For the past weeks we've been reporting on the link between disgraced Mexican magnate Raul Rocha and a project called the Port of Dangriga. Rocha's Legacy Group had an entire website going which explained that they have been, quote "formally engaged to spearhead the conceptual and technical oversight of the new state-of-the-art port facility in Dangriga."
A release from the Southern Deep Port Development said that they had "discussions with Legacy Holdings based on their…interest in investment opportunities in Belize. Those discussions started in April and ended in September of this year, and no business or investment partnership was established with them." End quote. The Rocha linked site has since been taken down.
But, back in mid 2024, when the Southern Deep Port Development Facility Bill was introduced and debated in the House and Senate - former Senator Mike Peyreffite raised some flags - and knowing what we know now, maybe he was onto something. Here's how he put it in July of 2024:
Mike Peyreffite, Former UDP Senator (July 23, 2024)
"This sounds like one of two things:this da wah dead raise project, or there are people involved in this project the government doesn't want us to know!"
"Now, Funders rights. Because this agreement have wah thing they call funders. I don't know madam president, me only gone da Nashus. Funders. Sounds like the person who is funding this thing."
"The funders in this case madam president will have what is called "step-in" rights. So if for some reason this money is borrowed by this company - and whether they can't pay it back or pretend to can't pay it back, or will not be able to pay it back in the first place - and maybe that was part of the plan - the funders step in and take over the project."
"Now, right now we are in the national assembly of this country, we are in the naitonal assembly of a sovereign anitona trying to decide whether or not we will approve this bill, and we don't know who these funders are. We don't know who - if the current developer cannot fulfill his obligations to the funders will come and take over our port. That, that is dangerous. There are people funding this person who are in the wings waiting that if he fails, they step in. Who those people are? We don't know. What can the government do about that? Nothing!"
"Who are these people, Madam president? Who are these funders that we don't know about? Who are these people in the shadows? In the wings waiting to take over in the event that this developer doesn't succeed? We need to know who will be given charge of a port of entry. Port of entry, madam president. Means you have to present passport or something when you land. Port of entry! We need to know who the players are! We don't need a person who just signs the agreement and the name of a company. The country of Belize needs to know who we're getting in bed with!"
"The developer may subcontract and otherwise delegate in favor of any persons. Any person. This agreement or the rights, benefits and obligations hereunder or any portion thereof. Any person. The developer could say, Bwai, El Chapo done come out of jail, you know? We will give him. Any person! Without the government having a say as to who that person will be!"
We reiterate that Southern Deep Port has stated that they have no current business or investment partnership with Rocha's Legacy Holding Group.
