And so, tonight, that status quo remains in effect: government retains unquestioned control of BTL and BEL - which is a long ways off from June 24, 2011. That's when the Court of Appeal ruled that the acquisition of BTL in 2009 was unconstitutional. Right after the judgment was delivered at 4:30 pm, Dean Boyce and Godfrey Smith went over to BTL's Corporate Headquarters on St. Thomas Street to take the company over, immediately. And they did, for only a few hours though, because by 9:00 pm, government took it back, using the police to enforce possession. The technicality employed to justify the enforced possession was that the Ashcroft Alliance got the judgment from the court, but they didn't get an enforcement order to carry it out.
But, none of that drama happened today - because the majority Court decision affirmed government's lawful possession. But what if it had gone the other way? Would government have again sent the police to secure the utility on behalf of the state? One man who is uniquely equipped to answer that question is CEO in the Ministry of National Security George Lovell. He also sits as a Director on the BTL Board - and this morning before the judgment came down we asked him if contingencies were in place to block the Alliance form trying another takeover - in the event that the judgment went against government.
Jules Vasquez
"The last time a judgment came down on the first acquisition an adverse judgment against the government of Belize the security forces had to be activated within 6 hours to secure BTL for and on behalf of the state. What is the state prepared to do if an adverse judgment comes out of this latest appeal court judgment and it says that the thing have to revert to Ashcroft?"
Ret. Col. George Lovell - C.E.O., Ministry of National Security
"I would want for us Jules to wait and see what that judgment will be."
Jules Vasquez
"Are there any police on standby in case has happened last time - it was very dramatic. Mr. Smith and Mr. Boyce walk right in to BTL and took over."
Ret. Col. George Lovell - C.E.O., Ministry of National Security
"At this moment I don't have any on standby."
Again, no one needed to be on standby as the status quo and the Government appointed majority on the Board of Directors remains in place tonight.
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