As we've been reporting, the government intends to revoke the license issued to Brad's Gaming Group Limited for the operation of the Boledo and Jackpot. But Brad's attorney, Dean Barrow has fired back at the government with two letters in the last ten days. The first one is 12 pages long and explains why he believes there's no basis to revoke the contract. And the second one was sent this morning and it contains a bombshell. It explains that Brad's Gaming Group is partially owned by a company named Countache which is an offshore company registered in Grand Cayman, and that is a British overseas territory. That means it is covered by the Bilateral Investment Treaty which protects British investments in Belize. We know all about that treaty because the Ashcroft Alliance has invoked it many times against both the Barrow and the Briceno administrations. Well, now the shoe is on the other foot because Dean Barrow is the one threatening to invoke it against the Briceno Administration.
And when we asked the PM his thoughts, he said Barrow should be ashamed. Here's why:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I think if you ask Belizeans, they believe the Boledo belongs to them. But there was a contract and we have to live up to the contract that was signed by the previous government but in that contract there were certain commitments that the company made and we found out afterwards after our consultations that they were not living up to all their commitments, we wrote to them last year and then to the end of the year we wrote to them again saying well you still, we believe that you still have not lived up to the commitments that you made in the contract. And so asking them, giving them an opportunity to respond as to why we should not cancel that contract. I think that now, their attorney, I think it's the mother of all ironies that the former prime minister is going to be defending something like this, he knows that Belizeans would want us to be able to benefit more from that so he has responded and now the technical team, the attorneys are looking at it and whatever recommendation they might give then we will look at it as a Cabinet and make the final decision."
Courtney Menzies:
"Have you see the letter he's written, he's threatening, if you revoke Brad's License, they will enact the Bilateral Investment Treaty because a company, Countash, is registered in the Cayman, making it a British company, and so they will be enacting this treaty if you revoke the Brad's License."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I think the first thing that needs to be asked to the former prime minister, how can you give the Belize Boledo to an offshore company? Who are the beneficiaries of that company? I mean, he should be ashamed of something like that. But he can enact anything that he wants, we are a country and we live by rules of law and if the company is not living up to the commitments, it could have been the King of England who has ownership on that, it does not matter, you are not living up to the commitments."
Reporter:
"Do you foresee that this will become a litigious matter?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Dean Barrow, look at the dictionary for litigation you see his picture will come up so obviously he will go to court, that's how he makes his living and I respect that."
