It may be Christmas week, but a major case commences hearing in the high court tomorrow. It's the challenge to the compulsory acquisition of Stake Bank Caye
The Feinstein group is challenging the constitutionality of the compulsory acquisition of 23 acres of Feinstein's land on Stake Bank Caye. That land, as has been widely reported, was acquired for the public interest of handing it over to a private company named OPSA for the development of a cruise terminal with berthing for large cruise ships.
The trial is high stakes and it will involve a roster of the most highly paid attorneys in Belize including - for the Feinstein group - Godfrey Smith, and for OPSA, Eamon Courtenay, and for the receiver, Dean Barrow. Government is the main respondent and it has retained Magali Marin Young plus two senior attorneys out of Trinidad.
That defence team comes at a high cost to the government - which had said previously that the unusual acquisition for a private company will not cost taxpayers. So we asked the PM today who's paying for its eminent Trinidadian attorneys:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"They are suing the government, they're taking the government to court for an action that we think that it is within our right, our ability to do as a government but obviously we'll have to defend our position so the government will have to pay for that."
Courtney Menzies:
"Which means the taxpayers will have to pay."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Obviously."
Courtney Menzies:
"But if the acquisition goes through then the taxpayers are paying for an attorney for land that will eventually belong to a private holder."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No, I think what you need to do is to speak to Mr Feinstein because he continues to take out lawsuits for everything and we have a responsibility to defend. If we do not put anybody and then we lose the case then what? One, it will set a bad precedent, secondly I don't think he is within his right but he just continues to prolong so we have to ensure that we put the best possible minds to ensure that we do not set a precedent, that the government can make these decisions to acquire land for the national interest."
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