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But, while the response to our Freedom of Information request did produce some answers - there's a lot of background that's come to light in information to 7news over the weekend. Jules Vasquez has the latest:

ISECURITY and Four Diamond Security - they got 10 year contracts from the Belize Airports Authority in late December - with payments of a combined 168 thousand dollars monthly in the first year, increasing to 233 thousand dollars from years 2 through 10.

But, for the first four months solid, neither company provided any discernible services for these payments - and the airlines were not even informed. Those we spoke to off the record did not know about these security contracts.

And then the hijacking happened - followed by this statement which was the first glancing public mention of the security contracts saying, quote "plans have been in effect" since January - but what it doesn't say is that contracts were also in effect - and that hundreds of thousands had already been paid with nothing to show for it.

So it's after the hijacking that ISECURITY scrambled to get airport training for its officers. They are seen here in late April getting the training which 66% of them would fail.

Based on reports from the domestic airports, results since then have been mixed. Their officers were still not visible at the Belize City municipal when we checked on Friday - we saw police and KBH security.

But, under the terms of the contract, they continue to collect - and information from two well placed sources tell us that at least one company may have done so in advance. Those sources tell us that ISECURITY received an advance payment in the high 6 figure range. Again, this may have been covered in the contract but the Airports Authority has refused to disclose that.

As for Four Diamond - their security cameras are still not set up - but 5 months into the contract - with over 600 thousand dollars already paid out - a base for monitoring those cameras - reportedly only 12 hours a day - will be set up in San Pedro.

Again, this may have been covered in the contract - and it may be why the contract wasn't disclosed - the letter from the BAA responding to our Freedom Of Information request says

"We do not consider it to be in the public interest at this current time to disclose these contracts, since the BAA and Civil Aviation Department are in the process of contract review and contract renegotiations...The BAA has determined that sharing the contracts will impede the renegotiations and review of performance and terms..."

And indeed, we are told that Four Diamond Security - which did not get that chunky up front payment is balking at re-negotiation, which we are told is causing some friction within the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Experience tells us, this is how it often is with lucrative contracts awarded based on political allegiance rather than actual merit.

We did reach out to Ian Cal, the owner of ISECURITY for comment - but up to news time he had not responded.