And turning back now to today's meeting of the Senate Special Select Committee - the day started with Sean Duncan - he's one of the directors of a company that was lucky enough to get 50 plus acres of Portico-adjacent property for just 5 thousand dollars.
He also appeared with an attorney - but did prove to be more compliant with the committee - only problem is, he claimed almost total ignorance:
Today's first witness was Sean Duncan, a Director of Nyne Enterprises - a business led by attorney David Morales.
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"We provide technical services. Uhm, technology services that's pretty much the main purpose of the company."
But Duncan was summoned not for the technology services his company provides, but because of the sweet real estate deal it landed: two fifty acre plots of land for just over five thousand dollars each - listed among these 17 Portico plots - including one for the attorney he appears with today, Andrew Bennet:
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"There were 17 parcels of land that were granted thaw e sold by the minister of lands on the same day. And so we're trying to get a better understanding gf what was taking place that day."
So how did Nyne get so lucky?
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"You acquired those properties from the Government of Belize?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"Yes."
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"Through leases initially?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"Yes, we applied, yes."
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"You had moved from lease to title in 2020?"
Andrew Bennett, Attorney
"We would respectfully raise that the acquisition of property, unless it touches and concerns and forms a part of the definitive agreement, and whether any negotiations were contingent on the acquisition of any private, any property by a private individual - unless it is relevant to that, then my client would decline to answer."
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"Our records are showing that there are two properties of around 50 acres each. I think one is for 50.1 and the other is around the same size. There are two properties. Can you confirm?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"That's correct."
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"And you paid $5,300 dollars each for those properties, our records are showing."
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"I really can't remember those figures or anything like that."
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"The valuation for that type of land is between 200 and 700 dollars per acre, which would bring the price of those properties between 10 and 35 thousand dollars for the 50 acres, which would then amount to a 46 to 85% discount on the prices of those properties."
"Most people struggle to get a lot. Your company got two 50 acre parcels. Were you surprised at that, in, in, in a number of days."
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"Ahm, I was excited."
Bevinton Cal, Senator
"Would you have any relationship with the then commissioner of lands or the minister of lands?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"No."
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"You said you had no relationship with the minister or the commissioner of lands at the time. So you just walked in and put an application for two fifty acre parcels and everything was fine and it was as easy as that?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"I have stated repeatedly over and over that I did not participate in that aspect of the transaction."
Janelle Chanona, Chair
"Were you surprised at the timeline, of how things progressed - in terms of your application, to then the approval of the request and then ultimately when you got the title?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"Honestly, when it comes to those types of transactions, I leave it to my business partner. So, timeline, I did not even look at that part, so..."
Janelle Chanona, Chair
"We have documentation here that you applied the 7th of October, it was received the 13th of October and then you get approval the 20th of October."
"All within less than a month, were you...?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"Somethings work faster than others, I guess."
Especially when it's close to an election!
Janelle Chanona, Chair
"Do you know anything else that was happening around October an dNovember 2020."
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"I could hardly remember what happened last week. How will I remember what happened in 2020? I know they had COVID, something."
Janelle Chanona, Chair
"No, well, you don't remember that it was coming unto elections?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"Ah?"
Duncan also did not know details of the land application:
Kevin Herrera, Senator
"When you purchased those properties - there's a policy by the lands department that it has to be accompanied by a development plan. In your case I would imagine it's an investment plan. Was that plan submitted - at the time you requested to purchase?"
Sean Duncan, Director - Nyne Enterprise
"I have no idea. My only involvement in that, the aspect of the transfer was to sign over - because I am a Director of Nyne Enterprise Ltd. That other, the aspect of dealing with the actual, the transaction and all of the paperwork was done by the managing director Mr David Morales."
His partner in Nyne Enterprises, attorney David Morales is the UDP's Michael Peyrefitte's former law partner and also a relative of Prime Minister Briceno.
