We've reported extensively on the Panamanian vessel with 55,000 gallons of marine diesel that the government seized, while also charging the captain for a number of infractions.
But, the vessel had been in Belizean water for more than two weeks before any decisive action was taken - and the Department of the Environment - even offered the importer an "administrative solution" as a way out.
But despite the fact that customs and DOE moved slowly, the PM says he was pushing for charges throughout:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"What I do know when it was brought to my attention I said we have to go after this and go the full length of the law, I called the attorney general and said I want you to get involved in this because I'm not going to allow it because of a simple administrative error or an attorney can get them off. so when I heard that all of a sudden the DOE jumped the gun and got an invoice, I don't know how they got an invoice when customs did not get it and saying come we'll settle this administratively, there were totally out of their purview to be able to do that. Maybe in other matters they could have done that and so what I've again instructed the attorney general to ensure that an attorney from his office to be fully involved in this to ensure that a) that we can get to the bottom of this, 2) confiscate this and then 3) whosoever in any way involved in this and did any illegal activity that they must be charged to the fullest extent of the law."
