There's an ongoing case in the Supreme Court between Stake Bank, known to most as Part Coral, and the Port of Magical Belize as well as the Attorney General's Ministry, the National Environmental Appraisal Committee and the Department of the Environment.
Stake Bank is challenging its would be competitor's ability to operate as a cruise port in the Belize District and its approvals from the Department of the Environment.
The other proposed port, Waterloo is on the outside of this immediate dispute - and, since NEAC rejected their proposal - that group is even more on the periphery.
Or that's what you might think, but, Waterloo has now applied to the Supreme Court to be added as an interested party. A virtual hearing between all parties was held today before Justice Lisa Shoman. At the end of it she agreed to allow Waterloo I as that interested party.
Godfrey Smith is Waterloo's Attorney and we spoke to him about it via Zoom today. He told us that Stake Bank's suit had direct implications for his client:
And now that they are joined as an interested party - we asked - what standing does Waterloo even have - if they have no development in the ground and no NEAC approval? Smith says the company has spent 10 million dollars developing a plan - which remains very live:
All sides now have to put their arguments in writing and trial is set for the 8th, 9th and 10th of February 2022.
