On the third of February, it was a big win for the Christian Workers Union when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government - for a 1.5 million dollar goodwill payment. This was a gesture to compensate for any prejudice the stevedores suffered as a result of the 2002 port privatization.
The payment is due to be made in 6 days time - contingent on certain pre-conditions.
But, the Ashcroft Alliance has thrown a serious wrench into the works; the Port of Belize and receiver Tux Vasquez have applied for an urgent injunction stopping the payment. The injection is against the Prime Minister, John Briceno, the Minister of Public Utilities Michel Chebat, the Attorney General and the Christian Workers Union.
The application filed today says that government can't pay that money without first taking it to parliament. The arguments prepared by the Marine Parade Law Chambers says, quote, "an agreement among the government of Belize was interred into on without any authority of the National Assembly and without any disclosure to the House of Representatives of an ex gratia payment….as a result it is clear the payment has not been and cannot be authorized in time by a law as required by the National Assembly and would therefore be illegal." End quote.
They are asking the court that the hearing be restrained until he hearing of this conditional motion.
The filing is signed by lead attorney Godfrey Smith.
The Christian Workers Union has told the media that it has to consult its attorney before making any comment.
PBL is also currently suing the CWU and five stevedores for just over a million dollars in damages for an 8-day strike in January.
