLP not only assisted Portico with its applications for the various permits and licenses that were required for the project but also ensured that Portico satisfied all legal requirements upon making such applications." The statement stresses that Courtenay Coye LLP was not - as Shyne Barrow alleges -Portico's law firm.
The statement then says that that the beneficial owners of Portico - who we know are
David Gegg and Gulab Sharma - are, quote, "Belizeans none of whom are related to the Prime Minister nor affiliated companies of the Prime Minister.
The only intended entities which are expected to have some equity in the future are Boskalis and Royal Caribbean Group. The Prime Minister has no interest in those companies." End quote,
And, importantly, the statement also notes, quote, "that Erwin Contreras executed the Definitive Agreement for Harvest Caye on behalf of the Government of Belize.
Therefore his capacity to sign and execute such document on behalf of the Government was unquestionable."
This is a claim to validity that's central to the current dispute, and it has been flatly denied by the former Prime Minister, Erwin Contreras's then boss who said Contreras acted totally without government sanction.
Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister
"They knew it wasn't approved by cabinet. They knew with respect to the terms that no minister, including as I said the minister of finance, had authority to sign a document like that. How could be hurried to argue now? no man you must honour that. Nonsense."
The statement concludes, quote "The cruise ships that are intended to be brought by Royal Caribbean are of the newer and larger ships which will not be able to navigate to Stakebank."
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