“Can’t pay; won’t pay,” says Fin Sec

Posted: Saturday, June 10, 2017. 7:00 a.m. CST.

Joseph Waight

By BBN Staff: Financial Secretary Joseph Waight says that the Government of Belize is neither willing nor able to pay Michael Ashcroft’s claim for cost of court, which amounts to almost $200 million.

Waight explained that he feels the costs are “completely” outrageous, and that the government has not been given any breakdown as to how the expenses are so high.

Even when a breakdown is provided, Waight said that GOB has already made up it’s mind to fight the figure in court.

“We can’t pay and even the order to pay, we can’t pay,” Waight said.

The US$95 million claim for legal costs are in respect to to settling the numerous court battles arising from GOB’s nationalization of Belize Telemedia Limited. Prime Minister Dean Barrow in 2015 signed a settlement agreement with Ashcroft which earmarked around US $100 million to be used for social projects which will benefit the people of Belize.

© 2017, BreakingBelizeNews.com. This article is the copyrighted property of Breaking Belize News. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.

Comments