So, while another court battle is about to be waged at the highest court in the land, over the deal which should have ended all fighting over BTL, we asked the Prime Minister if he miscalculated.
When the Prime Minister disclosed the terms of the BTL settlement, he told the nation that although the total value the nation would be paying is close to half a billion dollars, 60% of it would go to the benefit of the Belizean people.
Well, after court battles, only 50% is on the table, and if the Ashcroft Alliance would have their way, almost the entire portion of that 50%, would be paid to them in legal fees. Here's how we challenged the Prime Minister on that:
Daniel Ortiz, reporter
"The sales pitch from your government at the time was that look this is a big bill, but 60% of it goes to the people of Belize, they went to the CCJ, chipped off 10% and now they are coming after the other 50%."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well, first of all, it's very clear that the agreement which I signed did allow for the so called Dunkell liabilities to be extracted before the balance would then go to the people of Belize by way of the projects to be funded. The quarrel is not with the principle that in fact the Alliance is due some kind of recompense for their expenses. The quarrel is with the quantum that they are claiming. It is absolutely true then if you make the point that that sort of claim that they have launched, not sort of, the figures they have produced strike me as being utterly unreal and in fact their getting there is completely contrary to the spirit of their agreement. When Ashcroft and I spoke, while a figure was not agreed, it was clear between us that these liabilities would not be anywhere near the figure that has now been produced. I have said to you before and I will say again, I think this is his way of trying to get back at us for the fact that he has not been able to collect yet on the judgements that he had upheld in the US courts. In any event whatever his motivation is, it is indeed extremely unfair and I don't think that the quantum that he advances is at all supportable and I am optimistic and truly believe that in the end justice will prevail and that there will be a sizeable portion of the award coming back to the people of this country by way of the projects."
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