In other news, as we've reported, the Belize Airports Authority has managed to get out of its contracts with ISecurity and Four Diamond Security. We would have wished to ask the Minister of Civil Aviation, John Briceno about it - but he dipped out of our interview very quickly.
But we did ask the Minister of Home Affairs about his thoughts on the contracts and whether he thinks GOB should reveal the amount paid out to the companies. He said he's waiting for the information to come out via a Freedom of Information Request.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I think there were certain rules and regulations within the act that were not conformed with. And so those security contracts, they have come out of them, the government has come out of them. And as I understand it, the parties who were awarded the contracts are not intending to sue. And so that's a good result. But as you rightly said, the Prime Minister has clarified that point, that it did not go through the proper tendering process. And so we can expect to see those now going back to tender."
Courtney Menzies:
"But do you think the government should publicize the amount? The advanced payments, plus if there was a settlement, how much that would cost as well?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I believe that that is a matter, obviously, that the Ministry of Civil Aviation will have to provide that information. I think you all have made a freedom of information request. So I'm waiting to see if that will be honored."
We did make such a request for a schedule of all payments made to date under the contracts, but it was declined. We intend to appeal.
