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And while the big noise at the Supreme Court this morning was made by the employees of Fulton Data - the real news of the day was one of the weightiest matters of public interest ever to go before the court.

Chief Justice Dr. Abdulai Conteh today heard preliminary arguments for the PUC's application to the court for tens of millions of dollars in refunds from BTL for phone rates that are alleged to have been illegally charged from December of 2001.

Appearing for BTL was Lois Young who argued that the PUC has no proprietary interest in the case, meaning that it does not directly represent those BTL customers who were wrongly charged. Young also argued that the PUC failed to follow procedure when it wrote BTL Chairman Dean Boyce objecting to the rates. On these grounds, Young asked that the application be dismissed.

At 4:00 pm, attorney's for the PUC Derek Courtenay and Michel Chebat asked for an adjournment to review Young's submission and the Chief Justice granted it on the condition that the hearing continue tomorrow. By our records it's only the second time in Belize's judicial history that a hearing will be held on Saturday - and after only 12 people showed up to court today, Consumer Advocate Lascelle Arnold is hoping that concerned customers come out to look after what is their money.

Jules Vasquez,
"What would you say to those who just didn't show up today, who had no interest?"

Lascelle Arnold, Consumer Advocate
"I don't there is no interest there but today is an end of the month, its payday so you can excuse them. But tomorrow at 10 am the case wull continue and we ask people to come out. They will have time. I am not disappointed but I expected more people."

Jules Vasquez,
"Are you confident now? The preliminary objections have been made, attorney for BTL Lois Young has asked the case been dismissed. Is your confidence wavering?"

Lascelle Arnold,
"No I will never waive in my believe in this case because it is a clear case. Ms. Lois Young is just trying to muddy the water but at the end of the day it will pan out."

The Saturday session begins at 10:00 tomorrow morning. And, on the issue of whether phone users really do care about their refund - we took to the streets to find the answer for that question and we'll have it for you later.

And as an aside, If you're wondering about the BNTU and it's public promise to join the action of the PUC - well it seems union heads never did get around to the paperwork of actually filing an application - and the PUC is battling BTL alone - thus the argument from BTL's attorney that it does not directly represent consumers.