And while Smith continues to weigh the political cost, government is recovering from the financial cost. BELIPO today sent government a check for the full $2.2 million dollars it paid in stamp duty for Michael Ashcroft's companies. The full refund comes after government decided to terminate the contract with BELIPO, and to get back the stamp duty paid for the Sunshine shares.
Government, reportedly with the assistance of police, has since installed its own revenue collector at the headquarters of both the Companies Registry and the Intellectual Property Office which will remain at the same locations for the time being.
As Jules noted in the interview, BELIPO has 11 years left on its contract and the Belize Companies Registry Limited has 13 years remaining. Normally, the party canceling out the contract would have to buy it out. Smith indicated in the interview that he would like to expect that there would be a mutually agreeable settlement.
Today the co-owner of record of the Companies Registry, Denys Barrow, who is only in the country for a short while, declined any comment.
