Twenty thousand dollars, that's how much the Belize Times will have to pay Godwin Hulse and his attorney Michael Young for libel. The case results from an article the Time ran in July of 2013 which was headlined "Godwin Hustler" and alleged that Hulse had acquired 100 acres of land in the Belize River Valley. But, in the settlement, the Times accepts that the allegation is untrue and unfounded and retracts the allegation. The paper must also publish the same, including an apology to Hulse.
That's the statement of settlement that was read out in the Chief Justice's courtroom today. Hulse's attorney Michael Young told us how the twenty thousand dollars was arrived at:..
Michael Young, Attorney
"That the defendants pay $20,000 to the claimant comprised of $15,000 in damages and $5,000 in cost and that essentially will be the terms of the agreed settlement of this case."
The terms of the settlement are that the first payment of five thousand dollars must be made on the first August, followed by three thousand monthly for five months starting in September.
