He once sent a U.S. Congressman to Belize to lecture the Prime Minister, and he's threatened to talk to the State Department to cancel the PM's visa, in fact a lot of Jeffrey Prosser's sabre rattling has been based on his position as a U.S. investor. But it seems even Uncle Sam is tired of Prosser's tricks, as the U.S. government seems to be taking the side of the Belize government against Prosser.
This morning, the State Department sent a legal brief to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal in Atlanta which will hear an appeal of the US$50,000 a day fine imposed by Judge Ungaro Benages. The U.S. government wants to be listed as an amicus, or a friend of the appeal. The brief says that the judgement may conflict with the sovereign immunities act, and "the imposition of monetary sanctions against foreign sovereigns, has possible ramifications for the foreign relations of this nation."
That's a formidable friend in Belize's corner and this afternoon, Attorney General Francis Fonseca and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Information Godfrey Smith held a press conference to underscore the importance of this new development.
Godfrey Smith, Minister of Information
"I think that's a signal move on the part of the United States Government to join in the action in support of the government's position. I think that's important because, as well, a few weeks ago some of the stations carried all these wild threats made by Mr. Prosser as to what he would do and how he would embarrass the government and all kinds of things about visas and so on which we didn't take very seriously I must say because having done our own work state side, our own diplomatic work, we were of the view, and still of the view, that the United States Government is quite aware of the kind of operations run by ICC. So those things combined, the fact that the U.S. government, through the Department of Justice, has applied to be joined to be Belize, I think puts us in a very good position."
