Miami Federal Judge Ursula Ungaro Benages is expected to give her ruling tomorrow on the dispute between the government and Jeff Prosser's ICC. It's going to be hugely consequential for the government because she could rule that the control of the company and the Carlisle shares should revert to ICC. Prosser's lawyers have argued that government acted illegally when it re-assigned the shares and appointed a new board of directors. Illegally because government did not control the majority of the 'C' shares, a disparity which 7NEWS first pointed out on the day government's board was appointed. Closing arguments on that and other points were heard today and judgment is expected to be delivered tomorrow.
But though he's under the gavel of a foreign court, the Prime Minister was still punchy when we spoke to him about the case today.
Jules Vasquez,
Do you accept blame for relinquishing the sovereignty of Belize as regards juridical matters, jurisdiction of Belize, and surrendering to these international courts where we are at the whim of Federal Judges and British arbiters?
Said Musa, Prime Minister
"In fact that is the very issue that is being dispute, contended, in the court in Miami because we have not surrendered jurisdiction. We have not given jurisdiction to any court in Florida or in the United States over this matter and that is the very heart of the Government's legal position as regards the issue being raised by ICC or Mr. Prosser. As far as we are concerned, the Florida courts have no jurisdiction in this matter and we maintain that position."
Jules Vasquez,
You will not be bound by any decision they make?
Said Musa,
"If the court, we can't say what a Federal or a U.S. Judge will do, but if they do rule that they have jurisdiction we will appeal it immediately because as far as we are concerned, and as far as the legal advice that I have received is concerned, they have no absolutely no jurisdiction in this matter."
And while the Prime Minister's fighting spirit is commendable, it may be just bluster, because the question of jurisdiction, if there was one, should have been settled at the start of the case, and can hardly now be introduced at the end, when government has ostensibly submitted to the foreign jurisdiction by participating in it.
