And now, those people of Belize have a very big bill to foot and they have to pay the first half of what's outstanding in 10 days.That's 190 million dollars â€" and we'll tell you how government plans to do that shortly. But, back to today's press conference, where the Prime Minister deflected blame for the entire bill and said at least 60% of it has to be blamed on his predecessor Said Musa. He's the one who signed the unlawful accommodation agreement which was what led to the BTL takeover.
The accommodation agreement constitutes 60% of the share value so it's more than half of the 258 million that has to be paid for the shares. But, there's also an upside to it because it can be paid in Belize dollars and the proceeds are supposed to go for social purposes. The PM explained, while taking serious swipes at Right Honourable Musa:
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"I wish to make clear at the outset that I place blame for that accommodation agreement portion of the award; which is 60% of the total, I place blame for them squarely on the People's United Party. They accommodation agreement portion of the award is not to go to those former shareholders, instead that money, less expenses is to be paid by us in Belize Dollars and is to remain and be spent in Belize. The money as you said in the contract and I quote "Shall be applied in accordance with request or grants as the government may reasonably make to fund projects to help the people of Belize" end of quotation. Even arguing on the naysayers terms our takeover of BTL is not overpriced and it worth every ounce of resistance we maintained and every penny of the award we will have to pay now. And one reason is because what we're paying now for the accommodation agreement, one off and in effect to ourselves minus the expenses is far less than the long run payment that the PUP started and which Belize would have been forced to continue. We pay now once for all on our feet, they would have had us pay almost indefinitely on our knees."
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