Last night we had a whole lot of news on the House of Representatives, almost to the exclusion of everything else. But even with all that, we still missed a few items of note. First is the Stake Bank Cruise Docking Bill - which was presented for a first reading at the last House meeting - and was approved yesterday - again with bi-partisan support. And, right that it should have that because the developer Mike Feinstein has had traditional ties with the PUP as a backer. And so, both the current and former leaders of the party spoke in favor of it yesterday - but then the former leader John Briceno brought up another port, the one in Commerce Byte that led to a round of finger
pointing from the House Floor right into the Gallery:
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"We wish to offer our support to this project and in arriving at that offer of support we looked at essentially 4 criteria: 1.) Is this project good for the economy of Belize? We believe so that it will be good for the economy of Belize. We think it's critically important to the future of the cruise tourism industry which is obviously directly related to the economic development of Belize - have all the environmental clearance been met - have all the technical people signed off on the project and given their approval on the environmental side and my understanding is that has been done. That is very important. And finally, the developer Mr. Feinstein and the Stake Bank team are Belizeans who I think have a consistent history of investing in Belize."
Hon. John Briceno - Area Representative, Orange Walk Central
"It's certainly a project as mentioned that is going to create a lot of jobs; jobs during the construction and jobs after the construction and it is critical to the survival and growth of the cruise tourism industry. But I'd like to also take the opportunity to appeal to the Prime Minister that maybe we can look at the Commerce Bight pier down south that has been closed for a number of years."
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"With respect to the member for Orange Walk Central's reference to Commerce Bight and wanting for that to be developed. It could have been developed a long time ago, except you gave it to that man up there, the brother of the representative from Toledo East who kept it for years and years - did nothing with it and when we sought to take it back took us to court and got an injunction that kept it tied up for an additional period of about 2 years. We've now finally succeeded in prizing it from his grip, we finally succeeded in removing those clammy fingers one by one and we are going to ensure that we develop it in consonance with the overall transportation needs of the country."
Hon. Mike Espat, Area Representative - Toledo East
"When Luke Espat bought the Port is that prospectus Commerce Bight was a part of that agreement. That is all I am saying - that we are not looking and trying to get a clearer picture of what occurred - 64 million dollars' worth. This is what I am trying to get across. Is anything wrong Mr. Speaker?"
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Speaker of the House
"No, you are doing it properly now."
Hon. Mike Espat, Area Representative - Toledo East
"So that we get a clearer picture of what was occurring. Why was the BDF sent to take over the port from Luke Espat? I don't see the BDF going and taking over other people's business. They had no right to interfere in a private contraction with a private bank in this country. Why? I ask myself. So Mr. Speaker I will rest my case on that issue but please, we need to get the proper answers so that our Belizean understand the truth because Luke Espat didn't sell any passport to get that money."
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"I hear him bleating about how much Luke Espat paid for the port. I imagine you are talking about the Belize City Port because in terms of the Commerce Bight Port let me remind you that when it was discovered that in fact an arrangement had been entered into that turned that port over to Luke Espat and it was done fortunately by way of a lease, not by a complete sale. There was huge dissension in the ranks on your side because others in your party complained bitterly about the inside lane that Luke was able to work with I believe Henry Canton who was then the Minister of Ports. How dare you come this house now and say that people in the south are so anxious for the development of the port, are impatient that since took it back, nothing had happen along those lines, when your brother had it for all these years and did absolutely nothing except on top of it. They are my cousins, you know. Would you imagine that? So Mr. Speaker...."
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte
"Relax"
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"Don't make them have to put you out, my family."
