p>At 7:00 pm, on April 21st, 2005 Belize City's streets erupted into chaos as an angry mob gathered on Belcan Bridge and then headed for the city's commercial center on Albert Street, where they were left free to loot, wreak havoc and create mayhem.
The next day, the Prime Minister called it "looting, vandalism and rioting" for which he blamed the opposition. But despite the emotive language, government never declared officially that there had been a riot, and probably wisely so, because under the Riot Compensation Act, government is liable for the losses.
Well now, 5 insurance companies are going to the Supreme Court to ask the judge to declare that there was a riot. They've paid out over 600 thousand dollars in riot policy claims and now want the government to compensate them for it.
The case is scheduled to go to court in March. We'll keep you posted.
