And in another part of the Caribbean - namely Trinidad - there's no hurricane, just a storm of lawsuits between the Government of Belize and the Ashcroft Alliance.
Two days ago, they were arguing over the guarantee for Universal Health Care - and today it was about the compensation payment for the BTL acquisition. The second and final part of the compensation is past due - but - as we have reported - Government and the Alliance are arguing over what portion should be paid in Belize dollars and what should be paid in US dollars.
That's because, in the settlement it was contemplated that a portion of the second payment would be used to fund social projects - after settling legal costs. But, those legal costs came up to tens of millions of dollars - leaving Government with only a few million for social projects. they say the Alliance isn't playing fair, and that the figure being demanded is exorbitant and unjustified. But, the settlement agreement wasn't very specific. So today, Government's attorney was asking the court to imply an order into the agreement. Here's a part of the more than 3 hours of Argument from Port of Spain:...
The court has given an undertaking to deliver judgement expeditiously since interest is running on the past due payment.
Will Senate Select Come Up With Budget And Timeline?
And going back now to yesterday's senate hearings, when it was over Chairman Aldo Salazar discussed the timeline a timeline and a budget for the remainder of the hearings.
As we have reported, the Prime Minster and the Chamber of Commerce are calling on the senate produce such a document. Chairman Salazar said he couldn't agree more.
Hon. Aldo Salazar - Chairman, Senate Select Committee
“For myself, again, I think I got a lot of criticism when I said that we need to look to wrap this up because I think we need to consider our usefulness. I think as a committee we are definitely in a position to say how long more we can go for and how much money it will take. So, I definitely agree with the chamber’s position, definitely agree with what the Prime Minister has said. I have been saying that for quite some time. We need to be able to say how we are going to wrap this up.â€
Courtney Weatherburne - Reporter
“So it’s the committee’s responsibility for drafting the timeline and budget. Have you all started that process, when will that process start and by when do you think it will be finished and finalized to be sent to the Prime Minister?â€
Hon. Aldo Salazar
“Unfortunately, that exercise was to be done today. We had a meeting and we were scheduled to do that this morning but unfortunately, due to some circumstances some members could not be here. So, it was our intention as a committee to have that done today; regrettably, that was not the case. I feel that we can do that over the course of next week. I am going to ask committee members if we can put forward a list for those people who want to call more witnesses and try and get an answer to the Prime Minister. We had already done this before, you know. We had already compiled a list and we had said that it would have probably taken us to the end of November.â€
No senate hearing will be held next Wednesday, instead the committee will hold a meeting. Minister Hulse will be called in the following Wednesday when the hearings resume.
Crashed Car Was Being Pursued
Earlier this week we told you about the shooting outside the Princess on Saturday morning where a security guard fired a shot on the ground and it injured two men. After that is where things got even worse. As they were rushing Tyrin Faber and Elon Faber to the hospital the vehicle flipped on Freetown road, near the Cinderella plaza junction. Another one of their friends Jaime Bradley was severely hurt in the accident and had to be place an induced coma - which he is out of now.
But, they weren't just racing to the hospital. Security Footage of the area obtained by 7NEws showed that the men er being pursued by another vehicle, which hit them in the rear end at high speed on Freetown Road. After that their white SUV flipped don its side and everyone inside was hurt.
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