You may remember Lucilo Teck. He's the veteran cane farmer from Corozal who got attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd to sue the administrators of the Sugar
Cane Industry. He was trying to force The Sugar Industry Control Board to open the 2014-2015 sugar season. Well, he lost that case, and he's now 30
thousand dollars in the hole for it.
As you will remember, there was a standoff in the industry which changed drastically when the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association fractured. The
dissenters formed 2 other associations and the along with what was left of the BSCFA, they all signed a new agreement with the millers and the
stand-off ended.
So, that basically rendered Lucilo Teck's lawsuit inconsequential, but he and his attorney, Audrey Matura-Shepherd decided to go forward with the case
anyway. He lost it, and the SICB attorney, Rodwell Williams claimed for $60,000 in legal fees.
The court finally resolved the legal cost issue, and it mandated that Teck actually owes $30,000. Well, he says that he can't pay for it, and
yesterday, he went on the WUB Morning Show to ask for help from the general public. Here's what he had to say on that issue:
Lucilio Teck - Owers Money to the Court
"It was struck out on the 23rd favouring the courts this record, my application. But the arguments that were both lawyers there, they are entitled to a
reward to be paid, legal fee. So the court requested both lawyers to submit their legal fee. Mr. Barrow submitted nearly 78,000 dollars as legal fee.
But then it was taken, the judge said that both parties have to agree for the final payment. Only Mr. Williams legal was admitted by the court, he
claimed nearly 78,000. Then the law also provides, Ms. Matura told the court the law also provides that the claimant doesn't have to pay the amount
which an attorney claims. We have a right at citizens to go through a process that the court acknowledge, that it went through taxation through the
registrar general of the Supreme Court, which she had the authority to decide on the remaining fee."
"I ended that I have to pay because I am the leading claimant on the court. Right now it is 30,000 dollars."
Reporter
"You have a date as to when you have to pay that?"
Lucilio Teck - Owers Money to the Court
"My attorney exited the court on Friday, 18th December. She was busy she had to go to another case. I only requested her to request the court a
reasonable time. As far as I understand it can only be 1 month or a month and a half. Only one out of the group we formed, only one person called me
and he said I hear that you are in distressed. I explained it to him go to the media, advised me to go to the media which is why I came here in Belize
City and explain your position, your situation. Go and ask people to help you to aid you because I'm old and sick and I only participated in good faith
because I know it was also our right because although I might soon die our community lives on the cane, we depend on the cane as our life blood so that
is the reason I wilfully and I do not repent what I have done."
If Lucilo Teck cannot come up with the money in time, then a bailiff could move in and crowfoot his assets.
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